Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year (or did you, if you’re in Canada)? Last year we were settling into our new home and enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving at my daughter Kylee’s place in Portland. This year, the gathering is at our house. We’ll have my sister and her family, the grandparents, our son Luke, daughter Kylee with her husband Lance, and my daughter Courtney with her husband Dong. It feels special to bring everyone together under one roof.
Today’s Monday Mood Board captures the warm feelings of gratitude and home that Thanksgiving brings. It celebrates the senses: the music playing in the background, the chatter in the kitchen, the steady rhythm of peeling potatoes and stirring gravy. We have favorite playlists for gatherings, and the kitchen always hums with activity—charcuterie boards assembled for guests, pies baked by family members, and everyone pitching in with sides and preparations. I can almost smell the aromas drifting through the house just thinking about it.
We can’t wait to welcome our family here. Over the years we’ve created so many treasured Thanksgiving memories—at the family beach house near Cannon Beach, at my parents’ home, in our own house, and now in our children’s homes. The location never matters as much as being together. We’ve learned that the best gatherings are imperfect and heartfelt: kids help set the table, laughter fills the rooms, and the focus is on being present with one another.
Thanksgiving is about sharing time around the table—whether it’s a formal setting or folding chairs and card tables—and expressing gratitude for the blessings in our lives. It’s about the people more than the presentation, and about making room for everyone to join in the joy.
I hope this mood board inspires you to create a welcoming Thanksgiving atmosphere in your home—one that prioritizes warmth, comfort, and connection.
Mood Board Sources:
Almond Cream Kitchen Aid Mixer // Ceramic Pumpkin Shaped Deep Pie Dish with Lid // Silicone and Wood Double Spoon // Copper Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker Set // Pumpkin Spice Dish Towel ‘give thanks and eat pie’ // Forest Feast Gatherings: Simple Vegetarian Menus for Hosting Friends & Family // Pumpkin Spice Spread // Bird Dessert Plate // Jute Woven Round Placemat // White Sauce Boat // Mouse Place Card Holder // Small Wood Bread Board // Slate Cheese Board and Chalk Set // Marble and Wood Oval Serving Board // Thanksgiving Pie Crust Cutters
Related posts:
Monday Mood Board: Autumn Dining Room
How to Decorate Your Kitchen for Fall: 17 Cozy Ideas
Simple and Charming Thanksgiving Table Decorating Ideas
Simple and Natural Table Setting Ideas
Simple Cozy Fall Tablescape in our New Dining Room
My Book Simple Gatherings: 50 Ways to Inspire Connection
See all Monday Mood Boards here