Thanksgiving is just a month away, making this the busiest time of year for hosting and entertaining. To keep yourself organized, just follow these ten easy steps.

Four Weeks Until Thanksgiving

1. Count who’s coming: Make a list of all your guests. This will help you determine how much food you need, what size tablecloth to use, and how many places you’ll set. It is always a good idea to have extra napkins and place settings available, and don’t forget that hosting Thanksgiving requires plenty of serving dishes and platters.

2. Plan a menu.  Place orders for turkeys, side dishes, and desserts.

3. Order flower arrangements.

Three Weeks Until Thanksgiving

4. Plan your decor: The start of November is the perfect time to set up your Thanksgiving decor, and enjoy it all month long. Whether you prefer Herend‘s precious woodland creatures or Simon Pearce‘s delicate glass pumpkins, adding a few seasonal items to your home will keep you and your guests feeling spirited.

Two Weeks Until Thanksgiving

5. Clean your house thoroughly.  Check carpets, walls, and all lighting fixtures: you want your house to shine!

6. Prep your guest rooms.   Be sure out-of-towners feel welcome and comfortable with fresh towels and sheets in festive fall colors.

One Week Until Thanksgiving

7. Purchase all non-perishable items.  Thaw frozen turkeys.

Two Days Until Thanksgiving

8. Iron table linens, set dinnerware and serving pieces out.

One Day Before Thanksgiving

9. Bake vegetables, side dishes, and pies.  Pick up flowers and prepared foods.

Thanksgiving Day

10. Bake the turkey, light the candles, and enjoy!

For more ideas, visit our Thanksgiving shop.

When setting your table, the details are just as important as the main course! That’s why, for a limited time, we’re putting all our Le Jacquard Francais Dinner Napkins on sale for 30% off! Whether you match them to a tablecloth in the same collection, or use them to spice up classic solid linens, grab them by December 14 to take advantage of this amazing Holiday offer.

To view all our Le Jacquard Francais collections, click here!

With the biggest entertaining season underway, we have added many new tabletop essentials to our sale section! Quantities are limited, so don’t wait!

View our complete sale section at GraciousStyle.com

Holiday season is just beginning, and picking the right table linens is an essential step for all hosts. To help you make the perfect choice, we’ve broken down the five basic questions to ask before making your decision:

1. What material should I choose?

Because they are strong and absorbent, we recommend natural materials like cotton and linen.   But if you are short on time, there are great easy-care table linen collections available which are either stain-resistant or wrinkle resistant.

2. What size tablecloth should I buy?

For formal settings, we recommend that tablecloths should hang down 10″ to 12″ evenly around the table. In contrast, casual events call for cloths that have 6″ – 8″ drops.

To calculate the size of tablecloth you need, measure the length and width of your table and add twice the desired drop to each dimension. For example, if your table measures 48″ wide and 84″ long, and you would like a 12″ drop on each side, your tablecloth should be:
48″ + 12″ + 12″ = 72″ wide
84″ + 12″ + 12″ = 92″ long

For round tables, measure the diameter of your table and add twice the desired drop. Following the example above, 48″ round tables would require 70″ round tablecloths.

3. What shape should my tablecloth be?

On square and rectangular tables, we suggest using the same shape tablecloth. On round tables, either rounds or squares may be used, while on oval tables, either oval or rectangular tablecloths may be used. If you have several tables that you use often and your budget is limited, a nice alternative is to use placemats and napkins, which will work in any situation.

4. What should I consider in choosing linens for a special event?

There are several important factors to take into account when choosing table linens for a special event:

– Location: Choose colors to complement the existing décor of your dining room. For outdoor events, let the setting be your guide. Generally, bright colors look better in sunny locations, while pastels are wonderful in garden settings.

– Season: Spring and summer colors tend to be lighter, while bolder colors are more appropriate during the colder fall and winter months.

– Theme: Colorful linens are one of the most effective ways to set the mood you want to create. Vibrant colors add drama, while soft colors evoke a more refined atmosphere.

5. Do I need a table liner?

Although designed to last a lifetime, fine table surfaces are often exposed to excessive wear and tear. To help protect your tables, thick felt table liners are designed to reduce noise and protect your tabletop against heat and scratches. Unlike ordinary liners, these are plush and generously sized (approximately 5″ larger than your table) to extend over the edge of your table in order to create a softer drape underneath your fine linens.  To read more, see Protecting Your Table with Felt Liners.

For more information on Choosing Table Linens, click here!

When preparing for Halloween, most people think to costumes first. But don’t forget about your decor! Whether you’re hosting a spooky soiree, or just getting in the spirit of the holiday, adding a few tricks and treats to your home is as much fun as dressing up.

Nothing says Halloween like a classic skull. Choose one with crystals for a glamorous touch that will still be a conversation piece long after the season has ended.

For small children, keep things creepy but cute with Herend’s delicate tarantula figurines.

Mix and match real pumpkins with elegant glass ones to create a unique, textured look.

Enchant your guests with hauntingly beautiful barware in shades of smoke, midnight and jet black.

Add a punch of orange to your bed or bath to keep yourself in the spirit of the season.

Can’t wait until Thanksgiving to get this Holiday season started? The transition from summer to fall is the perfect time to host a harvest party! Head to your local farmer’s market for some seasonal garden delicacies, and invite over some friends to celebrate the brisk breezes, turning leaves, and maybe even some sprinkling showers…

Have decor and drinks ready for guests as soon as they walk in the door. Add a few of these delicate pumpkins to your entryway or mantle, and try serving a seasonal ale with a hint of spice.

Stage your table or buffet with rich, dark colors.

Leave the guest bedroom door ajar to make friends and family feel welcome. Dress the bed with warm fall colors that invite out-of-towners to stay a while.

Join the weathered look of summer with the formality of fall by letting the character of  woodgrain or brick shine through. If you have an unfinished table or exposed wall, use this as a backdrop for fine cut glass or crystal.

Set the table with rustic refinement. Stoneware and pewter are more casual than fine china and silver, but still look pulled-together. Serve bread hot out of the oven, and rip it instead of cutting for that family-style feel.

Hosting a Harvest Party? Share your tips for fun fall festivities!

Marrying the magic of summer with the anticipation of Holiday merriment, Fall is the perfect time for a truly enchanting wedding. And who better to keep us on trend than Occasions Magazine? Here, we give a peek at their Fall 2014 issue, where they feature our Vietri Fantasia Dinnerware and Waterford Lismore Crimson Champagne Flutes in their delightful Sunflower and Scarlet motifs.

These harvest hues can instantly bring the charm of the season to your festivities and your home. Take a look at some of our favorite ways to use them every day:

Try a ruby red runner for a splash of spice that lets your tabletop shine through underneath.

Give your boudoir some spunk with a cheery gold quilt and shams.

Ground any space with a bold stripe crimson rug.

Show your kitchen some sunshine with festive kitchen towels.

Add instant elegance to your desk or credenza with a lustrous deep red accessories box.

Whether throwing him a huge birthday party, or just looking for a reason to show him you care, there are so many ways to celebrate the guy in your life. From glasses and decanters right down to the napkin rings, we have all the details that will make your get-together one to remember.

To create a table with sophisticated masculinity, try using a plaid or striped tablecloths. We love Libeco Home‘s refined rustic style.

For a rugged, eclectic feel, try mixing a variety of textures and materials for a look that feels special and unique. Use antler accents and leather finishes to off set fine cut glass and glistening metallics.

Like what you see? Check out more party ideas here.

Hosting for the holidays? Now’s the time to start planning those parties. And because all custom table linens are made to order, it can take up to 10-12 weeks to complete production, so get out your measuring tape! As these orders cannot be changed or cancelled after they are placed, here are six helpful tips to ensure you order the perfect table linens:

1. Count your expected guests. You may need to add additional leaves to your table for these special occasions, so be sure to measure the fullest length you need. Ordering additional napkins can be a great way to ensure you’re prepared for anything.

2. Consider shape. If you have an oval table, both an oval or rectangular cloth will work. Take a look at Sferra’s Classico, which has elegant long corners draping from an oval table shape:

3. Calculate your desired drop. We recommend a 10-15 inch drop on all sides, so be sure to add 20-30 inches to both the length and width of your table. Casual settings typically require a shorter drop, while some formal linens may reach all the way to the floor.

Not sure how long your drop should be? Place one of your dining chairs at your table and measure the gap between the bottom of the table and the top of the seat, and use this as your guide.

4. Choose your material. While linen shows classic elegance and tradition, you may also consider an easy-care option if you need to use these cloths frequently in a short period of time. Options like Egyptian Cotton allow for a texture with a beautiful, subtle sheen, while a synthetic option may be the right choice for those who need to quickly wash and dry to prepare for the next event. Easy care materials require little to no ironing, but if you opt for linen, try ironing your cloth while it’s still damp, which makes wrinkles much easier to erase.

5. Remember, these may shrink! All of our custom tablecloths are made slightly larger to compensate for shrinkage. If you would prefer to have the cloth cut exactly to your specific dimensions, without any additional fabric, please feel free to indicate this in Special Instructions at Checkout.

6. Have fun! Don’t forget the reason for the occasion: the celebrate with the ones you love! If you want to bring life to a white or ecru tablecloth, try colorful dinnerware or vibrant seasonal flowers on your table. If you love bright linens, choose from over 100 colors in the aptly named Festival Collection. Please note that the Festival fabric cannot be cut in an oval shape, but looks beautiful in round or rectangle.

For all of our custom table linens, click here.

How will you make this Holiday Season shine?

Need a little pampering? Chances are, your girlfriends do, too! Catch up with friends while enjoying some downtime with a relaxing and rejuvenating spa party.

Indulge in comfort and luxury with soft bath robes. We love how Yves Delorme combines the silkiest materials with floral, feminine designs, perfect for girl time.

To view more party ideas, click here.