Thanksgiving is on the horizon, and we are building up ways to prepare our homes for the hustle and bustle this holiday brings. Thanksgiving is the most traveled holiday of the year. With family and friends arriving, it can be hectic to maintained.

Cooking an outlandish meal that pleases everyone from having to rearrange guests can be a little crazy for some of us, but you can ease some of that holiday stress when you follow these nine simple tips to prepare your home for Thanksgiving.

Planning a guest list for visiting family and friends may be a good option for you if you have a large family. Open a spreadsheet (Google Sheets are free) and type everyone's name, any food allergy, diet, etc.

If you don't have access to a spreadsheet program, or prefer to do it the old fashioned way, then use a notebook or a guestbook format to keep track of everyone who is coming.

Note if they are bringing a plus one, how many children will attend, if they are going to stay with you, and what time works best to have Thanksgiving dinner. This way, you'll have an outline of your menu options, seating, and what time to have dinner ready. 

Most people would argue the menu for a Thanksgiving dinner is a crucial part of the holiday. A fresh roast turkey straight out of the oven, mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole, pumpkin, and pecan pies; are all incorporated in the typical Thanksgiving dinner. 

Peta.org has a whole cheat sheet for vegan friends and family on what to swap out for vegan diets. For example, you can swap whole milk with almond or soy milk, eggs can be replaced as well, and vegan cheese is a good substitute for regular cheese. All of these items are great ways to make a delicious meal for your vegan loved ones.

Allergic living has 50 allergy-friendly recipes for Thanksgiving for anyone with a food allergy. Some of the recipes include Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies and Turkey Breast Roast with Pancetta-Infused Mashed Potatoes. Both recipes are gluten and major allergy-free.

After reading this suggestion, we hope the first suggestion makes even more sense than it initially did.

Organizing, cleaning, and setting a place for guests may be best to complete as soon as possible. This way, you are not rushing around while guests arrive, making you a better host. Designate a spot for jackets, coats, or other bulky items that you can stow away in a closet or unoccupied room.

Then prepare beds for guests who plan on staying for a few nights. Start with picking out a room(s) with accommodations your guests will love and appreciate. A room close to a side door, or front door, will be good if they want to leave for a bit as not to disturb others in the home.

Provide clean linens and toiletries they might need, such as bedsheets, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. They may not need them, but it's good to have around just in case.

As the big day approaches, plan to start cooking early in the day. Make sure to clean and sanitize your kitchen area first before cooking to prevent common food preparation diseases from developing like salmonella and E. coli.

Next, preheat your oven to accurately roast turkey, wash any vegetables, boil water for any pasta dishes (mac n' cheese) or mashed potatoes, chop anything you need for a salad, and prepare for any desserts that are going to be made.

For desserts, cookies, and pies, focus on those last, so guests will smell the scent of fresh-baked cookies and pastries as they come through the door.

If any of the dishes you are making belong on in the refrigerator, then make it after you put the turkey in the oven. Doing so will allow for those dishes to refrigerate longer, thus tasting better. Deviled eggs are a prime example of a side that needs to chill a long time to enhance their flavor.

Deviled eggs can be made in advance for around two days if you want to make them ahead of time. You do not have to worry about setting them out and getting cold before all your guests arrive.

So, you'll save some time to focus on other things as well. Once you have the food cooking, then you can spend that time where it's most important, with friends and family.

Give yourself a least a week prior to Thanksgiving to decorate your home. Don't make the mistake of waiting last minute for this. The holiday is stressful enough, and we want to make the best impression on our guests.

Start in the living room, place a wreath, and matching garland on the fireplace mantle. Light candles around the garland, but be cautious of the flames, to illuminate the decorations for a cozy feel.

If your couch is a little worse for wear, use Miracle Sofa's couch covers to protect your sofa from stains and to pull together your decorations. Miracle Sofa offers tons of different colors and style options to choose from for your desired decor look.

We also have dining chair covers too! Complete your holiday decor when you use these sets to tie your rooms together. Guests will be impressed with how to put together your home is and wonder how you managed it.

The best part of these sets is that you can assemble them in less than a minute, and the covers are stretchy, so they'll fit just about any piece of furniture you have. After all of that is accomplished, your living room and dining room will be ready for the big day.

Now it's time to decorate the Thanksgiving table for Thanksgiving day. Drape a white lace tablecloth, add a cornucopia, leaves, pinecones, or practically anything that is fall-inspired.

Then set the table with your Thanksgiving dishes from the seating list-plan you made. Consider adding a kids' table separately or make sure there is enough space to include them to sit with the adults.

Now it's time to decorate the Thanksgiving table for Thanksgiving day. Drape a white lace tablecloth, add a cornucopia, leaves, pinecones, or practically anything that is fall-inspired.

Then set the table with your Thanksgiving dishes from the seating list-plan you made. Consider adding a kids' table separately or make sure there is enough space to include them to sit with the adults.

Entertainment will give visitors something to do either before dinner. Games, movies, books are just some ideas to use that everyone will like. Monopoly, Battleship, and Charades are party games that everyone will know how to play and make hosting a breeze.

Everyone (even the kids) can preoccupy themselves with the fun while you're getting ahead of time. Make sure to clear out significant clean areas for people to participate and let them enjoy themselves.

While serving dinner, play some soft music to help with small talk and fill an awkward silence. You could also use the T.V. so guests can watch football or movies they enjoy. Even laying out books or magazines will give guests something to do if they arrive ahead of time.

If you are on the flip side of Thanksgiving this year, then you may be wondering what to take on Thanksgiving day. The first thing you might want to do is check with whoever is hosting what they need to you to bring and how much. You can discuss and plan out a list of who is bringing what meal and get an idea of what to do.

Don't worry about making the perfect dish from scratch. Your favorite recipe to make will do instead, whether it is pigs in a blanket, green bean casserole, or bean dip. Pick something that is easy and that most everyone will enjoy. Besides, a new recipe is sometimes challenging to learn, so sticking to more straightforward recipes you know how to do will save you time and headaches instead.

Hosting the big day is hard work, so your host will gladly appreciate it, especially if the host is elderly and needs help with everything set up. Even after dinner, wash the dishes, take the trash out, check areas where other visitors were, and offer to help tidy up. This way, you can relieve some of the burden from your host and show your gratitude at the same time.

After an exhausting day of cooking, cleaning, decorating, and getting the home ready, don't be in a rush to clear plates and other dishes. Enjoy the time with family and friends by talking about the essential things in their life.

For some of us, we only see family once or twice a year, so take in the small moments with one another.

Talk about what has been going on with their lives and have a new experience with distant relatives; get to see what they like and don't like about their jobs; see if they have tips for you on their current profession.

Also, get their opinion on which recipe they enjoyed the most so you can make sure to make it again for next year. Lastly, share one thing you are grateful for and why you choose that one thing.

Avoid talking about politics, religion, or other topics that may cause disagreements. It's so tempting to do, but refraining from contentious subjects will ensure everyone has a good time and there are no harsh words exchanged.

Nothing says Thanksgiving more than giving thanks for what you have. However, it's another to show that you are grateful. Volunteering at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter is a sure way to show love to your community.

Search for local ones in your area and give some of your time there. Get meal items that will last longer and donate them to a local food bank for people who can not afford groceries. You'll feel great for putting others first, and you'll want to do it again next year.

Make sure to bring family with you as well to bask in the joy of giving to others.

Thanksgiving can be a stressful time, but after following these tips, you're going notice a big difference from previous years. Plan food, living arrangements, and seating ahead to give you more breathing space.

Make sure the kitchen, dining, and bathrooms are the cleanest parts of your home. Prepare and search on for meals that compliment all diet types and food allergies. Volunteer or donate to local charities in your community who need your help the most.

We hope these tips help you prepare for a fun and safe Thanksgiving holiday!