Summer is a wonderful season for entertaining. You get to take advantage of balmy temperatures and summer sunshine to host outdoor parties. This also allows you to invite more friends and family since you have room indoors as well as outdoors. It’s also lots of fun to incorporate festive summer party decor. Whether you choose to stay indoors or open your party to the patio, try some of these fun ideas for making the most of your warm-weather party decorations.
Summer Party Decor Ideas
Say Aloha to a Luau
An outdoor party is a perfect time to embrace a tropical theme with your party decorations. Use citronella Tiki torches to light up the night! They also keep the bugs at bay while giving your backyard a Hawaiian feel. You can also use crepe paper streamers to make leis for guests to wear, or you can hand out bright butterfly clips for the ladies to affix to their hair for some tropical flair. Add colorful tablecloths in bright shades of orange, yellow and hot pink to complete the Polynesian look.
Everybody’s All-American
Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day are all great American holidays. They are also the perfect time to show off your patriotic spirit. Keep things fun by tying bunches of red, white and blue latex balloons to the backs of chairs and corners of tables for high-flying decorations. Set a casual picnic buffet table by using glass jars to hold cutlery. You can embellish each one with a bit of star-spangled ribbon for a fun finishing touch.
Indoor Arts and Crafts
Even the best-planned party plans sometimes go awry when there’s rain in the forecast. So it always pays to have a backup plan in case you need to move your guests indoors. Protect indoor tables with spill-resistant decorative covers before setting up your food and drink stations. For the kids, it’s a good idea to have some indoor fun planned. A simple arts and crafts table where they can make tissue paper flowers or decorate a box with washi tape and fill it with candies will keep everyone happy on a rainy day.
Rustic Country Elegance
Summer is all about laid-back fun. You should choose decorations that don’t look like you worked too hard but still make a big impression. Line your tables with rustic burlap fabric, and use Mason jars as flower vases and holders for tea lights or votive candles. Consider using lace ribbon to tie around napkins for a bit of elegance, or set out a gingham favor bag at each place setting for a look that’s a little bit country and a whole lot of fun. You can also add burlap chair sashes to elevate your summer party decor.
Traditional Birthday Fun
The beauty of celebrating a summer birthday is that you can host lots of backyard activities that kids love. That means breaking out Twister, Pin the Tail on the Donkey or a few water pistols for warm-weather fun. Decorate the yard with colorful balloons and streamers just like you remember from your childhood, and be sure to send each child home with a favor bag full of little treats like candy, crayons, tiny puzzles and temporary tattoos.
Add a Touch of Nature
You don’t have to look far for inspiration for your summer party decor. The easiest thing of all is to pick wildflowers or cut blossoming branches from your garden and casually arrange them in a decorative vase or two for a centerpiece. You can also spread fabric rose petals about your serving tables to create a lovely summertime effect that is nearly effortless.
Nighttime Sparkle
When the sun goes down, a summer evening can be the best time to sit and enjoy the cooler temperatures. If you’re planning to party long into the night, make sure your decorations also look good in the dark. Fill a few vases with sparkly decorative sprays that will reflect the light to form a glittering centerpiece. You can also use LED light garlands to illuminate porch railings, trees or any other spot that would benefit from starry shine.
Don’t Forget the Party Favors!
It’s always a good idea to send your guests home with a little token to remember the evening. Get crafty by filling small fabric bags with candy or wildflower seeds and tying them with a lovely ribbon. You can also simply send your guests home with a take-out box or two of their leftovers. This is a great way to keep food from going to waste. It also gives your friends the gift of not having to cook the next day!
No matter what kind of party you have planned for this summer, let Paper Mart help you take your decorations to the next level with everything you need to throw the event of the season. Whether you choose to make small gifts for each guest or you prefer to keep things simple with paper plates and disposable cutlery, Paper Mart has everything you need to get the party started.