Cocktail Party Decorations

Since a cocktail party is a less formal event, there's no need to go all out for the decorations. However, a few simple touches can go a long way in transforming your every day space into something really magnificent!

Furniture -- Flowers -- Candles -- Music

Furniture:

Take a good look at how your furniture is arranged and think about your number of guests. Would the room be better served with fewer things in it to accommodate people standing and mingling? If your end tables and coffee tables contain a lot of knick-knacks, consider moving most of them to make room for your guests to put down drinks and food.

Flowers:

Now that you have cleared room on your tables, think about adding simple vases for bunches of flowers. This is also an easy way to bring in the theme of the party. Don't worry if you have never arranged flowers before - we promise you it's simple!

Follow these easy steps below to create gorgeous, monochromatic arrangements that your guest will rave about!

Pick a color that you want to highlight at your party -- it could be a color from the invitation or it could be the favorite color of the guest of honor.
Take stock of what vases you already have, and where you would like to place them for the party
Head to a local farmer's market or grocery store, and pick up a few bunches of flowers in the same color. Some great choices are: lilies, alstroemeria, or carnations (yes -- you can use carnations, just get them all in the same color!)
You want your flowers to be 3 to 4 inches above the rim of the vase, so cut your flower stems on a diagonal so that they are the right height.
Fill your vases half way with water
Gather the flowers in your hand, position them in the middle of the vase, and let them fall naturally

Candles:

Candles are another easy way to add ambiance, set the tone of the party, and add subtle scent to the room. For living spaces, pillars in glass hurricanes are probably best as the flame will be protected and they are less likely to tip over. On the dining to buffet tables, taper candles in proper candlesticks will add height and drama to the table.

Remember to put scented candles in your bathrooms for added elegance. And candles can be the best cocktail party decorations of all because after the guests leave, you still get to enjoy them for weeks to come!

Music:

Yes, music is a decoration! Make a quick play list of your favorite background music. Select music that sets the mood you want -- festive, relaxing, or stylized and allows conversation to keep flowing.