Charcuterie and cheese boards are some of the most versatile and delicious finger foods you can serve at any get-together.
They can be large and elaborate or small and simple, and there’s virtually no occasion where they’re not a welcome addition to the table.
Click the link below for a full list of ingredient ideas to include when creating your awesome holiday board.
This Foolproof Charcuterie Board Has a Layout Map to Make Entertaining This Holiday Season a Breeze!
There's nothing more impressive to your guests than a well-done charcuterie board on display as they enter the party. A holiday favorite for many—charcuterie boards offer a little something for everyone and, when done right, are irresistible. When putting a charcuterie board together, there is a lot to consider. Ensuring the spread has a little bit of everything can be tricky; it's easy to forget amidst the other tasks you have to complete before your holiday party.
Right click on the image and save it to your device, then you can refer to it when building your boards.
If you haven't been displaying decorative greenery throughout your home in seasons past, consider this year the time to do so.
Greenery is taking center stage, so drape it across a bar or style with candles and ornaments for a fresh, festive touch. When choosing greenery for your space, go with a tone on tone look. Consider using subtle variations of evergreen, sage, olive, and pine. Layered with warm neutral materials like wool, velvet, and linen.
This year the trend is to limit any "pop of color" to traditional darker red berries or burgundy velvet ribbon or bows.
Trend 4: Mixed Metallics
In a similar vein, go with a collected look rather than an overly curated one when it comes to your metals this season.
Aged brass, antique silver, and touches of pewter bring quiet glow without feeling overdone. Embracing patina over polish because it adds depth and a sense of history.
Don't be afraid to continue the metallic theme when it comes to your tree itself. Deep brown and bronze accents as well as gold trees and decorations will be popular this year (see trend #1).
Trend 2: Nostalgia & Coziness
The 2025 holiday season will be all about nostalgia and coziness or "comfort and character".
There is a move towards moody, grounded tones—deep greens, raisin, and soft amber— paired with natural textures like wood, wool, and woven fibers.
The look feels nostalgic yet elevated, blending heirloom ornaments, layered ribbons, and meaningful keepsakes with modern touches.
Trend 1: Burgundy Everything
In lieu of decorating solely with red this holiday season, why not make some room for burgundy? The color is making major waves everywhere this fall.
What makes burgundy so special?
It’s richer, moodier, and more timeless. It brings this sense of vintage luxury that feels so right for the holidays. And when it comes to choosing an accent color to pair with your burgundy pieces, pops of gold are a top pick.
With every holiday season come new Christmas decor trends. Whether it's an unexpected color scheme, a new ornament style, or the comeback of nostalgic classics, there's always a fun new way to deck the halls. To get the pulse on this year's biggest holiday decor trends, we tapped experts from the holiday decor, floral, and interior design industries to tell us what they're seeing and loving. This year is shaping up to be all about a return to classic decor, embracing natural greenery, and setting a cozy atmosphere with moody color schemes.
To give your home a festive refresh, stop back in the next few days as we share the top Christmas decor trends experts say will define this holiday season.
DECEMBER: Meditate on your home maintenance resolutions
As 2025 comes to an end, take some time to congratulate yourself on the hard work you put into your home throughout the year.
This type of positive encouragement actually increases your ability to keep up your good habits.
And trust us, good home habits are worth the effort. Proactive maintenance can increase your home’s value by 1% annually. Now that’s an accomplishment worthy of a toast!
From your cookie jar to ours... The 2025 We Energies Cookie Book is filled with recipes shared by our customers. Find a new favorite for your own cookie jar.
A Holiday Tradition
The Cookie Book is a holiday tradition dating back to 1928, when it promoted electric appliances for baking. The books were produced every year until 1974. The next edition was produced in 1984, and then subsequent editions were produced in 1991, 1998 and 2002. Since 2006, the book has been printed each year, restoring the annual tradition.
Décor in 2025 is about more than looks — it’s about immersive experiences. Thanksgiving tables are being designed not just for visual appeal but also for touch, scent, and sound.
Touch: Natural textiles like linen and raw wood.
Sound: Soft instrumental playlists or the crackle of a fireplace.
Scent: Layered candles that complement the meal.
Trend 4: The Return of Earthy, Warm Color Palettes
Minimalist whites and grays are stepping aside for warm, grounding colors in Thanksgiving 2025. Inspired by fall landscapes, color palettes lean into rustic oranges, soft browns, golden mustards, mossy greens, and deep cranberry reds.
These shades naturally complement candlelight, making rooms feel rich and layered. Tablescapes styled with earthy tones create a grounding base for glowing soy candles, making the entire space feel unified.
November 20, 2025 - January 1, 2026
It’s a glorious time to be Downtown! Our parks and streets will soon be aglow with holiday spirit and more than a half million brilliant bulbs. Meanwhile, a flurry of shows, Santa photo ops and exceptional dining opportunities are beckoning friends and family to gather here all season long!
So, make the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival the highlight of your season.
Thanksgiving 2025 isn’t only about the dining table. Cozy gathering spaces — reading nooks, fireplace corners, and entryway benches — are just as essential. Guests often drift away from the table, and these spaces keep the warmth flowing throughout the home.
Throw Blankets & Pillows: Add chunky knits, plaid throws, or soft velvet cushions to create relaxed spaces.
Low Lighting: Place candles on side tables, mantels, and windowsills for consistent glow throughout the home.
Scent Zoning: Use different candle scents in each gathering corner for subtle transitions.
Trend 2: Candlelit Thanksgiving Tablescapes
If there’s one décor element to embrace wholeheartedly for 2025, it’s the candlelit Thanksgiving table. Tablescapes are becoming more intimate, prioritizing sensory warmth and natural elegance over extravagance.
Instead of one centerpiece, try grouping candles of different heights in the center of the table. Soy candles in jars, tapered candlesticks, and tea lights together create depth and glow.
Scent Layering: Use complementary fragrances in different parts of the room. For example, a pumpkin spice candle in the kitchen and an apple-and-woods candle in the dining space create harmony without overwhelming. Toasted Pumpkin Spice + Caramel is an ideal Thanksgiving dinner companion, as it blends festive sweetness with cozy spice.
Natural Elements as Accents: Surround your candle clusters with seasonal produce like miniature pumpkins, pears, or nuts. These organic accents enhance the authenticity of the table.
Ambient Lighting: Dim overhead lights and allow candlelight to lead. This instantly creates intimacy, making even a large table feel warm and welcoming.
Trend 1: Nostalgic Charm Meets Modern Comfort
One of the most prominent Thanksgiving 2025 décor trends is the merging of nostalgic charm with updated, cozy comforts. Families are leaning into traditions that remind them of childhood gatherings while mixing in modern minimalism for a balanced aesthetic.
Vintage Accents: Think heirloom china, embroidered napkins, and mismatched silverware layered onto rustic wooden tables. These touches bring stories of the past to life.
Modern Pairings: Instead of overloading the table with heavy décor, Thanksgiving 2025 encourages thoughtful curation. A single statement centerpiece — perhaps a bowl of pears, branches, or dried flowers — paired with an elegant candle cluster sets the tone.
Layered Textures: Wool runners, linen napkins, and handmade ceramics create depth and tactile warmth.
Thanksgiving has always been a holiday built on gratitude, togetherness, and the comforting glow of home. As we approach Thanksgiving 2025, interior design and seasonal styling trends point toward one overarching theme: nostalgia wrapped in candlelit coziness. This year’s celebrations lean into timeless traditions while blending them with modern touches — think vintage-inspired table settings, soft natural textures, and the inviting glow of flickering candles that add fragrance and atmosphere to your holiday home. Stop back tomorrow when we start sharing with you the top 5 trends this year.
6. Refinish/Treat Deck or Patio
Once patio weather and grilling season are over, then you should take the time to clean and re-stain or refinish your deck or patio if need be. This will help protect during the upcoming winter chill, of course, and ensure that you have a beautiful outdoor space for the next spring and summer.
5. Remove Dead & Dying Trees
As leaves fall and branches become more exposed, you may notice signs of decay or disease on trees in your yard. Removing a dying tree before winter arrives is crucial because snow or ice can weigh down weak branches, causing them to break and potentially damage your home or property. Plus, clearing out a dead or dying tree now means you’ll have less yard work to do when spring rolls around.
Look for signs like significant bark shedding, cracked or rotting branches, or noticeable fungal growth around the tree’s base. If you’re unsure of when to remove a tree, contact a local tree removal service. They can assess the tree’s health and safely remove it before it becomes a hazard.
As the holidays approach, you might want to tighten your home improvement budget to spend on presents, but that doesn’t mean giving up on your home improvement resolutions. One of the best low-cost improvements is PAINT!
An average-sized bedroom, about 120 square feet, will cost between $240 and $720 to have professionally painted, or you can go the DIY route to cut out the labor costs. If you’re planning on selling in the near future, choose a neutral color like Agreeable Gray or Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams.
If you’re in your forever home, experiment with some color therapy on an accent wall or in a powder room. Not only is a fresh coat of paint an affordable renovation, but it’s also a great talking point for guests at your holiday parties.
It's time to get CREATIVE...
• Listings Up 2.9% for the Month, Up 4.3% for the Year
• Metro Prices Up 9.7%, Averaging Sale Price is $437,278
4. Fertilize Lawn
During the summer, you likely want to keep unnecessary chemicals off the lawn as kids play or you entertain guests in your yard. Either way, it’s not necessarily the best idea to apply fertilizer treatments until things cool off and outdoor party season winds down, making the beginning of fall a great time to handle any serious lawn care needs.
When was the last time you had your roof inspected? If it’s been a while, it might be time to get up on your roof and survey it for missing shingles or other damage. You can even hire a roof inspector near you to check things out. A roofing company can check the state of your roof, the vents, and the chimney, as well as fix any minor problems like small leaks or missing shingles.
Generally, the same team that performs your roof inspection can make small fixes or recommend a service that can do any necessary roofing work. Keep in mind that if there are major problems or your roof is on the older side, you might want to consider more extensive roofing work or even a roof replacement during the relatively temperate fall weather.
1. Clean Out Gutters
Getting all the leaves out of the gutters and clearing the way for the winter’s deluge might be downright essential, depending on your climate. That said, gutter maintenance is important for the health of your house no matter where you live, so getting it done during a crisp fall afternoon is a great idea.
Autumn is a good time to replace your gutters if that’s necessary as well. You can also hire a local gutter cleaning service to do the job—they can ensure all leaves and other debris are cleared out before the snow starts falling.
Autumn and apple cider go hand-in-hand. From donuts and cakes to cocktails, there are so many ways you can use apple cider to embrace the fall season. This year, we're taking a spin on an iconic dessert and making apple cider floats to sip on after dinner. (Or after lunch, or actually, any time of day.)
Apple cider floats are as delicious as they sound. They're sweet, tart, and fun to make—and you can customize the drink to your liking by adding your favorite toppings and add-ins. You can drizzle caramel sauce and whipped cream on top, add some bourbon or vanilla vodka, or top it off with a cinnamon stick for a touch of extra sweetness and cute decoration. You could even make your own apple cider or swap the vanilla ice cream for another fun flavor to spruce it up a little.
Ready to try one? GET RECIPE
While it’s best to take on some household tasks or remodeling projects during the long days of spring or summer, fall is the perfect time for many home projects before it gets too cold. Thanks to its comfortable temperatures, this is the season to get things done. Anything that helps prepare your home for winter is important, especially if you live in a cold and snowy place or an area that gets a lot of precipitation.
Many of these fall home renovation tasks can be accomplished in an afternoon or weekend day. Or you can easily hire a local home remodeling contractor or home maintenance professional to do a high-quality job while you relax. Stop back, we'll be adding the top 6 projects over the next few days.
Venturing into the heart of American culinary tradition, pie shops across the country offer a slice of local culture and history with every piece of pie served. And these 10 pie shops — nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the U.S. — are no exception, featuring storied sweet (and savory) treats that have customers returning again and again. CLICK HERE for the full list of winners.
The editors and readers independently select and The #1 Best Pie Shop in US is...
Stockholm Pie and General Store
Stockholm, WI
(Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, about 1.5 hours northwest of La Crosse.)
The arrival of fall means shorter days and longer nights. It also means more time spent indoors with the lights on — and higher energy bills. Save a buck by changing to energy-efficient LED light bulbs.
According to the Department of Energy, LED lights use a whopping 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting. For the average homeowner, this translates into approximately $225 in savings each year. Whether you cut your incandescent cold turkey or start the LED transition process slowly, consider SMART LED LIGHT BULB OPTIONS as you improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Risk free cleaning solutions
Modern power washing equipment often uses environmentally friendly cleaning agents that are safe for plants, pets, and people. The high-pressure water system also minimizes the need for harsh chemicals, making it a sustainable choice for maintaining your property.
Your time is much more valuable
Manually scrubbing your home’s exterior can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. Power washing is a fast and efficient alternative, allowing you to clean large areas in a fraction of the time. Professional power washing services can handle the job safely and effectively, saving you from potential strain or injury.
Worth every penny spent
A well-maintained exterior can significantly increase your home’s market value.
Prospective buyers are more likely to be impressed by a clean and attractive property, which can translate into higher offers and a faster sale.
Even if you’re not planning to sell, a power-washed exterior conveys pride of ownership.
Driveways, Sidewalks, Porch, Deck
Curb appeal isn’t just about the house itself. Your driveway, sidewalks, and decks are essential to your property’s overall look. Power washing removes oil stains, tire marks, moss, and other blemishes, rejuvenating these surfaces and giving them a like-new appearance.
In 2025, designers are embracing a lived-in, tactile aesthetic that strikes a balance between visual depth and warmth, making texture the focal point. The key?
Combining different textures to create a unified color scheme. Indoors, that could mean using rough-cut wood trays, dried flowers, and textured accents, combined boucle pillows with woven throws in your living room.
For a cozy welcome outside, consider using a variety of pumpkin finishes (wood, velvet, and real), or soft pampas grass combined with rustic crates. The idea is to use contrast to create comfort — rough with refined, soft with sturdy — whether it’s inside or out.
This fall, seasonal color schemes are becoming softer and more organic. These tones are raising interest in searches like “neutral fall decor” and “modern farmhouse pumpkins”. Consider warm shades of brown, blush, off-white, terracotta, and pale sage.
Start by asking yourself... Do I plan to stay in this house short or long term?
SHORT-TERM: First, find out if you should even renovate your house before selling!
Ask your local real estate agent, who has a lot of experience, which projects are going to help in your neighborhood. You’d be surprised that up to 50% of the projects homeowners think they want to do might not make any difference in the value of your home or make any difference in the sale.
LONG-TERM: Focus on adding value, consider remodeling your kitchen and/or bathrooms. For instance, a mid-range kitchen remodel costs an average of $27,500 and recovers around 96% of project costs at resale. With a sizable price tag, you’ll want to plan this remodel well in advance to ensure you get all the details "right".
Draft up a home renovation plan:
- Find inspiration online
- Get quotes from general contractors
- Create a savings plan to finance the project
It's the first step in the process
Power washing is an essential first step if you plan to paint or repair your home’s exterior. A clean surface ensures that paint or sealant adheres appropriately, extending the lifespan of your improvements. Your efforts may not yield the desired results without removing dirt and debris.
