You should also consider who the party is for. For example, if you’re celebrating a child’s birthday, you’ll probably want to make a bigger statement with the decorations than if you’re decorating for an adult’s birthday.
If you’re having your party at a restaurant or other commercial venue, it’s a good idea to call and ask what types of decorations are allowed. You don’t want to be surprised the day of the party.
Movies, cartoon characters, and TV shows make fun party themes that are easy to customize for the guest(s) of honor. A tropical or luau theme can be a festive general party theme. Pick an interesting, distinctive time period, such as the roaring ‘20s or the ‘60s, as your party theme. You can even have guests dress up according to the trends of the era. If you love to travel, consider giving your party an around the world theme. If you’re throwing a party for a big sports fan, use their favorite team as inspiration for the event’s theme.
If you’re having trouble coming up with a budget, you may want to use an online budget calculator from party websites, such as Evite, to help. [5] X Research source
For an party that honors specific people, you may want to hang photos of them on the wall. For example, if you’re celebrating your parents’ anniversary, decorate with copies of their wedding photos or other meaningful moments in their lives. If you’re celebrating a friend’s birthday, you may want to use baby photos to decorate. If your party has a specific theme, you can use photos or artwork that fit the look, such as photos of your favorite movie stars for a Hollywood theme, on the walls. You don’t have to ruin your walls to hang photos or other artwork on the walls. Use removable mounting tape on the backs, or run a piece of string or ribbon across the walls and use clothespins or binder clips to attach the photos to the string. If you have scraps of ribbon at home, make a fun garland to decorate the walls or any columns or railings in the room. Loop the small scraps around the longest piece of ribbon and tie them off in bows for a festive look.
When you’re hanging streamers across the ceiling, you can keep the crepe paper straight or twist it as you go to give them a spiraled effect. While you can arrange balloons in haphazard bunches, it’s also fun to create flowers out of them. Gather five or six balloons in the same color to serve as the petals, and place them around a yellow balloon that be the flower’s center. Tie all of the balloons together, and use tape to attach the “flower” to the ceiling. You don’t just have to hang the streamers across the ceiling. Instead, try having them hang straight down from the ceiling to create a curtain that guests can have fun passing through. In addition to simple latex balloons, you may want to add a few foil balloons. They come in a wide variety of shapes and themes, so you can probably find some that fit your party’s look to a tee.
If you want a more elegant look for your party, opt for white string lights instead of colored strands. String lights are also available in fun shapes, such as hearts, stars, seashells, and chili peppers, so you may be able to find a variety that fits your party’s theme. You can also use candles to give the room a more sophisticated feel. Just make sure to place them in locations where they won’t be knocked over and keep them away from flammable materials.
At your local party supply store, you can find inflatable decorations in a variety of fun shapes that fit an array of themes. For example, you might place an inflatable palm tree in the corner of the room for a tropical party, or an inflatable treasure chest in the corner for a pirate themed party.
Consider laying tablecloths in two or more different colors for a festive look. Make sure to choose one that’s slightly larger than the others so the bottom will peek one from underneath the top layer. For a casual party, disposable plastic tablecloths are the best option. They are inexpensive and come in a wide range of colors, so you can some that match the rest of your decorations. For an elegant, sophisticated party, you may prefer fabric tablecloths. They can be somewhat expensive, though, so if you’re only going to use a certain color for the party, you may prefer borrowing one from friends or family members.
For a Christmas party, a large bowl filled with fruit, pine cones, ornaments, and garland can make a simple but beautiful centerpiece. For a Halloween party, a jack o’lantern is the ideal centerpiece. For a child’s birthday party, you can put vases or jars filled with colorful candy, such as gumballs, rock candy, gumdrops, and lollipops, in an arrangement to create a centerpiece for the table. Create a simple centerpiece for an elegant party by filling a large bowl with water and adding floating candles.
