Throw a Fabulous Party – Economically!
This year as everyone is watching budgets I’ve decided to talk about how to throw an elegant holiday party on a college student’s budget. While in NY for Thanksgiving I was inspired by the holiday windows at Bergdorf Goodman and my new favorite store ABC Home. I know, that’s not the college budget but the inspiration is! The windows used tones of cream, gold and silver along with amazing textures to create dramatic winter scenes. ABC Home uses many natural elements throughout their store including tree branches, pine cones, etc. So how to use these elements to economically decorate for a fabulous holiday party? Start with items you have around the house or yard. Take those trimmed tree branches or large maple leaves and spray paint them white or dip them in silver or gold glitter. Hang from the ceiling with fishing string or put the branches in vases. Have the young children you know make paper snowflakes and again, dip in glitter and hang. An easy table cloth? Go to the fabric store and get some cream or white batting, tie batting with an oversized ribbon around table legs and display the food on top. Visit the dollar store and see what they have in your colors. Those inexpensive glass balls that people hang on trees can make a graphic statement if used in combination with other geometric shapes.
Don’t forget to think in terms of lighting. Having numerous candles around the room in the same tones along with dimmed lights will hide any imperfections that we are all bound to get when making our own items. Not to mention creating an intimate atmosphere. My favorite item I found to make last year was ice candles. They cost nothing to make and are beautiful outside the house! You can use pots and Tupperware around the house. Try to start a week or so early as it can take time to freeze many of these. Hopefully the weather will be cold the night of your party so they don’t melt. And when they do, they’ve just watered the lawn…
The main thing is keep it simple…keep the color monotone or add in only one accent color of red or baby blue. Don’t mix too many elements. To see the gorgeous windows photographed by Over the Top of NY, click here. They’ve captured the windows beautifully!
Tags: Holiday Decorating, Ice candles
