Birthday decorations: ideas for the table and party

When you're decorating for an adult's birthday, it's tempting to want it all. But decorations that look well thought-out are often the simplest ones. By bringing the party together around one theme or one consistent colour, you get a table and a party that hang together, without having to spend time chasing lots of different things.

Here are the principles for birthday decorations: how to choose a theme, lay the table, add candles and sparkle, and how to make it extra special for a round birthday.

The short answer: theme, table, candles and sparkle

If you're decorating for a birthday, three principles will take you a long way. First, choose a theme or a colour that ties the decorations together. Then lay the table so it looks festive without being overloaded. And finally, add candles and something sparkly, so the mood feels uplifted as soon as the guests step into the room.

What makes birthday decorations memorable is rarely the quantity of things. It's that everything fits together, and that thought has gone into the details, from the napkins to the lighting in the ceiling.

Choose a theme: colour, decade or favourite thing

A theme makes every choice easier. It could be a single colour that you repeat in napkins, flowers and candles. It could be a decade, if the birthday person has a favourite era. Or it could be something completely personal, like the birthday person's favourite fruit, colour or animal.

The point is that once the theme is chosen, the rest of the decorations naturally fall into place. You don't have to decide on every single detail, because you already have a direction to style towards.

• Choose one main colour and let it reappear in at least three places on the table.
• Use the same theme in the invitation, table setting and candles.
• Stick to the theme, even when choosing table decorations, so everything looks coordinated.

Get more ideas for how to build on a theme in the centre of the table, in our guide about table decorations: how to build the centre of the table.

The table: runner, napkins, plates and table decorations

The table is where guests sit for most of the evening, so this is where the decorations make the biggest difference. Start with a runner or a tablecloth, add napkins in the theme colour, and choose plates that match the mood.

If the theme is citrus or summer, you can use lemon plates in stoneware or orange plates in porcelain to set the tone. If the table should be more playful and colourful, plate del mar plates in dolomite work well to break up the plain colours. For serving, a rainbow fish dish in stoneware or a lemon dish in ceramic can give the table one last festive touch when it's time to bring out snacks or fruit.

The table decorations themselves don't need to take up much space. A simple vase of flowers, a couple of figurines or a small detail in the middle of the table is enough to make it look well thought-out without becoming overloaded.

See the full range of table settings and table decorations, and get inspired to mix styles in our guide about at blande keramik, farver og former på borddækningen. If you want to see how to set the table from scratch, you can read more in table setting: how to lay a beautiful table.

Candles and sparkle: candlesticks, candles and a disco ball

Light does more for the atmosphere than most other things on the table. Bring out candlesticks in different heights, and light candles when the guests arrive. This instantly creates a warm and festive setting, whatever theme you've chosen.

If you want to give the party an extra lift, a disco ball is a simple way to add sparkle. Disco balls from Rice come in several colours and sizes and cast glittering light when they hang over the table or stand as an eye-catcher on a shelf or side table. A large disco ball in multicolour works as a centrepiece in the room, while a medium disco ball in pink or a medium disco ball in multicolour works well if you want to keep the theme more simple. If the party is going in dark green, a large disco ball in dark green is an obvious choice, and if the sparkle just needs to be a small detail, a small disco ball in pink can be brought out without taking up too much space.

See the full range of disco balls and candlesticks, and get inspired in disco balls as decor: party meets home decor as well as how to create cosiness with candlelight.

The disco balls come in different sizes and colours, so you can tailor the sparkle to your theme.

Round birthdays: a theme to match the milestone

For a milestone birthday, it's a natural choice to let the occasion itself become part of the theme, without it getting kitsch. It can be about choosing colours or a style that suits the day, and using them consistently in the table setting and decorations, instead of filling the table with banners and signs.

Keep the decorations simple, and let the occasion be present in details, such as a single table decoration or a colour you choose consistently for napkins and candles. That way, it becomes festive and personal, without taking over.

Practical tip: prepare the evening before

Most of the decorations can be put up the evening before the party. Set the table, put out candlesticks, and hang up the disco ball in good time, so you've got energy to spare when the guests arrive.

Also think about seating, so everyone has somewhere to sit, and so the table doesn't get too crowded for the decorations to be seen. Save the best you have, like a lovely table decoration or a special dish, for the spot guests look at most, so that's the first thing they notice.

Frequently asked questions

How do you decorate for a birthday?

Choose one colour or one theme, and repeat it in napkins, plates and table decorations. Add candles and preferably something sparkly, like a disco ball, so the party gets a cohesive and festive feel.

How do you decorate for a milestone birthday?

Let the special day become part of the theme through colours and style, rather than banners and signs everywhere. Keep the decorations simple, and use candles and a lovely table decoration to mark the day.

What can you decorate with for an adult birthday?

Napkins, plates, a table runner, candles and table decorations in the same theme are enough to create atmosphere. A disco ball can add extra sparkle to the party, and dishes from the shop can be used for serving.

How do you decorate for a special occasion?

Choose a colour or style that suits the day, and keep it consistent in the table setting and decorations. Avoid overloading the table, and instead let candles and a simple table decoration do the work.

How do you decorate the table for a birthday?

Start with a table runner or tablecloth, add napkins and plates in the theme colour, and place a simple table decoration in the middle of the table. Candlesticks and candles give the table that final touch of atmosphere.

How do you decorate cheaply for a birthday?

Stick to one theme, so you avoid buying unnecessary things. Reuse candlesticks and dishes you already have, and let a single disco ball or table decoration be the thing that lifts the party.

Summary

Birthday decorations don't have to involve lots of things. Choose one theme or one colour, set the table with napkins, plates and a simple table decoration, and let candles and a disco ball add sparkle to the party. For a milestone birthday, the special day can become part of the theme without it getting over the top, and with a bit of preparation the evening before, you can enjoy the party yourself when the guests arrive.

Read also

• Table decorations: how to build the centre of your table
• Table setting: how to set a beautiful table
• Disco balls as decor: party meets home decor
• How to create cosiness with candlelight
• Cake decorations: ideas and techniques for a lovely cake