Party Decorating Made Easy

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Decide On A Theme

This is extremely important, because it gives you a direction and your colors.

Coordinate your colors with your theme. If it's tropical, you don't want to have black and red. You would choose tropical colors like melon, lime green, bright yellow, and turquoise.

Normally you want to keep to 2 or 3 colors. You can do more for tropical, rainbow, or a 70's party. Anything that "calls" for more colors.

You can do opposite colors(like red and green), or colors that are closer together on the color wheel(like orange and yellow).

Another option is to use only one color in different hues. Like dark blue, light blue, and ice blue.

Setting The Scene

Take into consideration what the feel of your party is. Fairy Parties are full of mystery. Winter Wonderland is icy and crisp. Then you just emulate that with greenery, flowers, beads, candles, jewelry, shells, candles, props, anything you can find around the house and at your local party stores. Online shopping is a really easy way to get your Party Supplies. You can also check out the deals at dollar stores, flea markets, and garage sales.

For example, if you're doing a Pirate Party, you can spray paint little coolers brown, lay on the table with jewels spilling out. Rent or borrow palm trees and place around the party area. You don't always have to use "party" stuff. Dig in the garage.

Balloons Are A Party Decorating Staple

Balloons are a cheap party decorating staple.

For a cheap balloon weight, fill a balloon with about a 1/4 cup of sand and tie. You can cover it with a piece of tulle and ribbon if you wish.

Floating balloons are a great touch. Just fill them with helium, tie on a pretty ribbon and let them float on the ceiling.

If you want the balloons at waist height, tie fishing wire on the balloon and a weight. Set on the floor. It will look like they are floating. It's a really cute look for any "sea" theme. Like the Mermaid Party.

Tie one balloon to the backs of all your party chairs. You can also add a balloon bouquet to the back of the guest of honor.

Balloon arches are a cheap and easy way to add elegance to any party theme. Tie your helium filled balloons onto a piece of string or ribbon. They will float up to create an arch.

Creative Centerpieces

You can certainly purchase a centerpiece from a party store, but why stop there. Kick it up a notch. Start with your theme, and think outside of the box.

If you're doing a Beach theme, then bring the beach to your table. Pour some sand in the middle of the table and place a sand bucket on it's side. Have "beach" stuff spilling out. Pearls, sand toys, flip flops, tropical flowers, shells, ect.

Or start with some tulle or silky fabric. Crumple it in the middle of the table. Then you just layer your elements on top of it. Start with the tallest item in the middle.

Work down from that. You can always build up the middle with a box and then cover that with the fabric. When you're done with the bigger things, scatter smaller items, glitter, jewels, pearls, rings, shells, flower petals, ect.

Flowers are always a good choice for party decorating. Purchase real or fake and put them in unique containers. Teapots, buckets, jars, purses(with a vase inside),ect.

Another way to use flowers is to float them in water. Just cut off the stem and place them in a bowl of water. For more ideas on flowers see our Decorating With Flowers page.

Candles are great. They create such a calming mood. Place them randomly on your table in and about your fabric(make sure they are in little votive holders). Or line them down the center of your table.

Chandeliers

Don't forget this all important item to decorate. Just wind ribbon, flower garlands, or pearl garlands down and around(make sure they're not touching any bulbs). Hang items from it with fishing wire or tiny ribbon. If you don't have a chandelier, create one.

Purchase an old chandelier. Strip out all of the wires. Spray paint. Hot glue beaded garland, pearl garland, or flowers. Hang crystals from it. Add candles where the bulbs used to be. So fun for a Tea party, Masquerade, or any dress up party.

Another really cool idea is to make flower balls. Purchase 3 Styrofoam balls about the size of a basketball. Hot glue flowers all around them. Top it off with a pretty ribbon bow. Hang them from the ceiling in staggering lengths.

Pinatas

Pinatas are great for parties because you can hang them up as part of the decor. Then it doubles as one of the games. How great is that! There are traditional pinatas and pull string pinatas.

It just depends on the age group of your party. Sometimes it's easier for the little ones to use the pull string ones.

If you want to make a homemade pinata, check out Fun-Pinatas-Party-Ideas.com.

Where you'll find that pinatas are fun to make and fun to break. Great pinata party ideas and pinatas you can make yourself. The fun breaks out with parties like these.

More Ideas

Streamers are fun. You simply drape them around the room. There are also some really cool wall decorations. Turn your dining room into a palace or a beach in about 2 minutes. Of course I would add to it. Start with the wall mural and layer on palm trees and the such.

Clear Christmas lights are a easy way to add drama. Just add them to trees, fake plants, pillars, stair rails, ect.

Party decorating in a nutshell...

• Pick coordinating colors
• Use an odd number of items
• Stagger your items in height
• Be creative

That's about it. I know you're going to do a fabulous job. If you have any questions about party decorating, just drop me a line, and I'll try to help the best I can. Every party page has full instructions on it, so be sure and check them all out.

Click here for more great Party Decorating Tips.