New Year’s Eve is right around the corner, and so are confetti-filled celebrations and choruses of Auld Lang Syne. If you’re seeking inspiration for a unique spin on traditional NYE festivities, look no further: here are four creative party ideas that will make your soiree truly sensational!
Follow the call of the disco ball
A ’70s-themed New Year’s party is the perfect excuse to break out the bell bottoms and boogie! For Studio 54-inspired decorations, rent a fog machine and a disco ball, and if you happen to have an old lava lamp lying around, even better. Be sure to have a playlist full of favorites of the decade, from the Bee Gees and Gloria Gaynor to James Brown. A roller-rink themed menu adds to the fun and is easy to prep: hot dogs, French fries and popcorn all make tasty snacks, and you can add in ‘70s classics like shrimp cocktail and chocolate fondue, too. All that’s left to do is to set a dress code of jumpsuits, platform shoes and polyester suits, and your party will be one groovy bash!
Hit the jackpot with a poker party
Treat your guests to a night in the casino with a Las Vegas-themed party! Whether your pals are card sharks or poker novices, everyone will enjoy a Rat Pack-inspired celebration. Let your guests know in their invitations if you’ll be playing for bragging rights or candy, and create an exciting casino environment using a color palette of gold, black and red. Set the mood with a Sinatra soundtrack and glitzy decor, from sparkly garlands to metallic tablecloths. You can also easily craft giant dice by wrapping large, square boxes in white paper and attaching black circle cut-outs: stack several around the house for great conversation starters. For the menu, finger foods are easy to eat without revealing your hand. Keep it classic with chips, pretzels and mini sandwiches.
Relax and rejuvenate for the year ahead
New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to be a wild celebration—we love the idea of a night of pampering with a spa-themed party. Create a calming environment with scented candles, soft music and flowers, and welcome each guest with a freshly steamed hand towel. If you want to splurge, you can book professional manicurists and masseuses for the night, but you can have just as much fun painting each other’s nails and applying homemade sugars scrubs and face masks. Continue the healthful theme with mini cucumber sandwiches, fruit smoothies and veggie platters, or indulge with everyone’s favorite treats. Encourage your friends to come in cozy loungewear—no dress code here!
Go for over-the-top glamour
Ring in 2019 with a night of decadence! Take a cue from literature’s premier partier, Great Gatsby, for a soiree that puts Times Square to shame. Costumes are a must: Art Deco-inspired gowns, fringed flapper dresses and smart suits will have every guy and doll at your bash looking the part. Boisterous big band music, along with Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington classics, are the perfect backdrop for eye-catching decor, complete with grand feather centerpieces and glittering fairy lights. The menu should be as sumptuous as the rest of the party: think extravagant antipasti plates, mussels, duck confit and chocolate ganache pots’ de crème. This lavish party will be so spectacular, you’ll want to host it more than once a year!