Party Decorations

Decorations add color and excitement. A little creativity goes a long way and you don't have to spend a fortune.

One of the easiest ways to decorate for a party is to purchase "partyware sets", consisting of matching table cloths, plates, cups, and napkins, that convey the theme.

Check Birthday Express to see if a party set is available for your theme.

A word of caution, sometimes less is more when selecting themed partyware. For example: if the tablecloth, plates, cups, and napkins all have the same design, it can be a bit overwhelming and hard to find items on the table (they all blend together). Sometimes it's better to buy a few items in coordinating solid colors.

If you're on a tight budget, look for partyware at your local discount chains (Target, Walmart, Kmart, etc.). The selection may be a bit limited, but the prices are often less than party stores.

Balloons
Balloons are my favorite party decoration! Fortunately, helium-filled balloons are readily available (party stores, florists, and grocery stores) and relatively inexpensive (usually less than $1 each for latex balloons and $2-3 for mylar balloons).

Tie 3-5 balloons outside the party location to help guests find the party. Always use an odd number of balloons in a bouquet and space them out so they're slightly different heights. Place balloon bouquets on the gift table, cake table, etc...

Weigh down balloon bouquets with soda cans or canned food wrapped in gift wrap or foil. You can also allow balloons to just float up to the ceiling with long ribbons. If the party is for younger children, send a balloon home with each child.

It's possible to rent or buy helium tanks and fill the balloons yourself, but I've never had good luck with this. It takes forever, the tanks fill fewer balloons than they claim, and the balloons loose their float quickly.

When ordering helium balloons call ahead or order the balloons when you first enter the store and come back and get them after you've finished the rest of your shopping. It takes 15-20 minutes to fill a dozen balloons and this seems like a very long time if you're just standing there watching.

Helium-filled latex balloons (the regular colored plastic ones) often loose their float after 12-24 hours. Therefore, it's advisable to pick them up the day of the party. However, if you can't do this, ask the store to put "high float" in the balloons (a gel that makes it more difficult for the helium to escape). High float usually costs an additional 20 cents per balloon, but they'll float for 2-3 days (although the color starts to fade after the 2nd day).

Freshly filled mylar balloons (the foil looking ones) will float for several days (sometimes weeks) and don't require "high float".

Standard latex balloons are 11 inch diameter and these are fine. However, if you're near a party store that sells larger balloons (usually 17 inch diameter) and have a van or SUV to transport them, these larger balloons are very festive and don't cost that much more. If you're transporting balloons in a regular-size car, about a dozen 11 inch balloons is the most you can probably fit. Anchor them down low in the back seat to keep them from blocking your rear view mirror.

If you don't want to do helium balloons, you can decorate with regular balloon by tying ribbon on several balloons and tying them together, curl the ribbon using scissors or a knife and tape over a doorway or hang from a ceiling light fixture (not too close to the bulbs though).

Streamers & Confetti
Streamers are certainly festive, but it takes a lot of streamers to make an impact and they're more time consuming to put up than you might think.

When I have time I sometimes hang a fringe of streamers over the doorways or make a canopy over the cake table by attaching streamers to the chandelier and twirl them down to the corners of the table.

Party stores sell confetti in nearly every shape imaginable. A couple sprinkles on the tables can add a festive look, but be careful around the food table or your guests will be eating it and be warned... you'll be cleaning it up for weeks to come.

I like to put some confetti, particularly if it's shaped to tie in with the theme (graduation caps for a Graduation Party), inside the party invitation. A fun little surprise and someone else has to clean it up!

Banners
Computer generated banners look cool and can be personalized, but be careful because they can be fragile and sometimes difficult to hang. Birthday Express offers sturdy personalized banners in over 100 designs. Generic store bought banners are available for many occasions.

I like to make a welcome sign on poster board and have giant card for guests to sign and add artwork to.

Centerpieces
I don't usually find I need table centerpieces for children's parties. The partyware, cake, and presents provide the festive touches. Plus, I'm usually short on table space and a centerpiece would likely get in the way. However, sometimes a centerpiece really fits the theme, such as flowers for a Tea Party.

And centerpieces can serve multiple purposes, such as a container that holds party favors or art supplies.

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