Olioboard Inspiration: Preparing your Kitchen for the Holidays

Entry #2960, November 6, 2013

Today we continue Stagetecture’s feature ‘Olioboard Inspiration‘. Before you enjoyed – ‘Inspiring Themed Baby Shower Ideas’ from Cari Murphy . Today, I feature Shelley Harcar who is a member of the Facebook Olioboard Fan Room group and she helps you prepare your kitchen for the busy holidays coming up! See her clever ideas for organization, Thanksgiving decorations and more.

If you’re interested in being featured see details here: How to be featured on Stagetecture’s Olioboard Inspiration‘ series.

To see all the past Stagetecture’s Olioboard Inspiration members on Pinterest click here.

Olioboard Inspiration #45

‘Preparing your Kitchen for the Holidays’    Shelley Harcar

The holidays are fast approaching. If  like me, your kitchen will be a particularly busy place from November through to January. In order to thrive, not just to survive during this festive time, preparation is a must.

Start by thinking about your role in the upcoming holidays. Are you entertaining flocks of family & friends; or are you hosting a smaller, informal gathering?  Take stock of what will be required of you and then plan a menu accordingly. Now is the time to double check recipes to ensure you have all the ingredients and to compose a shopping list. It is also a good time to sift through new recipes and see if you would like to add something different to this year’s feast.

Modern Holiday Kitchen Ideas

In my first Olioboard is for a sleek, modern kitchen which is not necessarily compatible with turkeys and pilgrims. While touches of autumn can still be found, they are more minimal. Twig decals add interest to the wall, while a mosaic done in autumn colors brightens the breakfast bar. Modern canisters embellished with gold toned leaves are beautiful and functional. The table centerpiece gets pops of color from gerbera daisies arranged in a vase with twigs and leaves.

Shop for your essentials as early as you can to save time later.  The closer you are to the big day, the longer the grocery store checkout lines will be.  Restock your spices and herbs; be sure you have plenty of fresh ingredients for your culinary masterpieces. Read over your recipes and see what can be done in advance. I dice, sauté, & freeze celery and onions for my turkey dressing in early November as well as cubing & freezing my bread for the same recipe. This saves work in the hours prior to Thanksgiving. Many recipes have steps you can do ahead.

Preparing your kitchen for the holidays

Decorating for holidays is near and dear to my heart. A nicely appointed kitchen can add an extra bit of holiday cheer, especially if you are the one up to your elbows in dishwater. At least you can enjoy your surroundings! Start with a nice clean kitchen. Replace any worn or unsightly kitchen linens and do the heavy cleaning: oven, refrigerator shelves, behind the fridge, windows, walls and floors all these can be done now and touched up on an as needed basis.

Traditional Thanksgiving Kitchen

In my second Olioboard I have shown examples of decorations that don’t disrupt the kitchen and I chose a traditional Thanksgiving theme. Outlining the cupboards with silk fall leaves is quick, easy, and inexpensive and adds an immediate touch of autumn’s brightness. A large fall wreath, Indian corn, and a banner decorate the windows. A basket of colorful gourds and a charming fall sculpture flank either side of the kitchen but don’t require much space. I love using seasonal items that are functional. The turkey platters, tea pot, salt and pepper shakers, timer, dinnerware and clock all have a useful purpose and add the ambiance of the season.

With all the activity in the kitchen, you will want to keep your decorative items somewhat minimal. Very few of my 50 plus turkeys make it into my kitchen, simply because of the space they would require. Also think of the safety of guests when choosing kitchen decorations. Low hanging garlands, candles, and extension cords all have the potential for causing injuries.

Most importantly,enjoy yourself as much as possible while planning and prepping your holiday kitchen. Include spouses and children or grandchildren in the preparation if possible.

I hope I have inspired you to begin preparing your kitchen for the holidays.  As we all know, they will be here sooner than we think.

About Shelley Harcar

I am a lifelong Ohioan and presently live in Stow with my family. I am a graduate of Youngstown State University, where I studied Social Work and Psychology. I am currently employed as a substitute teacher within my local school district. I also do freelance writing. My designing interest began over 20 years ago when I became a floral designer. In addition to making floral designs, we were invited into customer’s homes to assist with holiday and seasonal decorating.

I discovered Olioboard through a friend, and I quickly became caught up in the fun of the Olioboard Fan Room. It is a great escape from everyday life and I find a great deal of satisfaction in taking a blank screen and turning it into something lovely. When I’m not designing, I enjoy watching sports with my son, shopping, writing, and spending time with friends & family. You can read Shelley’s writing here.