Party Decoration Tips

Party-planners know what a challenge it is to organise and throw a perfect party, and they are aware that it takes a lot of time and often money to do so. If you’re one of the people who find party décor to be the most difficult part of the whole ordeal, don’t worry – we’re here to help you out. We’ve put together a list of simple and easy tips which will help you decorate your party like a professional. Here’s what you should know.

Set the theme

First things first – you need to know why you’re throwing the party in the first place and who is it for. Decorating for a graduation party and a baby shower isn’t quite the same thing, and when it comes to birthday parties, there is a big difference between a dinosaur-themed party for a toddler and a Sweet Sixteen party. Even so, remember that themed parties are the best because this way you know what to expect and in which direction you should take the décor. The sky is the limit when it comes to themes: under the sea, pirates, dinosaurs, costume party, Harry Potter, the Great Gatsby, superheroes… It’s up to you; choose a theme and have fun!

Decorate the entryway

First impressions count, and you want your guests to feel welcome and enjoy the part from the moment they step through the door. This is why you should decorate the entrance carefully: it’s a great way to let people know what to expect inside. Decorate your porch and greet your guests with a hand-written sign and plenty of balloons taped to the front door. Not only will this set the mood, but it will also let people know that they’re at the right address. Of course, it goes without saying that the entrance should be decorated even if you’re throwing a party in a rented venue rather than at your house.

Intricately decorated buffet

Sometimes, people can’t afford to spend a lot of money on decorations, and they worry that it won’t look good in the eyes of the guests. Fortunately, there is a solution – intricately decorated buffet! It will look great, and it may also be the only party décor you actually need. Even if you’re not ordering catering but rather making your own canapés and muffins, you can still make it work if you’re creative. You can spray-paint your old candlesticks and glue melamine bowls them to make your own pedestal bowls. Arrange fresh fruit and flowers on the table, hang plenty of tulle, satin, and paper bowls, place fairy lights around and voila – you have a high-class buffet!

Focus on the table

If you don’t have a buffet but are rather planning a dinner party, you should focus on decorating the dinner table as it will be the place where you’ll spend most of the day (or evening). Make sure the tablecloth is spotless, and if you’re worried about accidentally spilling red wine on it and ruining it, you can find lovely paper tablecloth instead. Decorate with bowls filled with water, in which you’re placed fresh flowers and light floating candles, fold napkins so that they make interesting shapes, and leave a hand-written name card in each person’s place, so they know where they’ll be sitting.

Pretty lights

The easiest way to set the mood is with the right lighting. White light bulbs might be convenient, but they’re hardly romantic or playful. Swap them for coloured ones and create a unique effect in any room in the blink of an eye. Orange for Halloween, green for St. Patrick’s Day, red for Valentine ’s Day… It will make the room look more inviting. Strategically placed candles are also a great way to set the mood, and you can use scented ones if your guests are smokers. If there will be children, though, you might want to skip candles altogether and use Christmas lights instead.

Bare the floors

We’ve talked about making the place pretty, but you should still keep in mind the fact that accidents happen, and if you don’t want to ruin tablecloths and carpets with spilt drinks and dropped food, you should think about leaving the floors bare. If you’re using a rented venue it’s easy to forget about such details, but if you’re throwing a party in your home, you might want to roll up the carpets for the day. Bare floors don’t have to look bad – you can cover them with balloons and stickers, or you could even make balloon bouquets and leave them in the corners.

You might think that you should just hire an interior designer or entertainment agency and be done with it, but you should have more faith. Making a big statement with decorations at your next party doesn’t have to be a nightmare if you’re well-prepared and determined to make your ideas come to life. There are plenty of ways to decorate with little money and a bit more effort if you’re willing to give it a go.

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