When it comes to decorating your home for the holiday season, Thanksgiving can be a quick and easy holiday. Here are some of my favorite décor ideas, and each can be done in three simple steps.

Design your Thanksgiving table

Don't spend time fussing over the place settings. This year, break up the process into three simple steps.

1. Arrange your guests. Your guests may not remember your centerpiece, or even what you served, but they will certainly remember whom they sat next to and the conversations they had. Mix and match people from different generations, walks of life and locations to encourage lively chat around the dinner table.

2. Craft your menu. Take some time to think about what you'll serve. Thanksgiving has its traditions, but how will you put a unique spin on it? You can ask guests beforehand for their favorite dishes and flavors, and incorporate some into the menu.

3. Design your centerpiece. Take cues from your menu when designing the centerpiece and related décor. If your meal is traditional, stick with classics like candles and flowers. For a more playful menu, choose more eclectic décor like gourds or baskets filled with produce and natural objects.

Create a rustic centerpiece

Take a look – and a walk – outside for inspiration.

1. Hunt. Take a nature walk and search for pinecones, beautiful colored leaves, acorns and other autumn treasures. This is especially fun for children to do. You may even consider providing each child with a list of items to find and award a prize to the one who completes their list first.

2. Gather. Once you've collected all the items, sift through them to select the best pieces. Choose leaves that aren't broken or torn, and evenly sized pinecones and gourds.

3. Display. Gently scatter pieces down the center of your table. It will be more charming if the items don't appear overly staged or organized.

Delight guests with your décor

Home decoration isn't only about pleasing the eye; it's a full sensory experience. When designing for the holidays, I rely on all of my senses. Every sight, sound and smell can trigger memories and create or enhance moods.

1. Sight. Before guests arrive, take time to de-clutter. Look at your room through the eyes of someone who doesn't live there; that stack of magazines on the end table may seem to blend in, but they'll stick out to someone else. Replace clutter with small bouquets. For Thanksgiving, I love the combination of sunny orange flowers and rich greenery.

2. Smell. Buy sprigs of herbs (or gather them from your garden) and work them into your bouquets. Sage, rosemary and thyme are my favorites. They'll perfume the air with an earthy fragrance and tease your nose with the flavors to come at dinnertime.

3. Sound. Create a playlist or select a CD with upbeat music and turn up the volume just slightly. The peppy tunes will keep the party flowing without making it difficult to converse.

Share a family classic

Creating a cozy atmosphere isn't just about how you design your home. Be sure to always incorporate one of your family's most beloved classic dishes into Thanksgiving meals. For me, it's my mom's Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes, easily prepared in only three steps.

Ingredients

• Six large sweet potatoes or yams
• Six large navel oranges
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• One can crushed pineapple, undrained
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• Parsley sprigs
• One can whole cranberry sauce

1. Scrub potatoes. Place in large saucepan of boiling water; cook covered for 30 to 35 minutes or until tender. Drain well. Peel potatoes and mash with a masher or electric mixer.

2. Halve oranges; scoop out pulp keeping rinds intact. Place rinds in a large bowl; cover with hot water and add vinegar. Drain after 5 minutes.

3. Blend pineapple, butter, salt and spices into the potatoes. Scoop mixture into the reserved orange rinds. Place oranges in casserole dish and bake at 300 degrees for 20 minutes. Garnish with cranberry sauce and parsley before serving.

Get the recipe 

Assemble your Thanksgiving toolbox

When it comes to working in the kitchen, you can never be too prepared. These are my three essential appliances for making Thanksgiving dinner.

1. Induction cooktop. The burners heat up quickly, cut cooking time dramatically and offer added energy efficiencies. And, the sleek surface blends seamlessly into a variety of home styles.

2. UltraWash®HE dishwasher. Cleaning up after dinner is a breeze when you don't have to worry about pre-rinsing or soaking dishes. This dishwasher gives me another excuse to entertain.

3. Microwave. Although I'd like to be, I'm not a gourmet chef. A high-powered microwave helps me get more done in less time.

Tap into timeless inspiration

Thanksgiving is as much about creating new experiences and traditions as it is about remembering the past. This year, I'm keeping that in mind when choosing my holiday décor.

1. Cherish the past. Keep family traditions alive – whether it's using dad's favorite chair as an inspiration for the room décor, or serving the meal on your grandparents' wedding china.

2. Be in the present. Focus on the moment. Don't get too caught up in creating perfection. You'll enjoy and cherish the experience more.

3. Focus on the future. Let younger family members inspire the décor. Ask them to draw pictures of what they're thankful for or what they'd like to do when they grow up. Each drawing can inspire conversation throughout the meal.