The decorations that you have at a party can really make a difference. However, decorations are usually something that gets a lot less attention than other aspects at a party. Even though the decorations at your party may not even be touched or used productively, they can make more of an impact than you think and are therefore worth some attention. In this article, you will read about a number of different decorating ideas that are fun and easy to do. Feel free to use these ideas or to make your own changes to fit your specific birthday party plans.
Make your own place mats
Making your own place mats is something that young children are especially excited to do. The project is simple enough: give each child a place mat sized piece of craft paper and allow them to decorate it. Have markers, glitter, pictures from magazines, felt, glue, etc. on the table and let the kids make whatever they want. You can turn this into a game by judging the end pieces of art. You could also pre-print coloring pages on your place mats so that the project has a little bit more direction.
Balloon people
Balloons and birthdays go hand in hand. Making balloon people is a fun way to incorporate the classic birthday balloon decoration with a fun-to-do-activity. All you need are some balloons and an assortment of paper people parts (feet, noses, eyes, etc.). If you are not sure about how to come up with your paper parts, take some cues from Mr. Potato Head. Allow your party guests to decorate the balloons by using the paper parts that you have cut out. This makes for a fun activity and puts those balloons to good use.
Tablescape (table decorations)
The way that a table is decorated can make a big difference especially if you plan to eat at that table or having food served on a table. When it comes to tablescapes, sometimes it is best to do something that is a little outside of your comfort zone. For example, you can use the color black at a birthday party. Black is generally a color associated with Halloween or an “over the hill” party. But when you combine a black table cloth with colorful confetti or streamers, you may be surprised at just how much the black background makes the colors pop! Another fun idea is that you can use food as decoration. For example, you can fill vases with colorful candies and then place large lollipops in an arrangement inside of the vase instead of having a more traditional floral arrangement. Another idea is that you could serve a part of the meal, like the rolls, from the back of a toy truck.
Atmosphere (smells, sounds, lighting, etc.)
When creating the decorations for your party, don’t forget about the general atmosphere of the room that you are decorating. In addition to what is visible, you want to engage all the senses in the party experience. You can easily do this using scents and music. Scented candles or simmering a pot of water with cinnamon and citrus fruit will fill the house with a delightful aroma. Have your favorite music playing softly in the background when guests arrive. You can change up just about anything, even the lighting. Creative lighting can really enhance the party atmosphere. You can replace some bulbs with colored lamps. Strobe lights can also add to the fun. The more senses you can engage the more memorable the experience will be and the more involved your guests will be in what is taking place.
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