Hosting Season Checklist: Dining Room and Guest Room Pieces to Sort Out Before the Holidays

If you're hosting dinners or overnight guests this holiday season, the pieces to sort out now are seating for everyone at the table, a place to serve from, and a comfortable, practical setup for guests who stay the night. Order furniture in October or early November so it arrives, gets assembled and settles in before the first visit. Use the checklists below to find the gaps before your guests do.

Start with the calendar

Furniture takes longer than a sweater to arrive, and it usually needs assembly. Our shipping policy lists orders as typically processed within 1–5 business days, with total delivery usually 4–10 business days in the contiguous U.S. and 4–13 business days to Canada, both including processing. Only standard shipping is offered.

• U.S. Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026): place furniture orders by early November to leave time for delivery, assembly and a buffer.
• December gatherings: aim to order by mid-November, before carriers get busier.
• Canadian readers: Canadian Thanksgiving is October 12, 2026, so for this year's hosting, think ahead to December.

Build in a week of slack beyond the delivery window. Business days skip weekends and holidays, and you'll want a quiet evening to put things together.

Dining room checklist

1. Count your real headcount

Write down the largest group you expect at one meal, including kids. Then count the seats you actually have that match your table height. The gap between those two numbers is your first shopping item.

2. Check that your table fits the crowd

• Allow roughly 24 inches of table edge per person so elbows don't collide.
• Leave about 36 inches between the table edge and a wall or furniture so people can pull out a chair and sit down.
• Measure the room with any leaf in, not just the table's everyday size.

If you regularly host bigger groups, a table with a leaf gives you flexibility the rest of the year. The 98" Dark Brown Solid Wood Self-Storing Leaf Pedestal Base Dining Table is a solid wood pedestal table in dark brown with a glossy finish and, as its name says, a self-storing leaf. At 98 inches wide per the listing, it's built for long tables of guests, so measure your room carefully first.

3. Match your chairs

Mismatched folding chairs work in a pinch, but a matching set makes the table feel planned. Armless side chairs are the most flexible because they tuck in close and fit more people along each side. The Set of Four Beige and Black Fabric and Steel Dining Side Chairs is listed as armless and space saving, with a partially open, cushioned back. Its listing also suggests using them as extra seating in a hallway or living room after the holidays.

4. Set up a serving station

A sideboard or buffet takes platters, drinks and dessert off the table so there's room for plates. It also gives you closed storage for serving pieces the other eleven months. The 68" Natural Distressed Carved Geometric Sideboard with Four Doors has carved geometric detailing on its doors, a distressed natural finish, and shelves inside.

5. Fix the light

• Put the dining fixture on a dimmer if you can.
• Use warm bulbs so food and faces look their best.
• Add candles or a small lamp on the sideboard for a softer glow.

6. Gather the small things

• Enough matching plates, glasses and flatware for your headcount, plus a few spares.
• A tablecloth or runner that fits the table at full length.
• Trivets, serving spoons and a spot to stack coats.

Browse the full Dining Room collection for tables, chairs, benches and sideboards.

Guest room checklist

The best way to prepare a guest room is to sleep in it for one night yourself. You'll find the missing lamp, the curtain that lets in the streetlight and the lack of anywhere to put a suitcase. Here's what to check.

1. A good bed

• Fresh pillows, with at least one firm and one soft option.
• Clean sheets and an extra blanket at the foot of the bed.
• A mattress protector, especially if the bed doesn't get used much.

2. A bedside surface on each side you can

Guests need somewhere to put a phone, glasses and a glass of water. The Two-Drawer Nightstand with Metal Legs is a compact option with two drawers, a manufactured-wood frame and top, and metal legs, offered in walnut or white. Its listing notes full assembly is required, so build it before guests arrive.

3. A place for the suitcase

This is the detail guests notice most. A luggage rack keeps bags off the bed and floor. The Hotel Light Walnut Folding Luggage Rack With Four Straps is a folding solid wood rack with four straps. The listing notes it can also hold a tray or blankets, and when it's folded it stores flat until next time. There are more finishes in our luggage racks collection.

4. Light and privacy

• A bedside lamp guests can switch off without getting up.
• Curtains or shades that actually block light.
• A nightlight in the hallway to the bathroom.

5. Small comforts

• Empty hangers and a cleared drawer or shelf.
• A charging spot near the bed.
• A mirror, towels set out, and the Wi-Fi password on a card.

No guest room? Plan the living room instead

If guests will sleep in a shared space, a sleeper sofa does double duty. The 90" Dark Gray Linen Sleeper Sofa And Toss Pillows With Silver Legs is a dark gray linen sleeper with square arms, tufted stitching, toss pillows and silver stainless steel legs. Before ordering any sleeper, measure the room with the bed opened out, and leave space to walk around it at night.

Add a folding screen or a curtain for privacy, a basket for the guest's things, and a side table within reach of the pillow.

The week before guests arrive

• Finish assembling anything new and tighten every bolt after a day of use.
• Wash the guest bedding and air out pillows.
• Do a full test seating: pull every chair up to the table and walk behind them.
• Clear the sideboard top for serving.
• Keep the original boxes until you're sure a new piece is staying. Our Refund Policy requires returns to be in original packaging within 30 calendar days of receipt.

FAQ

When should I order furniture for Thanksgiving?

For U.S. Thanksgiving on November 26, 2026, order by early November. Our policy lists U.S. delivery as usually 4–10 business days including processing, and you'll need time to assemble.

Is shipping free?

U.S. orders over $120 ship free in the contiguous U.S., with a $9.90 flat rate below that. Canadian orders over $500 ship free.

How much space do I need per dinner guest?

Plan roughly 24 inches of table edge per person and about 36 inches behind each chair so people can sit down and get up easily.

What does a guest room need most?

A comfortable bed, a bedside surface with a lamp, a place for luggage, and a way to darken the room. Everything else is a bonus.

Can I return a piece if it doesn't work out?

Yes, within 30 calendar days of receipt, unused and in the original packaging. Return shipping is the customer's responsibility unless the item is defective, damaged or incorrect.