Formal Party Decorating

For a formal party, decorations can set the tone and atmosphere for the evening. With the right decorations, you can turn a standard space into a festive, sparkling area in which to entertain friends and family. As you decorate, consider the size of the room, the number of guests, and the feeling you want to convey for the event. Choose elegant, lush decorations that impart a sense of luxury and create a soft, warm feeling in the party space. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Set up the room. Arrange tables with enough space between them to allow guests to dine, mingle, and drink; for a cocktail party, use tall tables. Guests should be able to walk among the tables even when the chairs are pulled out. Depending on the type of food or cocktails you will be serving, set up a buffet table, cake table, or punch table. If you want to have dancing at the party, leave space for a dance floor.

2

Cover the tables with linens. At a formal party, linen tablecloths are an important part of the decor. For round tables, use a round tablecloth as the base and place a second square cloth in a different color on top of the base cloth to create depth. For square or rectangle tables, use a standard square or rectangular cloth with a table runner down the center. Use a decorative top cloth or runner that uses metallic threads, textured fabric, or beading to add a touch of sheen to the tables.

3

Set the tables with formal place settings and centerpieces. Table decorations add a special touch to a party, particularly if dinner is served. Use fine china, place cards, fabric napkins in decorative holders, stemware, and your finest utensils. Make centerpieces that coordinate with the color scheme for the event, using flowers and candles, sparkling beads or ornaments, or candles. Put centerpieces on dining tables, drinks tables, and food tables.

4

Add lighting elements that create a soft, flattering atmosphere in the room. At a formal party, turn the main room lights off to avoid harsh shadows; instead, choose candles, small electric lamps, and strings of Christmas lights. For an elegant look, choose low-wattage bulbs and white candles or lights. Drape light strings from the center of the ceiling to the walls for a dramatic ceiling decoration, or hang them from the floor to the ceiling to create a wall of light.

5

Decorate the chairs for a finishing touch. For a formal party, adding a festive touch to the chairs can complete the room. Wrap wide satin ribbons around the chairs and tie them into bows at the back, or use a ribbon to tie a loop and dangle an ornament from the back edge. Use chair skirts to cover chairs and make each one look identical.