Where to Set Up a Thanksgiving Buffet Line in a Small House

Back when I lived in a teeny tiny 880 square foot house, hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for the family was a challenge. Seating and serving everyone at a single table was impossible which meant that buffet style eating was the only way that Thanksgiving dinner could be served. Buffet style means that instead of placing the Thanksgiving turkey and all the trimmings on the dining room table, the food is presented and served elsewhere in the house. Plates are dished up in the buffet line ~ self service style ~ and then taken to a table to enjoy.

There's all sorts of advantages to a Thanksgiving buffet line I've discovered. Not only is the food centralized and easy to reach for seconds, hot foods can be kept hot in warming trays or in crock pots. A buffet line also eliminates the fuss of passing around platters from one person to another, or even to another table. For small house entertaining where your Thanksgiving dinner guests may be spread around a couple of rooms, a buffet line is a great option.

So how do you set up a Thanksgiving buffet line in a small house?

In large homes, the kitchen counter or a piece of furniture known as a sideboard is a common location for a buffet set up. In small homes, you will have to think creatively. Some ideas of locations:

1. Move the kitchen chairs to the living room and set up the Thanksgiving buffet on the kitchen table.

2. Try setting up your buffet on a porch, deck, or covered patio. Be sure to clear any obstacles that might get in the way of your guests going in and outdoors. When a house is small, taking advantage of available outdoor space is a fantastic way of freeing up more room.

3. If your laundry room is close to the kitchen, why not use your washer and dryer as part of your buffet table? In past years, I've covered these appliances with a pretty Thanksgiving themed tablecloth and used the laundry room for serving beverages.

4. Find space for a buffet table in front of the picture window, fireplace, or against a blank wall.

5. Shove the furniture a little closer together towards one end of the living room and set up the Thanksgiving buffet line at the opposite end.

When it comes to small home entertaining for Thanksgiving, a buffet line may be the best option for feeding a household of guests. By squeezing the furniture a little closer together and thinking creatively, a Thanksgiving buffet is possible even when space is short.