New Year's Eve party themes are simple if you don't overbuy decorations.
Planning a New Year's Eve Party is a big undertaking because many guests like to get dressed up for this special event each year. They might even put on a tux or a formal dress just like they would for a wedding or a funeral. Create a fun atmosphere while keeping your theme simple. It's not about saving money as much as not overdoing decorations. Buy your supplies at a dollar store, party supply store or retailer.
Everything Silver
When you think of New Year's Eve, you probably think of the silver glitz of the Times Square ball that drops at midnight. A silver party theme is simple. Buy or make silver foil decorations, such as a globe or disco ball, streamers, ceiling and wall hangings and table decorations. Buy silver place settings or create a contrast with silver and white, silver and red or silver and blue place settings. Silver is simple, but elegant--a perfect scaled-down version of Times Square glamour at your humble celebration.
Crystal and Tea Lights
If you'll serve punch, champagne or spirits, try a fancy, yet simple decorating theme. Consider the combo of crystal and tea lights. Set up the theme at a side serving table with a crystal punch bowl and matching glasses as the centerpiece. Also, create other trays with different mixed beverages in glass pitchers and other sizes of drinking glasses or stemware. On another table, lay out hors d'oeuvres or buffet-style eats in glass or crystal trays. On her website, Martha Stewart shows service trays as thin, wooden rectangular trays with a low edge. These trays have a solid tablecloth underneath and tea lights create an elegant border for the serving table. Match tablecloths on all service tables.
Gold Starburst
Because the party takes place at night, a gold starburst theme fits. Find great deals at websites like Oriental Trading Company or retailers like Target or Michael's. Look for gold starbursts (or starbursts of another color). Hang starbursts from the ceiling, decorate floral or balloon arrangements for table centerpieces and add gold confetti (including stars, of course) on all tables. Gold place settings might be appropriate, or you could choose to offset gold with black or cream. To go all the way with 1970s style, drape tables and chairs in gold lame and give each guest a gold party hat or crown to wear.
