Around 15% of Americans attend New Year’s parties each year. What are the best ways to decorate for them?
New Year's is unique, being both the first and last holiday of each year. It also has big shoes to fill, coming right after three of the most festive holidays. That said, New Year’s usually gets the short end of the stick when it comes to decorations. Continue reading on as we look at how we can give this overlooked holiday the attention it deserves.
Which Colors Go with a New Year’s Party?
Unlike Christmas or Halloween, New Year’s doesn’t have distinct colors associated with it. This gives us a lot more versatility, while also making it a little harder to come to a decision. I’ll list off some of the more popular choices here.
Gold and Silver
Gold and silver are the most common color combination when it comes to New Year’s Eve. The iconic pairing is often used to display wealth and success, which probably fits well with some New Year’s resolutions. It’s also a great way to subconsciously tell your party guests that you’re absolutely loaded.
Green
Green is often the color that represents new beginnings, which fits perfectly with the spirit of New Year’s. Using green will also pair nicely with any plants and foliage you have around the house.
Red
Red commonly symbolizes Good luck and fortune. This can be observed in the Chinese New Year, with its celebrations having a predominantly red color scheme. That said, you might not want to use this with the previously mentioned green. If you do, people might assume you’re just late in taking down your Christmas decorations. ;)
Black and White
Black and White is another popular pick with New Year’s parties. Having shades instead of colors, it’s a more neutral combination that meshes well with almost any paint or décor. These are often used alongside our first pick on this list, gold and silver. It’s also a great choice for lovers of chess, zebras, and films from the 1950’s.
Which Decorations Should I use for New Year’s?
Balloons
Balloons are one of the most iconic party decorations out there. They’re inexpensive, easy to setup and come in almost every color you can think of. This allows them to match any of the color combinations we listed earlier. Not to mention, balloons are the highlight of cleaning up the aftermath of any party.
Garlands
Garlands are an extremely adaptable and customizable decoration. Like balloons, garlands can be found in just about every color. Flexible in nature, garlands are perfect for railings, tables, doorways and shelves. Depending on the material, they can hold string lights, ornaments, and other accessories.
Balloon Garlands
That’s right, the world hasn’t seen a crossover like this since chocolate and peanut butter. The balloon garland gives you the best of both worlds and is an extremely popular choice for New Year’s parties. They’ve got the versatility and of garlands with the color variety of balloons. Many use multiple sizes of balloons together to achieve a more unique shape.
Clocks
Ah yes, the clock. They're essentially the Christmas trees of New Year’s Eve. It’s important to put plenty of emphasis on the clock, as it’ll be the main focal point before the new year drops. This rule applies to a fancy roman numeral clock, or your brother’s old iPad. Hanging up lights or even some paper décor around the clock is a perfect way to draw people in to the main event. And for all those introvert hosts out there, it’s a great way to let your guests know when they’re supposed to leave.
Which lights should I use for a New Year’s Party?
Lighting is important for any party, not just on New Year’s. which lights you use can determine the mood of the space and how the objects inside it are viewed. Luckily, there are many options that fit with all the colors and décor previously mentioned.
String Lights
String lights are a great way to light up a space without completely overtaking it. They’re capable of fitting pretty much anywhere, including the garlands we mentioned earlier. One of the more popular string light styles are Edison bulb string lights. They offer a cozy look that goes well with that warmer tone of New Year’s decorations.
Colored Light Bulbs
Colored Lights come in a variety of different colors (go figure) and can instantly elevate a room’s party atmosphere. Implementing them into your home is a quick and hassle-free process. Unlike string lights, colored bulbs can typically be swapped out for the bulbs in your lamps. This makes them a perfect last-minute addition to any New Year’s party.
Disco Lights
Disco Lights are basically a full party in and of themselves. You place one of these bad boys into a room, people will be talking about it for weeks. Disco Lights come in a variety of different forms. Some are battery operated, while others can be screwed into fixtures like a standard light bulb. Regardless, they’re all great at getting crazy lights to flash across the room. Not to mention, they’re also essential for my personal favorite New Year’s activity, Karaoke.
Conclusion
Decorating for an event is a lot of work, which is no exception for New Year’s Parties. While New Year’s doesn’t have many iconic decorations, perhaps that can make it even a little easier. And hey, even if you don’t do a great job this year, you can always add “be better at decorating” to your new Year’s resolution. ;)
