From creating delicious menus to planning party decorations, hosting an event is not only a special way to connect with friends and family, but also a fun creative outlet. For tablescaper pro Annie Worley and theme queen Deana Cannatelli, their passion for hosting runs deep, especially when it comes to curating parties and events to remember. Make your next event a memorable one with their planning secrets, including tips to get organised, party decoration ideas, advice on how to pick the perfect party theme and much more.

When To Start Party Planning

The key to a successful get-together is being as organised as possible. The first step is selecting a date for your party and confirming with your guest list. “I like to set a date [far] in advance. Everyone’s really busy and it’s nice to be able to plan knowing this is my date to prepare for my party,” says Annie.

A series of images of two table settings, one featuring pastel green and pink native plant patterned tableware and the other featuring bright, dotty, multicoloured tableware.

‍How to Pick the Perfect Party Theme

Next is to choose your party theme: whether you’re after big, bright vibes or native florals for springtime, your theme will influence things like decor, menu, setting and more. “When it comes to inspiration, it could be anything. A really good start is looking on Pinterest, or you might [have] something new you want to use, like a casserole dish,” says Annie.

“I consider a few things [when picking a theme]. A lot of the time, it’s dependent on the time of the season. So, if it’s the end of the year, it’s summer, and I try to go with a theme where we can be outside or [serve] things like pizzas, pastas or Mexican [food because] they’re more summery foods; I’m not going to cook a real wintry dish in the middle of summer,” says Deana.

Hot tip: Deana recommends starting your preparations as soon as you can. Things like grocery shopping and setting the table the day before can make a difference on the day. “If I’m organised, I’m not stressed as the host. I think that’s a really big thing for people that haven’t hosted before; [make sure you] write your lists,” says Deana.

SEE ALSO: DIY Gift Ideas to Celebrate Life’s Small Moments

‍Different Ideas for Party Decorations

There are no rules when it comes to decorating for a party, but these easy tips and fun ideas from Annie and Deana will elevate your decor at your next event.

A series of close-ups of the Bright and Australiana themed tablescapes, including custom-printed menus and placecards.

‍Party Decorations: Tablescapes

Tablescapes will be the focal point of your party decorations, whether you’re hosting a sit-down dinner party or a grazing table, as guests usually gravitate towards the food.

When it comes to creating an eye-catching tablescape, Annie’s three top tips are “texture, height and sticking to a colour palette”. Choose a few colours to create cohesion in your decor (or look through decor ranges for ease and inspiration), then add texture with different materials like table runners, name cards or food labels and height with things like flowers, greenery, candles and footed platters. 

What to try

Party Decorations: Hanging Decorations

A series of images of two different party table settings focusing on the hanging party decorations. The decorations include paper honeycomb balls and streamers of various colours.

Though your tablescape is the centrepiece of your party decorations, adding extra hanging decorations on the walls or from the ceiling will help bring the whole space together. “At the end of the year, I usually host a gingerbread night and I’ll use 3M hooks to hang baubles from the roof. It makes a real difference [in the space],” says Deana. Anything as simple as adding streamers, scattering confetti and hanging paper ornaments can help bring together the theme of your party.

What to try

Party Decorations: Custom Stationery

Custom printed stationery is an easy way to give your party an organised and thoughtful look. “You can find themes of stationery [and apply it to whatever you want]. So if you want a welcome sign, menus, name cards or labels around your food, you can create them in your theme,” says Annie.

Printed stationery can also be another meaningful way to send your guests away with a nice thank you note or memento from the evening. “Sometimes I’ll also design and print little recipe cards and I’ll give them to my guests to take home. That’s what people want these days,” says Deana. 

Hot Tip: In need of a few last-minute touches? Design your own event stationery using Canva and get it printed in a matter of hours with Officeworks’ Same Day Printing service. Simply order before 2pm, either online or at selected stores, and pick up on the same day. 

A series of images displaying custom printer stationery to match the party decorations and themes of two different settings.

‍What to try

SEE ALSO: How to Plan the Perfect Craft Party 

Party Decorations: DIY Decor Ideas

You can take your party decorations to another level by adding simple touches to match the party theme. Or, try using butchers paper and paint to create your own custom table setting for a more rustic tone. Deana says she’s been loving ribbons in her party decorations recently. “You can tie your napkins or cutlery with it. It just adds a nice little touch to the tablescape,” says Deana. 

What to try

Other Ideas to Elevate Your Party Theme

Party decorations are an essential part in setting the vibe but there are lots of other ways to boost your party’s mood. “I love to change up the lighting. I got one of those [colour-changing] globes. It was very affordable and I can reuse it and always change the colour,” says Deana. 

Deana also believes the key to keeping the vibes high is curating the perfect party playlist. “Having a playlist that matches your theme really helps, too,” says Deana. “You can curate a playlist while you’re in bed, instead of scrolling on TikTok, so it’s ready to go for the night.”

Interactive elements, like a DIY photo booth or a drinks station, can be a great way for your guests to engage and mingle. Create a photobooth backdrop with streamers and bunting, and leave an instant camera out for your guests to take photos. “Those little things are so simple, but they’re fun and interactive for everyone,” says Deana.

What to try

SEE ALSO: Invitation Templates Perfect for Any Event