Choosing a Theme
Focus on the person’s age when choosing decorations. You can use this theme for any birthday, but it works especially well for first birthdays and other milestone birthdays like turning 16, 30, or 40. Go with banners, balloons, and party favors that announce the person’s age and make sure that the age number appears prominently throughout the décor. For example, for a first birthday, the décor and party favors can feature the number “1” or say “Happy 1st Birthday!” on them. The cake and Mylar balloons can be shaped like the number “1,” as well. You can also base color choices on the age. For example, a Sweet 16 party can be decorated in shades of pink. Black and gold decorations are popular for 40th birthday parties with an “Over The Hill” theme.
Base the theme around the season for an easy option. Seasonal themes are great options that never go out of style. They're also extremely customizable and you should be able to find decorations at your local craft store or online quickly and easily. If you aren't sure what kind of theme to go with or if you don't have much time for planning, consider a seasonal theme! For example, a summer birthday party can have a tropical color scheme and feature beach themed decorations. If the party is in the fall, you could have a burgundy, brown, and orange color scheme and use autumn-themed decorations featuring leaves, pumpkins, cornucopias, and pinecones. The season can also dictate activities for the party. For example, you can have pumpkin carving or pumpkin painting activities at a kids’ autumn-themed party. Bobbing for apples is another fun idea for fall!
Feature a favorite animal, sports team, or other interest in the décor. You probably know the person well enough to pinpoint one of their favorite hobbies or interests, but if you aren't that close to them, don't be afraid to ask someone who would know! Finding decorations that match a very specific or obscure interest may not be feasible at your local craft store, so try looking online instead. For example, a child who loves unicorns might love a unicorn-themed party with unicorn imagery and pastel decorations. If the person loves Harry Potter or Star Wars, you could go with decorations that reflect those interests. A football or hockey themed party would work great for a sports lover, and you can even zero in on a specific team and use the team colors for your color scheme. Create a Disney-themed party with decorations featuring their favorite Disney characters and settings.
Go all out with a location-based theme for a creative solution. Transform the party space by creating an atmosphere based on a location. Depending on what you choose, this may be the most work-intensive choice, but if you have plenty of time for planning and have a creative streak, consider making a big splash with this approach. Go with a location or atmosphere that you know the person really loves! For example, create a carnival-themed party with brightly colored or striped décor, carousel imagery, tents, clowns, and lollipops. You could also consider a garden theme, a castle theme, or a zoo theme. Jungle, safari, and outer space themes are also very popular.
Decorating a Restaurant or Party Room
Ask the venue about their policy on decorations. Some spaces may provide decorations for birthday parties, so if you're on a budget, definitely inquire about that. If you want to bring your own decorations, find out what they allow before purchasing anything. Balloons, banners, and other easy-to-hang wall decorations are usually totally fine with most venues. Don't forget to bring tape to hang up your wall decorations!
Write birthday messages on large banners for an easy solution. Birthday banners can be as elaborate or simple as you like. A simple banner might exclaim “Happy Sweet 16, Tara!” in purple and silver lettering, for example. You can also try something more on-theme; for instance, for a royal-themed party, create a scroll-shaped banner with a message like, “Hear ye, hear ye! It’s The Queen’s birthday!” For a disco-themed party, you could have a banner with an iconic disco quote like, “Let’s get down tonight!”, “Stayin’ Alive”, or “Shake your groove thang!” Hang the banner somewhere prominent so that everyone can see it!
Use garlands to emphasize the party theme or spell out messages. For something simple, string together cardboard letters to spell out a simple birthday message or the person's name. You could also create themed garlands using paper or cardboard cutouts. For example, use flower-shaped cutouts for a garden party, a string of cardboard crown cutouts for a royal-themed party, or T-rex cutouts for a dinosaur-themed party. String together photos to create a very personal garland. For an 80s themed dance party, string together paper cutouts of boomboxes and stereo speakers.
Liven up the space with colorful balloons for a classic look. You can find balloons in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and materials at most party stores and they're a classic go-to for creating a festive atmosphere. Balloon solutions can be simple or elaborate, depending on what you want to do and how much time you have. For example, for an easy option, blow the balloons up yourself with an air pump and scatter them around the room or tape them to objects. You can also rent a helium tank, fill the balloons, and either tie them to objects in the room or simply let them float along the ceiling. For a quick option, go with Mylar balloons in different shapes and colors and have the party store fill them with helium for you. Go all out by creating a balloon arch.
Create and hang a photo-collage for a personalized solution. Go with images of the birthday person at different ages and doing a variety of things to create a sentimental vibe. Images that include their friends and family members are also a great idea, especially those that you know will be in attendance at the party. You may want to print the images from digital files to prevent original photographs from getting damaged, though. For example, you could include pictures from their very first birthday party, a summer vacation, and dancing at prom. You can also create the collage as a keepsake and include blank space for the party goers to write birthday messages and well-wishes.
Spread out tablecloths in eye-catching colors or prints for a quick solution. You don't have to cover your tables, but it's usually a good idea if you're renting a space. You can keep things simple and go with plastic, solid-colored table coverings that match the party’s color scheme. You can also use on-theme printed tablecloths, like galaxy prints for an outer space theme or colorful stripes for a carnival theme. You can buy printed tablecloths for almost any theme you can imagine, or you can make them yourself using butcher paper, printed images, and glue. For a ruffled look, buy several tablecloths in a few different sizes and layer them on each table. Collage printed photographs on craft paper to make a customized, personal print!
Scatter confetti in fun shapes on the tabletops for a quick solution. If you need to create a festive look in a hurry, scatter colorful confetti across the tables. You can use plain confetti, or go with an on-theme solution like star-shaped confetti for an outer space theme. Scattering glitter or sequins on the tables can create a similar effect and may even work better if you’re doing a disco or carnival theme.
Using Decorations at Outdoor Venues
Bring or rent your own tables and chairs. Most outdoor places like playgrounds and parks won't have enough seating to comfortably accommodate the number of guests you're expecting. Make sure you provide enough table space to accommodate everyone! You may want to have a small, separate table for the gifts and larger tables where guests can eat or chat with one another. Simple folding chairs are a great option for outdoor seating. They can be purchased fairly cheaply, but you may want to rent if you're expecting a crowd.
Use balloons to guide guests to the party area. Fill colorful balloons with helium, then tie the balloons to objects along the way to create a path from the parking area to the outdoor party area. Helium balloons are very light, so you can safely tie them to almost anything! If the party is in a backyard, a balloon path eliminates the need to answer the front door—guests can just walk right up to the party area! You can also post colorful signs that have arrows and messages like, "Party this way!" Emphasize the party color scheme when choosing balloons.
Drape string lights between and around trees to illuminate the area. If the party is in your backyard or at another location where electricity is accessible, this is a great solution—especially if you expect the party to continue into the night. If you have trees that are fairly close together, drape the lights between them. You can also wrap the lights around tree trunks and thread them through the foliage. Buy colored lights to match the party's theme or go with white lights for a classic look. You can also find delicate fairy lights that come with battery packs if you don't have access to electricity. Attach lightweight Chinese paper lanterns to the string in between the lights to create even more ambiance.
Cover the tables with craft paper for a homemade vibe. Tape a large piece of white craft paper or construction paper onto the tabletops and scatter crayons and markers across the surfaces so that party goers can write messages and draw pictures. This works great for children’s parties and the covers can be easily saved as a keepsake. Taping the paper down will prevent it from being blown away by the wind.
Hang up a piñata for a simple, fun solution. A big, colorful piñata feels festive and is a great decoration for outdoor parties. You can buy piñatas already filled with goodies, or you get an empty one that you can fill with customized treats. Choose a shape that matches your party theme or go with whatever catches your eye! Find a sturdy tree branch to hang the piñata from and make sure there's plenty of space for the guests to swing at it safely!
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