Party decorations needn't be a bother or a budget stretch - with some simple know-how you can create the perfect setting for an evening to remember.
The following will give you some excellent ideas for the perfect party ambience.
Lighting
Nothing sets the mood better than the right ambience, and it's not necessary to fork out for expensive lamps to get the right lighting. Candles are always a winner, especially at the dinner table, while standard lamps can be made extra appealing and cast a more muted shine by simply draping material over them.
Another tip is to buy some Chinese lanterns - they are extremely affordable and come in a wide range of sizes and colours. These lighting wonders cast a gorgeous glow whether indoors or outdoors, they never fail to create a relaxing, slightly magical ambience.
Table Linen
Whether the party is formal or casual, there will always be tables laden with food and beverages and the right table linen will bring these important hubs to life.
If it's an adult dinner party, elegant table linen will perfectly compliment your dinnerware for a look of sophistication. When it comes to children's parties, you choose cheerful themed table covers in plastic, paper or cloth. Also pay attention to colour - a table cover in red or green for example will suit a dinner party or a Christmas event equally well.
Flowers & Plants
Natural items always have a way of always adding comfort and charm. Large potted plants nicely fill up a room that looks rather bare, while flowers are the way forward to bring colour to any surface, whether it's side tables and ledges or as a table centre-piece. What's more, vases of differing heights, shapes and colours will balance a room out perfectly, banishing any drab nooks and crannies.
Depending on the type of party you're having, you could go for only one or two flower tones for an elegant look, or simply mix different flowers creatively to easily brighten the event.
Streamers
Even the dullest room can be easily made festive with streamers, and using cloth, beads or paper this can easily be done yourself.
Paper streamers can be simply made by cutting long strips of different coloured crepe or tissue paper, while a few meters of material such as satin will certainly add opulence and elegance to set the stage. The key is how you drape them - hang your streamers from the ceiling and light fixtures as well as over tables, chairs and curtains, then interlace them with some strands of shiny beads. You could also fashion them into creative knots and huge bows.
Balloons
Whether at children's parties or adult events, balloons are always a firm favourite that add cheer to any occasion. Depending on the mood you want to create, you could go for a set colour scheme, or simply a mix of as many rainbow hues you can get your hands on.
Balloons make a perfect complement to streamers or they can be arranged in great big bunches as a stand-alone. Another idea is to tie them together so that an arch is formed. In fact however they are placed, these easy items always spell €party'.
Room Centre-Piece
A large centre-piece will fill out and create a focal point to any sized room. Whether you choose to have this as a table feature or get creative with something hanging from a central light on the ceiling depends on the type of party you're having - the table piece will of course suit a dinner party, while if the event is more about people standing about or dancing with a buffet on the side then throwing together a hanging centre-piece will be ideal.
For table decoration, you could go as simple as a flower arrangement, interspersed with small candles. When it comes to a hanging creation, you could use streamers leading from every corner of the room to a central bunch of balloons.
Conclusion
From glowing Chinese lanterns that instantly create a wonderful ambience to the savvy arrangement of streamers, plants and flowers, the above guide shows that setting the right mood for a brilliant party does not have to be a difficult or pricey endeavour.
The following will give you some excellent ideas for the perfect party ambience.
Lighting
Nothing sets the mood better than the right ambience, and it's not necessary to fork out for expensive lamps to get the right lighting. Candles are always a winner, especially at the dinner table, while standard lamps can be made extra appealing and cast a more muted shine by simply draping material over them.
Another tip is to buy some Chinese lanterns - they are extremely affordable and come in a wide range of sizes and colours. These lighting wonders cast a gorgeous glow whether indoors or outdoors, they never fail to create a relaxing, slightly magical ambience.
Table Linen
Whether the party is formal or casual, there will always be tables laden with food and beverages and the right table linen will bring these important hubs to life.
If it's an adult dinner party, elegant table linen will perfectly compliment your dinnerware for a look of sophistication. When it comes to children's parties, you choose cheerful themed table covers in plastic, paper or cloth. Also pay attention to colour - a table cover in red or green for example will suit a dinner party or a Christmas event equally well.
Flowers & Plants
Natural items always have a way of always adding comfort and charm. Large potted plants nicely fill up a room that looks rather bare, while flowers are the way forward to bring colour to any surface, whether it's side tables and ledges or as a table centre-piece. What's more, vases of differing heights, shapes and colours will balance a room out perfectly, banishing any drab nooks and crannies.
Depending on the type of party you're having, you could go for only one or two flower tones for an elegant look, or simply mix different flowers creatively to easily brighten the event.
Streamers
Even the dullest room can be easily made festive with streamers, and using cloth, beads or paper this can easily be done yourself.
Paper streamers can be simply made by cutting long strips of different coloured crepe or tissue paper, while a few meters of material such as satin will certainly add opulence and elegance to set the stage. The key is how you drape them - hang your streamers from the ceiling and light fixtures as well as over tables, chairs and curtains, then interlace them with some strands of shiny beads. You could also fashion them into creative knots and huge bows.
Balloons
Whether at children's parties or adult events, balloons are always a firm favourite that add cheer to any occasion. Depending on the mood you want to create, you could go for a set colour scheme, or simply a mix of as many rainbow hues you can get your hands on.
Balloons make a perfect complement to streamers or they can be arranged in great big bunches as a stand-alone. Another idea is to tie them together so that an arch is formed. In fact however they are placed, these easy items always spell €party'.
Room Centre-Piece
A large centre-piece will fill out and create a focal point to any sized room. Whether you choose to have this as a table feature or get creative with something hanging from a central light on the ceiling depends on the type of party you're having - the table piece will of course suit a dinner party, while if the event is more about people standing about or dancing with a buffet on the side then throwing together a hanging centre-piece will be ideal.
For table decoration, you could go as simple as a flower arrangement, interspersed with small candles. When it comes to a hanging creation, you could use streamers leading from every corner of the room to a central bunch of balloons.
Conclusion
From glowing Chinese lanterns that instantly create a wonderful ambience to the savvy arrangement of streamers, plants and flowers, the above guide shows that setting the right mood for a brilliant party does not have to be a difficult or pricey endeavour.