It doesn’t take much to turn your home into a party space. Pick a few of these simple ideas to add a festive flair.
close Continue Slideshow
Garlands Galore
A homemade banner can pack a big decorative punch. Check out these designs that can be reused year after year.
Have Fun with Streamers
You can twist, wind, braid, and curl crepe paper. Get a lot of bang for your buck with this affordable and versatile party material.
Cool Dot-Com Decor
Stylish and affordable party supplies from our favorite stores.
Fancy Table
Make your table shine by using the snacks as creative decor.
Check out the next slide to see our fun decorating tips.
Birthday Party Ideas: Daisy Balloons
Tara Donne
Garland: Baby Face
A photo of your little one is just the thing for an intimate family celebration.
Tara Donne
Garland: Stick Around
Spell a message by adhering string to cardboard circles with letter stickers.
Tara Donne
Garland: Tie the Knot
Loop your scraps around a long ribbon to make a quick decoration.
Tara Donne
Garland: Wall Flowers
All you need is decorative paper and a punch to make this colorful garland.
Tara Donne
Garland: Ding-Dong!
Paper cups form sweet bell-shaped ornaments to string up at the party.
Tara Donne
Yay for Streamers
A-door-able! Stripe a doorway with a few different colors. Use painter’s tape to adhere the fringed curtain to the wall.
Or try these other cool ideas:
Birthday Throne: Wrap your child’s chair at the dinner table as a fancy birthday treat.
Curb Appeal: Proudly announce the birthday to the neighborhood by decorating the fence, front yard, or porch.
Puff Piece: Gather 25 8-inch strips of crepe paper in the center with a rubber band. Using scissors, carefully curl the ends to make a cute pom-pom.
Tara Donne
Dot-Com Decor: Fun Fringe
Spice up a table with some colorful fringe.
Party table fringe, $16, available at topsmalibu.com
How to Make a Crepe-Paper Lantern
Tara Donne
Dot-Com Decor: Raise the Flag
This adorable paper pennant fits perfectly in card or cake.
Paper flag pennants, $8 for 12, available at topsmalibu.com
Tara Donne
Dot-Com Decor: Dino Touch
If your tot loves dinosaurs, dress up some cupcakes with these cute toppers.
Dinosaur cupcake set, $12 for 24 cupcake liners and 24 cupcake toppers, available at merimeri.com
Tara Donne
Dot-Com Decor: Party Hat
Give your little guest a fun felt party had for the birthday bash
Felt stripe hat, $7, available at greenpartygoods.com
Tara Donne
Dot-Com Decor: Fruity Sip
Kids will love to sip their punch through these fancy fruit straws.
Fruit party straws, $6 for 24, available at partypartnersdesign.com
Tara Donne
Fancy Table: Edible Landscape
Make your snack table come alive with a few simple steps (and delicious treats)! Cover a table with butcher paper and paint it into the cutest buffet ever. Plan out your masterpiece according to your bowls and platters. Pizzas make great wheels, and silicone cupcake liners work perfectly as caterpillar cookie stands.
Tara Donne
Get More Party Ideas!
Originally published in the May 2009 issue of Parents magazine.
Check out these two slideshows for more birthday party fun!
17 of 17 Next Slideshow
The Big ONE
Baby’s first birthday is as much an anniversary of being a parent as it… more Begin Slideshow