How to Plan the Perfect Christmas Party: Choosing the Right Decor

Christmas is just around the corner, and you know what that means – It’s party season! We understand just how challenging planning holiday parties can be. And that’s why we have decided to feature an exclusive series by The Unofficial Christmas Party (TUCP) to provide BellaNaijarians with creative ideas on recipes, decorations, prep tips and much more!

Each article is written by a TUCP partner and they will discuss the vital ingredients necessary for throwing a fabulous Christmas party. They are the top experts in the industry and will be letting us in on a few trade secrets on how to make this Christmas a really special one. Part one of the series discussed top tips on planning the perfect Christmas dinner party for the holidays from event architect and renowned event planner FVO, CEO No Surprises.

And now, in part two of the series, Uche Majekodunmi, CEO Newton and David –  a leading event and design company –  discusses how choosing the right decor can help set the theme and create the right ambience for your family and friends that creates long lasting memories.

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As we approach the end of the year, we all tend to spend a little more than usual on Christmas gifts, food, decorations and much more. But you can decorate a Christmas dinner party without breaking the bank.

As a hostess, the trick is to think ahead. A simple theme with a festive twist can make your Christmas party a unique event. Setting the mood for a Christmas party in your home is all about engaging your guests’ senses. Aside from serving delicious food, you want to make sure the sights, smells and sounds are in line with your holiday theme.

From the moment your guest walks into your home, you want to create a cosy Christmas feeling. Using home fragrances and scented candles strategically placed around your home will immediately set the right mood. Before you decide on colours, look at the colour scheme in your home and don’t restrict yourself to using only traditional Christmas colours like gold, red and green. All colours work well, as long as they are coordinated. Ribbons can be tied into bows around napkins to add a delicate touch to a functional table setting.

You can also purchase lovely textured fabric from the local market and use this as a table cloth, the addition of Christmas crackers to each table setting will not only leave your guests with a fun keepsake but will also help as a conversational piece for your guests.

Handwritten name place cards add a touch of style and elegance to any party. Remember the beauty is in the detail; the tiny little items that will make your guests feel special and unique. Always remember to look at the size and shape of your dining table before choosing a floral arrangement. If you are serving a buffet, an arrangement in a tall vase will bring the flowers up and out of the way of the food. If you are having a sit down meal and have a small dining table, your floral arrangement should not be taller than anybody’s head when seated; the flowers should be enjoyed without distracting your guests from the conversation during the meal.

That said, if you have a large space then mix and match your floral arrangements. A bouquet of 24 Red roses will make a beautiful statement centerpiece, but this can be very expensive, instead of using only flowers for a centre piece, try candles instead. Floating candles can be placed alongside shorter floral arrangements and this will add a sophisticated flair to your dining table. Candelabra’s can be beautifully decorated with flowers and crystals this will not only create a soft glow effect for the perfect lighting, but they will last much longer than flowers and can be used again for future dinner parties.

Last but not least the all important Christmas tree. For a dazzling statement tree, get a large twig tree – about 8 to 10 feet tall and spray paint it white. Hang 100 red satin ribbons on the tree and watch as your guests gasp at its beauty as they enter your home. Don’t forget to turn on your Christmas lights before your guests arrive.

Putting in a little effort to create the right mood, and tone for your family and friends is worth the effort. And remember, you are not just having a party you are creating memories your children, family and friends will cherish forever.

Photo Credit: Jide Alakija/Newton & David