11 Easy Last Minute New Year’s Eve Party Decorations Ideas

Looking for some last minute New Year’s Eve party decorations ideas that are easy and inexpensive? You still have time to do the ideas on this list!

I love throwing New Year’s Eve parties and I usually have a theme (like this Winter Wonderland party or this Black and White party) which I plan in advance. However, sometimes New Year’s Eve  sneaks up on me and I have to put my party together at the last minute. That’s where these last minute New Year’s Eve party decorations ideas come in handy!

New Year’s Eve parties always seems to be a rush for me.

Since I usually go out of town for Christmas, there’s usually only a couple of days to get ready after I get back.

Which means over the years I’ve had to come up with some ideas that make a big impact without requiring too much of an effort.

Since I’m sure I’m not the only person that has this problem, I thought I’d share my easy last minute New Year’s Eve party decor ideas in case you can use them, too.

1 | Decorate With Clocks

If you happen to have a large clock somewhere in your house, hang it in a central location in your room.

That way everyone can see when the midnight hour is approaching.

I used this French-style clock (borrowed from the stairway to my office) as a focal point surrounded by candles for a Winter Wonderland New Year’s Eve party (which you can see HERE).

Or if you don’t want to bother with the real thing, buy some inexpensive New Year’s Eve clock decorations* (or even paper plates), and use them as table decorations.

Sources:

• French-style clock*
• Paper Clock decor (similar)*

2 | Hang Metallic Foil Curtains

These party-ready back drops are available in all kinds of colors, but I like the gold or silver ones for New Year’s Eve.  They are inexpensive and make a big impact on the room.

You can either hang them from curtain rods (if you are putting them up in front of a window), or attach them to the wall.  Scotch tape or velcro dots both work pretty well for this…but I would test a little spot first to make sure the paint doesn’t come off.

Sources:

• Silver metallic curtains*
• Gold metallic curtains*
• Black and gold star metallic curtains*

3 | String White Lights

I am a big believer in doing something with the ceiling for parties.  I think it automatically makes the room feel special (even if it is a little more work).

If you have time and some white mini lights, stringing them in lines across the ceiling or as a backdrop on the wall will create a sparkly scene.

At my Black and White New Year’s Eve party (which you can see HERE), I also hung stars from the ceiling* which helped to reflect the light even more…although that definitely is a little more work 🙂

Sources:

• White mini lights*
• Black and silver star ceiling decor*
• Silver and black star metallic curtains*

4 | Use Balloons

Next on our list of easy last minute New Year’s Eve party decorations ideas are balloons.

Balloons always make a room feel festive and they can be used in so many ways.

Tie helium-filled ones to napkins for a special kind of table decor like this table at celebrationsathomeblog.com.

You can either get the balloons filled with helium at party stores like Party City. Or if you have a lot of balloons to blow up, buy your own helium dispenser*.

You can also hang them at different heights from the ceiling…no helium required.

I used this idea as one of the inspirations for my Great Gatsby party (which you can see HERE).

If you want a little more sparkle, try out these gold confetti balloons*. Just rub the outside of the balloon after they are inflated and shake to get the confetti to stick to the sides of the balloon.

Then pop them at midnight to have confetti rain down on your party guests.

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Or you can go with a champagne bottle and flute balloon kit* to hang above your bar.

Sources:

• Black balloons*
• Gold balloons*
• Disposable helium tank*
• Gold confetti balloons*
• Champagne bottle and flute balloon kit*

5 | Hang Paper Lanterns

If you want something a little different than balloons, hanging paper lanterns from the ceiling also makes a statement.

Adding Mardi Gras beads to the bottom of them creates a little more New Year’s Eve sparkle.

I covered the whole ceiling with them for my Mardi Gras New Year’s Eve party (which you can see HERE), but you don’t need to have this many of them to have an impact…a few will work!

Sources:

• Paper lanterns*
• Mardi Gras beads*

6 | Use Lots Of Candles

This is probably obvious, but nothing adds an enchanting feeling to a room like candles.

If you don’t have time to put out a lot of decorations, light a bunch of candles and turn off the overhead lights…instant atmosphere!

Putting them with reflective surfaces like these mirrored chargers, mercury glass candle holders and rhinestone ribbon will make everything sparkle even more.

If you prefer DIY projects, you can make your own frosted glass candle holders out of mason jars (find the tutorial HERE).

Sources:

• Mercury glass candle holders*
• Mirror chargers*
• Rhinestone ribbon*

7 | Create Clock Face Plates

Make pretty New Year’s Eve place settings (like this ones from ciaonewportbeach.blogspot.com) with a silver charger and clear plates.

Then print off a clock face to put between the two.

Add a Happy New Year sign from the top of a New Year’s tiara and you have a pretty New Year’s Eve place setting.

Sources:

• Silver charger*
• Clear glass plate*
• New Year’s Eve tiaras*

8 | Make Wrapping Paper Tablecloths

Wrapping paper is one of my favorite ways to dress up my tables for a party, like I did for this Kate Spade New Year’s Eve party (which you can see HERE).

It’s inexpensive so you won’t care if someone spills something on it. And it comes in so many different colors, you’re sure to find something that will match your New Year’s Eve party decor.

9 | Bake A Clock Face Cake

Since it’s easy to make (or buy) a round cake, you can transform it into a New Year’s Eve decoration by adding some numbers and clock hands like this one from pizzazzerie.com.

Add a sparkler for some extra New Year’s Eve dazzle.

10 | Make Champagne Jello Shots with printable New Year’s Eve Toothpicks

The last of our last minute New Year’s Eve party decorations ideas doubles as decor and drinks.

Champagne jello shots (find the recipe HERE) are great because they serve two purposes…they look pretty and they taste delicious!

They are simple to make and won’t spill…perfect for any New Year’s Eve party.

Topping them with these easy printable Pop, Fizz, Clink toothpicks adds to the party vibe.

11 | Spray Paint Wine Glasses

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your table setting, try spray painting the stems of some inexpensive wine glasses with gold spray paint.

I used $1 IKEA wine glasses for this project, but you could also use plastic wine glasses* if you want to be able to throw them away at the end of the night.

Find the gold-stemmed wine glass tutorial HERE.

Hopefully you have found some inspiration from our last minute New Year’s Eve party decorations ideas…now I need to get going on mine 🙂

Have comments or questions on our easy last minute New Year’s Eve party decorations ideas? Tell us in the section below.

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