Thanksgiving Dinner: Small Space Solutions

When we were first married, my husband and I rented a home that seemed plenty spacious - until it came time to host our first Thanksgiving dinner. Without giving a thought to the actual size of our home, we went overboard, inviting far more people for Thanksgiving dinner than our small dining room, kitchen and living room could hold. This became all too clear when we finally thought about where 30 people were going to actually sit (we had a small dining table, one sofa and two side chairs), how we'd serve the food and where we could fit every single one of those bodies into our small home that Thanksgiving. With sinking hearts, we realized that what seemed like a spacious home for two or three people was actually a very tiny house when it came to entertaining a crowd. Did we panic? Okay, yes, we had a few moments of fear - and some second and third thoughts - and then we decided to take some deep breaths and accept this as a challenge. We'd simply have to do our best to make everything go smoothly. We had a couple of wrong turns along the way - but before Thanksgiving arrived, everything was in order.

Here's what we learned:

Small space solutions for Thanksgiving Dinner: plan ahead

This one should have been obvious to us but we only learned it with maybe a week to spare. When we did a count of the table space, chairs and other seating in our home, it was clear that we were going to be very short of seating. Cooking a Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing and other dishes in a single oven was also going to be a challenge (although we did have a microwave).

What we did: we borrowed card tables and buffet tables from family and friends. Alternatively, you could rent these items. If you prefer to buy them and keep them on hand for unexpected Thanksgiving or holiday guests, Target, Walmart and many other stores have folding chairs that are attractive enough to use as regular dining room chairs. Simply go to Target's home page here www.target.com or Walmart's home page here: www.walmart.com and search for folding dining room chairs. Tv trays can also be a wonderful way to serve extra guests, particularly if they are sitting on a comfortable couch or armchair with plush cushions for extra comfort.

Another way to make Thanksgiving work in a small home? Rethink the use of your space

We had a living room, heated sun porch and small dining room which were the main entertainment spaces in our home. People could also stand in the kitchen but seating space there was limited for Thanksgiving dinner. When we got past the idea that the dining room had to be the dining room on Thanksgiving, we suddenly saw new possibilities in each room. We didn't have to stick with our usual furniture arrangement.

What we did: we turned the living room into a dining room and using the heated porch and former dining area as extra seating spaces. We put a folding table in both the porch and former dining room and - along with tv trays, managed to seat and serve all 30 people.

Thanksgiving dinner can work well if you make your bookshelves, counters and tables serve multiple purposes

Some holiday solutions were right in front of our eyes (as soon as we learned to think creatively). A tall bookshelf would work well for serving drinks and appetizers, as well as a bar area. Storage units that were already in place under our living room windows were the perfect height for serving a Thanksgiving dinner, buffet style.

What we did: we turned the bookshelves into a bar and appetizer area and put the rest of the Thanksgiving dishes, from stuffing to pumpkin pie, on the long buffet areas.

Consider swapping out furniture before Thanksgiving. Use your largest space as the dining room or major seating area

Since the living room, sun room and dining spaces were barely separated, we realized that we could swap out the furniture in each room. Our living room was much larger than our tiny dining room. So we simply moved the dining room table to the sun porch and borrowed a larger table to put in our living room.

What else we did: The living room furniture was rearranged to work with the dining room table and extra pieces were moved to a friend's basement. The friend lived next door. Within an hour, our former living room was now a spacious dining area, located conveniently right in front of a fireplace, perfect for lighting and adding a cozy feeling.

When Thanksgiving dinner looms closer, who wants to face a cluttered kitchen, especially in a small home? Consider having friends and family bring a dish or two, especially if they seem eager to do so.

If you really feel like you have to prepare a complete Thanksgiving dinner yourself - or are a perfectionist - then be prepared to feel a bit frazzled at the end of the day. We discovered that some of our friends and family had signature dishes that they not only wanted to bring but were eager to offer as their contribution to the holiday meal. Remember, every dish that someone else makes is one less bit of work for you. Less time chopping food on the counter. Less time trying to figure out how to make a small oven miraculously cook enough food for 20 or 30 people - or more. Less chance that someone will complain that someone else makes it much better than you do.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting you slack off when it comes to being a good host or hostess for your Thanksgiving dinner guests . But there is nothing wrong with a relative bringing a favorite Thanksgiving recipe or variation for sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce or even a dessert. You'll still have plenty to do when it comes to cooking the turkey, preparing stuffing and making sure your guests have other side dishes, drinks and appetizers.

What we did: accepted friends' offers to bring signature or favorite dishes. We didn't have a cluttered kitchen as a result.

Other small space solutions for holiday entertaining? Prepare as much of the meal ahead of time as possible.

Weeks ahead of time, I cooked several casseroles and put them in the freezer, including cranberry sauce. I also made a Jello salad the day before our Thanksgiving dinner was planned. I wasn't afraid to use tried and true packaged foods as well. I'm a huge fan of items from Williams Sonoma, Whole Foods and other gourmet food stores.

A favorite is sticky toffee pudding found here: www.stickytoffeepudding.com/ and this year the company has added some intriguing new desserts, including a lemon pudding that I'll be ordering. Of course, you can find or substitute prepared foods of your choice but everyone looks forward to that sticky toffee pudding now. This one seems perfect for Thanksgiving, with its complex flavors perfect for an autumn meal. We've also had great success with John and Kira's ganache stuffed figs, including some lovely Thanksgiving dessert selections, which can be found at John and Kira's here: www.johnandkiras.com/

What we did: learned to incorporate delicious gourmet food into our dessert table, keeping the kitchen less messy.

Learn how two and three-tier plate racks as well as silverware holders can reduce clutter and make a small buffet table seem larger

I'm a huge fan of 2 and 3-tier plate racks, those great plate holders which make the most of vertical space on a buffet or serving table. I got mine at Target but they are available at a number of stores. Simply stack the plates on the rack and let guests grab one before serving themselves from a Thanksgiving dinner buffet. Also consider the use of layered serving dishes that hold two or three levels of casseroles, dessert dishes , etc. When table space is limited, layering your serving dishes can take up less space. Also, if you have your plates on racks, guests can sit down at the various tables and chat before dinner without having to worry about bumping a plate. if you really want your table to look set by dinner time, consider using plate chargers on the table,adding a more finished look even before the actual plates go on top of the chargers.

What we did: used plate racks to keep the dining tables free for serving appetizers before dinner. Make the most of vertical space by using 2 and 3-tier plate racks that had a small footprint on our buffet table. I borrowed an antique silverware holder to add both a traditional Thanksgiving touch as well as a practical way to hold knives, forks and spoons.

Small space solutions for Thanksgiving dinner: use mirrors and focal points as distractions

Do you have a hanging wall mirror that can easily be moved from one room to another? If so, think about putting that on a wall in a small room. This could make the space much larger. Add some candles in front of the mirror and you not only have the romance of flickering candlelight but instant atmosphere in a small space that could be lacking in charm.

What we did: temporarily relocated one bathroom mirror from our bedroom to a dining room. Suddenly, that room looked perfect for Thanksgiving - and the candles were an inexpensive touch that distracted people from focusing on the room size. If you use this trick on Thanksgiving, be sure to place the mirror so it lengthens the room and reflects something attractive, such as a view of the outdoors.

Hosting large groups in a small house for Thanksgiving: don't forget to use crockpots, toaster ovens and other ways of serving holiday food and drinks. A crockpot could be used for mulled apple cider or for baked beans or even mashed potatoes or soup. However you use it, you'll avoid using your stove more than you absolutely need to use it.

What we did: we gained a new respect for the humble crockpot, which kept foods and drinks warm through Thanksgiving dinner.

Small space solution for Thanksgiving dinner: declutter aggressively.

No, you don't have to pitch your favorite items. Just box them up and make room for Thanksgiving serving dishes, foods and counter space. All your beloved items can come back after Thanksgiving dinner - if you aren't too busy planning your Christmas shopping strategy by then!

Bonus suggestion: don't ignore a great view

If you happen to live in a small home or apartment that has a nice view, think about arranging the seating to get people to focus on that view. This is an instant way to take the focus off your tight space and keep people from feeling claustrophobic. So open the windows, let people see the autumn foliage or lake view. Without buying a single picture, you've just added a focal point to your space!