There always seems to be a certain amount of pressure surrounding New Year’s Eve. Everyone thinks they need to have an epic and memorable night no matter what they must endure to achieve it. First, you feel forced to make plans to go to bars that make you buy expensive tickets for what amounts to a champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight. Depending on where you go, you may need a hotel to stay at, and having to find a taxi or ride share on New Year’s Eve is a nightmare.
Knowing all that, it’s better to invite some friends for a few drinks at your house and avoid all that hassle completely. Put some of our tips for hosting a New Year’s Eve party at home into practice.
Create a Theme
If you expect to host a large group, get everyone in the mood by setting up a theme in advance. It can be black tie or more relaxed with wigs and sunglasses. Themes get people excited because it makes them plan in advance and think about the night. For a black-tie theme, get classy with champagne glasses and flutes. If you want a more relaxed vibe, our balloons offer the best way to ring in the new year with a balloon drop.
Provide Activities
Drinks and great conversation are enough entertainment for some, but that’s not true for everyone. Have some fun games available to play, like board games or cards, for people that want activity. You don’t to make people wait for something to happen, so give it to them.
Get Festive
On New Year’s Eve, accessories like multi-colored streamers, hats, glitter tiaras, and noise makers are always fun and wanted. Get everyone ready for the countdown by handing out beaded necklaces, confetti party poppers, and LED glasses. Take a picture of the group with their party gear on at midnight. If you need some supplies, we have a huge inventory of every kind of party favor.
Plan the Music
The soundtrack playing in the background is important to your party’s success. Having the right mix of high energy music, classic hits, and current favorites will keep the party going all night. Everyone has different tastes in music, so throw in a little bit of everything. If that’s too much pressure, find a playlist on a streaming service and let it play all night.
Set the Ambiance
Since it gets so dark so early, set the mood with some soft lighting. If you have a fireplace, get that going to make the room feel cozy. Just make sure you don’t make it too dark; people might get sleepy and cash in early. Keep the kitchen well-lit, though, so you can see what you’re doing when prepping drinks and food.
One of the most iconic traditions of the holiday is the creation of unique and welcoming ofrendas. At Amols’ we have many authentic ways to design your family altars as well as your homes or offices! Our favorite items for the ofrendas are the Tea Light Sugar Skull Holders for pictures or candles. These items are beautifully made and extremely festive! We recommend these hand painted sugar skulls to help keep your altar space from being too crowded while they hold your pictures or your candles. 
