5 Festive Kitchen Decor Ideas For Labor Day

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When you're hosting a holiday gathering, nothing is more festive than decorations. Labor Day may not be as big as Thanksgiving or Christmas, but decorating your space — whether a little or a lot — creates a backdrop that makes your event feel even more like a special occasion. That's why we have some particularly festive tips (and Amazon product recommendations) for decorating your kitchen and dining room for a midday or evening party.

Honoring the American labor movement, Labor Day decorations tend to feature red, white, and blue stars and stripes — just like these creative ways to decorate for Fourth of July barbecues. Some common options include patriotic-themed table coverings, centerpieces, place settings, serving trays, and ceiling and wall decorations. You may even be able to reuse some of the decorations you put up for Fourth of July or Memorial Day.

Keep in mind, though, that you don't have to incorporate all of these ideas. Since Labor Day also marks the end of summer break, feel free to throw your complementary summer decor into the mix for one final bash of the season. After all, Ina Garten's easy tip for effortless dinner party decor is to embrace mixing and matching rather than perfectly coordinating every item.

One of the first layers of Labor Day decor to consider is a runner or cloth for your dining table. For the biggest pop of color, consider choosing a tablecloth like this American flag design from Childom. It covers the entire table in red and white stripes, plus a center strip of blue with white stars, giving you ideal placement for a centerpiece or other table decorations. If you prefer something simpler, Ina Garten notes that the best kind of tablecloth for parties is a solid color that you can use in any theme.

On the other hand, this HIUCUS table runner features a rustic design of red and white stripes with ends that are blue with white stars. And you don't have to use it on your table — have you ever considered decorating your kitchen island with a runner? The kitchen island is a great place to set out food for guests to serve themselves, and covering it with a runner can help you spread the decorations throughout your kitchen space.

Beyond tablecloths and runners, there are tons of centerpieces and decor options available for your dining table. Something like these star-spangled metal vases from Domensi can hold red, white, and blue flowers and American flags for centerpieces on your table. Alternatively, you could use them to hold straws and utensils, then place them on a nearby countertop or on your kitchen island that features a themed runner.

Incorporate some of your dishes into the mix, too. For instance, place shorter centerpieces across the table or on your kitchen island to display a themed dessert like patriotic cake pops. Another option is to make a pitcher of red, white, and blue sangria that looks like a decorative piece.

Speaking of decorations, check out these 3D stars from Kathfly. They're made from wood, painted in traditional Labor Day colors, and can stand upright anywhere in your kitchen where you need more festive ambiance. If you're so inclined, you can also make your own decor by wrapping small potted plants in fabric or napkins that match your theme. Try doing the same with mason jars, which will give you some added functionality.

Some of the first things that probably come to mind when you think about Labor Day party decor in the kitchen are dinnerware and utensils, and there are a lot of options to choose from. For example, the Euoyufu store on Amazon offers a fun set of "Happy Labor Day" plates and napkins with blue forks included.

If you don't want to purchase dinnerware or utensils with a busy pattern, go with solid colors. And while disposable dinnerware is more convenient for large parties, it's totally acceptable to use your own dishes. Solid red, white, or blue plates and cups pair well with tablecloths, runners, or placemats that feature more detailed designs.

Speaking of which, placemats are an excellent, easy addition to Labor Day decor. This set of linen watercolor American flag placemats from Jiudungs features a rustic design that will give your table some character and charm.

Wherever you decide to set out dishes for your Labor Day gathering — whether it's a countertop, island, or table — serving dishes with the American flag or other star-spangled motifs and patterns can carry the celebratory theme throughout your kitchen. Trays, such as JarThenaAMCS' plastic flag platter, are particularly useful for small desserts or other finger foods. However, these aren't the only serving utensils that come in patriotic themes. You can also find chip and dip bowls, like this bamboo fiber platter from Kingen that comes with a tray, as well as tiered cupcake stands and sectioned platters.

Instead of purchasing new or disposable serving dishes, just use plain ones that are already in your kitchen. Then, use your food to make the presentation look decorative and pay homage to the Labor Day theme. A solid-colored tray, for instance, works great for an American flag cupcake cake, while a neutral cupcake stand can make colorfully decorated treats pop. You could also use a plain, sectioned platter instead of a wood board to serve fruit charcuterie made up of blue and red berries with crackers and white cheeses.

Hanging star-spangled or American flag-themed decorations from your kitchen's ceiling and walls will make your theme even more eye-catching. Of course, a banner (or two, or three) is always a classic option. Whether you purchase this decoration or make one yourself, just be sure to hang it out of the way, like along the wall next to the dining table or in front of high, open-shelf cabinets.

If you want to amp up the fun with detailed patterns and caricatures, Facegg's swirl decor pack features blue, red, and gold spirals with cutouts on the ends depicting flags, gnomes, hands holding tools, and other holiday-related illustrations. For more subtle decorations, consider purchasing solid-colored paper fans similar to these from Beishida, which come in three sizes.

For an evening gathering, create a cozy, atmospheric glow in your kitchen and dining room with lanterns or string lights. One fun option is Cerflyer's red, white, and blue curtain lights with stars, but simpler string lights without stars are also available to put on your walls, above your cabinets, or even around your island. Meanwhile, themed or solid-colored lanterns are a sophisticated option to hang from the ceiling.