Baby Shower Decor
Need a guaranteed way to make your shower unforgettable? Why not set the mood from the moment your shower guests arrive with memorable decorations?! Fun and beautiful decor create excitement and set the tone of the event, and the secret to succeeding with decorations is simple: choosing a theme. After you set a theme, the other parts of your baby shower will fall together into a cohesive whole: color, general decorations, wall decor, table decor, and, everyone’s favorite item, food.
The Theme
There are endless theme possibilities. Let your imagination and circumstances guide you. Here are a few ideas to get the creative juices flowing:
- Nursery Rhymes - A classic theme everyone can relate to.
- Tea Party - Perfect for those expecting a baby girl.
- Disney Characters - Everyone has fond memories of at least one.
- Diaper Party - Send out diaper-shaped invitations, use diaper cut-outs in the decor, and have guests bring diaper packets.
- Stuffed Animals - Who hasn’t fallen in love with at least one stuffed animal?
- Barefoot and Pregnant - Is the expectant mother the first one in her group to have a child? Let her know everyone’s behind her by asking guests to come to a “Barefoot and Pregnant Party” dressed in stuffed shirts to signify their “pregnancy” (yes, even the male guests!).
Shower Food
The chosen theme can guide you in determining the color for the baby shower. But what if you have a theme that works with any color? Simple, you can always go with the classics: blue for an expected boy or pink for a girl. If the gender of the baby is unknown, yellow and green have traditionally been used. White has recently emerged as another gender-neutral shower color, signifying purity and innocence. So whatever color you decide on, make sure you use it to tie together the other elements of the baby shower.
General Decor
Whatever theme you choose, there are items almost every baby shower should have. Balloons, streamers, and banners set a festive tone, and displaying balloons in front of the house will also help guests identify the location of the baby shower.
What better way to remind everyone of the importance of the occasion than by having a decorated baby crib against a wall? Not only does it set the tone perfectly, it can also double as a gift table.
Table Decor
A baby-themed tablecloth with matching disposable tableware, baby cloth diapers as placemats, and themed centerpieces are popular baby shower decorations. For unique centerpieces, use stuffed animals holding small baskets filled with baby shower favors.
Other options for table decorations include a diaper cake, and a vase of fresh flowers with the color of the theme. Decorated diapers hanging on a clothesline, baby bracelet napkin holders, cookies in the shape of babies or animals, a stork placed outside the door, and baby figurines will add to the light-hearted spirit of the event.
What about the tableware? Matching plates, cups, spoons, forks, and napkins go a long way in establishing the theme and giving the party a “polished” feel. Any party stores will have these available in a variety of colors for the shower. What about the tablecloth? How about one in the color of the theme sprinkled with animal- or baby-shaped confetti?
Food
Home-made or store-bought, either way, plenty of food is key to a successful baby shower. Here are some ideas that have worked out well in parties that I’ve hosted or been to. A macaroons, chocolate candies, a layer cake, marshmallows, chocolate- or yogurt-covered raisins and nuts. All these items are available at your local grocers, I’m sure. Here’s a favorite of mine: serving milk or vanilla ice cream in clear, plastic baby bottles! And to help keep guests’ stomachs from grumbling during the gift opening, supply them with edible party favors: chocolate-covered almonds served in baby booties and tied together with a white ribbon.
There are tons of ways to successfully decorate your next baby shower. Hopefully, these ideas have gotten the ball rolling for you. Use your imagination to honor this special occasion and, at the same time, hone your creativity. Enjoy!