I used the living room. I pushed the couch against a wall, took all the tables and chairs and scattered them around the house, and put two eight-foot-long banquet tables in the empty space. Around here, Thanksgiving Dinner cannot be eaten outdoors most years!

The big TV armoire stayed in the LR, so football fans could keep an eye on the games. In the dining "L", I would put most of the drinks and other odds and ends on the dining table, pushed into a corner. We always had lots of crock-pots going because we had the regular dishes and the vegan versions (no butter, no broth, no cream, no meat, no poultry). Luckily, DH and his sister (the usual vegetarian guests) would eat an UnTurkey, so I did not need to make another main dish, DH just put it in the oven after the turkey came out for carving.

I think the most we had for dinner was 17. If it were 12 or so, we would put the two banquet tables together side-by-side and have a large center space for the food.

krissie ~ I had a good chuckle when I read your post ;o)I've always said that living in a small house means having to be creative. We don't have a dining room, just a large eat-in area in our kitchen (but not a traditional eat-in area where it's separated from the kitchen). I do what Nancy does, move the table/s into the living room for Thanksgiving. The coffee table goes into another room, along with our chair and ottoman. We set the table up in front of the fireplace, and believe me, everyone loves eating dinner with a warm and cozy fire going. Dim the lights, light the candles, put on some classical music, and we feel like we're dining in an old country inn!