The countdown to midnight on 31 December is one of the most special celebratory occasions of the year, so your New Year's Eve decorating ideas can be as glamorous and glittering as you like. It's the ideal time to go all-out and dress up your home with glitz and glam to get that party atmosphere in full swing.
'As the most social season of the year, Christmas and New Year’s Eve offer the perfect opportunity to entertain,' says Lucy St George, Co-founder of Rockett St George. 'Often the best parties happen at home and, whether you’re celebrating a low-key New Year’s Eve with family or a larger event with friends, celebratory drinks are a must and therefore a beautiful bar cart is an essential for me when decorating my home at this time of year.
'The drinks trolley becomes something of a centerpiece in my kitchen throughout the festive season and is always stocked up with Prosecco and seasonal garnishes such as rosemary and pomegranate, ready for the opportunity to relax a with cocktail, or entertain guests.'
We've tapped a host of experts for more bright New Year's Eve decorating ideas below. Time to get those Champagne corks popping and the party style hopping...
Top New Year's Eve decorating ideas for the ultimate party aesthetic
When it comes to New Year's Eve decorating ideas, don't hold back. These experts show us how it's done...
1. Roll out a glamorous bar cart
'Bar carts add a splash of glamor to any living space or kitchen and can be truly personalized to suit your individual style,' says Lucy St George.
'I always recommend dedicating an area in your home to create your drinks trolley style spot - you want the space to sing and not be hidden away. This is especially true for New Year’s Eve and a few simple touches such as fairy lights, candles and star or bauble garlands can help set the tone and create a party atmosphere.
'For the perfect final touch, why not add a set of three disco balls to one side of your drinks trolley to embrace the celebration theme of New Year’s Eve. These can be left on display all year round, with fairy lights or garlands replaced with plants for a dash of greenery that suits any season.'
2. Create drama at the dining table
If you're hosting a dinner party on New Year's Eve, go full throttle with dramatic decor to really impress your guests.
Geraldine Florin, interior designer at Maisons du Monde, says: 'Run a garland of battery-powered lights down the center of your dining table if you are hosting friends or family for dinner to add some sparkle, and gold tableware.
'Take colored baubles from the tree and place them in bowls or in transparent vases to create a centerpiece for the table or place them on a console table in the hallway for guests to see when they arrive.
'You can also use ribbons to hang baubles from a pendant light in the kitchen or a chandelier above the dining table. If you don’t have anywhere to hang baubles up above, consider tying them to the back of dining chairs ready to welcome dinner party guests.'
Or you can attach baubles to a hand-tied bunch of fairy-lit foliage and hang on the wall for added festive ambience.
Geraldine adds: 'As a finishing touch make clocks the center of attention to welcome in midnight. Consider placing a clock on your mantelpiece or even add a small clock to your dining table décor so that you can see the clock strike twelve in style.'
3. Break out the confetti
'New Year's Eve is all about Champagne, confetti, and being entertained,' exclaims Dani Taylor, Product and Creative Director at Cox & Cox.
'Magical Christmas is the party theme we'll be following to go out with a bang. Decorate with dark and moody accessories which are glamorous yet fun. Opulent gold and a hint of pearl and cream create a look well suited to New Year celebrations.
'Dress your New Year gathering with garlands and foil curtains, balloon arches and banners, and celebrate midnight with a fun golden stars confetti cannon. Top it all off with a fabulous cocktail trolley and wonderfully wrapped presents.' And don't forget a collection of the best champagne glasses too.
4. Ooze an intimate atmosphere with candlelight
Is there anything as warm and inviting as candlelight? We think not. Candles are an affordable and easy way to make your guests feel cozy and snug as they see in the New Year.
'When it comes to decorating for New Year, my favorite thing to do is to add touches of sparkle to the home,' says Geraldine Florin. 'Candles are perfect for this and so versatile; choose pillar candles in the mantelpiece, tea lights on sideboards, or majestic candlesticks at the dining table or on a console to bring height and light to your home.'
Top tip? Geraldine adds: 'Placing candles in front of mirrors helps to reflect the light and create a really magical atmosphere.'
5. Did somebody say disco (balls)?
The ultimate way to say 'let's party'? It's got to be disco balls. Sparkly and ultra-glam, they'll work to create a fun, celebratory vibe that New Year's Eve is all about.
Interior designer Raili Clasen comments: 'Get a bunch of disco balls and tack them up onto the ceiling above a common space such as the dining area to make your own installation.'
Or, if you've got room, hang them over a 'dance floor' space to add extra wow to the evening.
6. Mix blue and gold for a glam color palette
Keep a Christmas decor theme with accessories like star garlands, but elevate it for New Year by using gold or metallic finishes. These pop beautifully on a deep-blue background, but you can always mix blue and gold accessories together if you don't have blue furniture or walls.
'Blue and gold are one of the richest pairings in the artist’s palette, with references ranging from Gatsby-esque Art Deco to Byzantine-style banquets,' says Annie Sloan, Colour and Paint Expert. 'Introducing metallic hints into deep blue schemes will elevate your look from the every day to the celestial and celebratory.
'Take a look round your home and think creatively about how to use what you already have - a kitchen dresser can make a fabulous drinks station styled with glassware and bottles while gold leaf and gilding waxes can be applied to candleholders, trays and vases for glittering updates on a budget.'
7. Restyle your Christmas garland
If you put a lot of effort into your Christmas garland, it's a lovely idea to get the most from your time investment by repurposing it as a New Year's Eve decorating idea.
Simply take it off the mantelpiece and hang it above a table that's home to the drinks and nibbles for your party. This will help to zone the space while also making it feel extra-special - with minimum effort.
'Mixing up and restyling your Christmas decorating ideas, like a garland, is a great way to decorate for New Year,' says Kyra Cotgrave, Home Designer at Neptune Farnham. 'Keep the main foliage, such as fir and eucalyptus, and take out pinecones, instead adding in a little glitz and glamor with some sprayed berries or twigs.'
It's also a good idea to move the table to the side of the room to create space for socialising and dancing as the clocks strikes midnight. And don't forget to dot candles and lanterns around the space for that cozy atmosphere, too.
8. Add a pop of color with balloons and paper honeycombs
Balloons, whether strewn across the floor or style in balloon arches, are brilliant for a party atmosphere. While paper honeycombs are an on-trend and easy way to add color as well as a celebratory atmosphere (they also look amazing as a Christmas stair decor idea, btw).
Simply hang them next to your bar cart or drinks dresser to highlight it as a party zone.
And then add gold accessories for that added glam-luxe touch. 'Adorn your dresser with a mix of metallic ornamental decorations, dried flowers, and ribbon for a picture-perfect backdrop to celebrations,' says Wayfair’s Resident Style Advisor, Nadia McCowan Hill.'
9. Go for gold, gold and gold again
Whether it's a candelabra centerpiece, cutlery, candle holders, a bar cart or a cocktail shaker, gold accessories are the color for this year's New Year's Eve party celebrations.
'Gold-rimmed glasses, gold place mats, gold cutlery - basically, gold anything - can help add a festive party touch to the table and decorating ideas for New Year,' says Geraldine Florin.
