How To Decorate A Party For The WOW Factor

Whether you’re planning a party at home such as a baby or bridal shower, a birthday celebration, or a fun theme party, design and decorations play a major factor in the overall experience.

You want to dress your party space so it flows easily from one area to another, especially if you’ll be spread out into different rooms or areas of the back yard.

Use Fabric to Bridge the Party Spaces

Create an overall design concept and carry it through. My favorite way to do this is by using fabric.

Use fabric right off the bolt to create a table topper or runner for seated tables or buffet tables. No need to sew either. You can use pinking shears to cut {prevents raveling} or use hem tape, or simply iron a hem in place.

To visually connect two areas, use the same fabric as a backdrop or another table covering. I like to use the fabric as a backdrop because it adds another dimension rather than being on another horizontal table. This helps coordinate two or more areas even if they’re in different rooms.

Other ways to incorporate the same fabric are homemade napkins, fabric swags or buntings, inserted into frames, or thin strips used to tie onto items.

Use What’s Available In Different Ways

You don’t have to be super crafty to create wonderful details, in fact the simpler the better I say. The purpose for creating them though, is that they’re unexpected, unique, and give your guests that “Wow” moment when they realize you did something special for them.

For this pink princess party, I dressed up small napkins with rhinestone iron-on fabric transfers. Any time I can use fabric in a design, it inspires me. It must be my love of textiles and my Fashion Merchandising background. You could also use small stencils with fabric paint.

For the same party I created cupcake pedestals using $1 candlesticks that I spray painted pink, and pretty tea cup saucers. A glue dot holds the two pieces together securely and allows me to use the saucers again separately.

One of my favorite designs to date is the Keys to Success party. Inexpensive doilies were used to top jars and keep bugs at bay. It’s a simple idea but it really dresses up the table and adds the Anthropologie feel I was going for.

In the same design I used lots of metal scrapbooking materials like the tiny frames above. You may see it in the store and not think twice about, but I want you to see it in a NEW way. They made the most fabulous place card napkin rings!

Repeat Elements Throughout

Sometimes all you need to do is pinpoint a design element and use it over and over in a creative fashion. For instance, if you choose “flowers” as the recurring element you can add big ones, small ones, fabric ones, paper ones. Add them to favors, napkin ties, drink stirs, etc. It’s all about training your mind to think outside the box.

For the apple themed party I used apples, obviously, but added in bits of lace for a feminine touch. Simply backing the paper tags with a strip of lace added another dimension to the design and made it more interesting to look at.

The lace was also carried into other areas by hanging it like a banner, and wrapping it around a serving dish.

For this rustic and eclectic dinner table, I used newspaper print everywhere. The crossword puzzle was a whimsical touch and was the perfect place card when filled in with names.

I also used shredded newspaper print to place inside vessels, used it to wrap mini pies and wine bottles, and more.

Dress Up Utilitarian Items

Probably the easiest way to use creative details is to dress up items that are already being used by guests. After all these are the spots that they are sure to notice.

I have to say I was beyond thrilled at my own creativity when I came up with the idea to combine a place card, menu card, and conversation card all together. It’s a super cute detail for showers, weddings, birthdays, or any dinner party. It presents useful items in a more interesting way.

Another utilitarian item that has become extremely popular are the wooden utensils. Instead of laying them out in a bundle, add a decorative detail with stamps. There are many to choose from and they fit so nicely on the handle.

Finally, fabric has found it’s way into another party design in the way of a utensil holder. Sure you COULD place the napkin and fork beside the plate and leave it alone, but it’s the special touch of a fabric pouch that elevates the setting.

I hope this encourages you to dress up your own parties and celebrations with stylish details.  It really is simple once you think about it.  Here are some items you may want to keep on hand that will help you get started:

• Adhesive rhinestones to dress up paper tags and signs.
• Bakers twine to tie on tags and attach small items.
• Ribbon and fabric remnants in various of colors and patterns.
• Craft punches in circles, squares, or rectangle shapes.
• Stamps and ink pad to embellish fabric, paper, or bamboo utensils.

Use Printable Signs

Paper elements help to “Brand” a party. Other than fabric, paper elements are a very popular way to carry your design throughout, and very economical too.

Paper and printables can help set the tone of the event by being whimsical, sophisticated, rustic, etc.

Use printed Welcome signs that the guests see as soon as they arrive.

Get creative with the printable items. Just because it is listed as a “food tent” doesn’t mean you can’t use it as a favor tag.

Get crafty with the items and add embellishments like adhesive rhinestones, or ribbon, etc.

When you use printed signs, tags, activity cards, etc. that are all coordinated, it immediately pulls the entire look together.

Pick a Style

One of the first things I think about when designing a party is, what vibe do I want it to have. When you decide on that it’s a lot easier to pull together the rest of the design elements.

Some of the most popular choices are modern, rustic, vintage, shabby chic, whimsical, and traditional. Within this framework you can begin to combine styles such as rustic + modern, vintage + whimsical, or vintage + shabby chic.

A bridal shower combines rustic materials with modern styling.

Rustic and vintage elements are combined to create a warm and inviting fall celebration.

A modern style can be achieved by incorporating sleek simple lines and a clean white base.

The idea is to pick a style or combination and stick with it throughout the decor.

How to Set Up the Party 

Aside from the party decor there are logistical things to consider. Party layout, do-ahead tasks, thoughtful touches your guests will appreciate, etc. Here are some of my all time favorite tips to follow:

• If you do nothing else, set up your tables a few days ahead if you can. You can’t imagine what a time saver this will be, as well as a useful tool to help you see if things will work out the way you want them. I’ve been known to set up my buffet table a week ahead and place small notes on each dish so I know exactly what food item will go where.
• If you can, set up a small table with drinks available as soon as guests arrive. This is a good way for guests to immediately feel like part of the party.
• Speaking of drinks, serve a signature drink in a coordinating color and give it a cute themed name for the day.
• Set up specific activity stations according to where you want your guests to be. As the hostess you have the power to place guests where you want them simply by setting up food, drink, or activities in a certain area. Make sure you have plenty of space for the designated task – you don’t want a bottle-neck affect.
• Music is one of the most important elements in creating ambiance. Create a playlist using Spotify and play it at a low volume. I prefer smooth jazz for ladies luncheons, and hip dance tunes for livelier events. Match the music to the theme such as country music for a Western party, Samba for a Fiesta, old “Rat Pack” tunes for a Casino party, etc.
• Perform one house cleaning task each day for the week leading up to the party. Better yet, treat yourself to a house cleaning service to do the job for you. Rentals.com blog also has some helpful quick cleaning tips to follow.
• Don’t forget to pay special attention to the restroom that your guests will be using. Take a cue from those upscale bathrooms that have attendants, and provide some amenities your guests might need. I like to have available lotion, room spray, feminine products, mints, ibuprofen, and safety pins. I also like to have either a pretty night light turned on or a candle burning. No one likes to walk into the dark.

With these tips I think you should be well on your way to hosting a fabulous party. It’s a great way to celebrate friends and family, or a great way to meet your new neighbors.

In fact that’s exactly what got me hooked on entertaining 25 years ago. We moved to a new state into a neighborhood where we knew no one. I decided I’d host a Christmas Cocktail party to meet our new co-workers and neighbors and it ended up becoming a yearly event.