Decorative bunting, wall decorations and photo props will cover the basics, but you can really ramp up the look with some festive mantelscaping<\/a>, confetti-filled balloons, sparkly disco balls and Happy New Year signs.<\/p>\n Photo: Meri Meri<\/p><\/div>\n No party is complete without a glamorous cocktail bar! This can be a large or small as you have space for.<\/p> If you have a handsome cabinet at home, why not convert it into a drinks station for the evening? Alternatively, bag yourself a drinks trolley<\/a>. Relatively inexpensive, these clever carts make the perfect portable cocktail trolley. Stock it up with your guests’ favourite spirits, mixers, beautiful glassware, cocktail shaker, and some decorative accessories to ensure you’re the hostess-with-the-mostess!<\/p>\n Photo: Lights4fun<\/p><\/div>\n Tablescaping has become a huge trend and the festive season is the perfect time to go large.<\/p>\n Start with your table linens, placemats and ceramics and build out from there. Gold is always a winner at this time of year, but if you already own a lot of these things in a certain colour scheme, then work around that.<\/p>\n Candles always make a lovely touch, but be sure to place them so that your guests can still see each other, and so that nobody will get burnt when leaning over them (LED candles are a good shout!).<\/p> Natural or faux foliage is another one to add to a beautiful tablescape, as well as two or three stand-out decorative pieces, place cards and party favours. It’s less about the centrepiece and more about making the whole table look decadent.<\/p>\n Disco has been a popular theme throughout the festive season, so why not inject a bit of that into your New Year’s party scheme for a really extra vibe going into 2025?<\/p>\n Photo: Talking Tables<\/p><\/div>\n It’s a long haul, a New Year’s Eve do, so make sure you have enough activities planned to keep guests entertained. The playlist is the easy bit \u2013 find a pre-made list on Spotify, or curate your own.<\/p>\n People usually have enough chit-chat to sustain them before and during dinner, but there’s often a post-feast lull. But don’t try and rouse your guests for a game of Twister straight after dinner \u2013 bellies are full (although it’s often well received around 11pm). Instead try a game you can play at the dinner table, like Articulate (always fun), Cards Against Humanity (bit naughty) or Trivial Pursuit (for the more cerebral).<\/p> You could even turn your entire evening into a murder mystery dinner party, although this does require a bit commitment, so consider whether this would be suitable for your guestlist.<\/p>\n Photo: Deagreez \/ Adobe<\/p><\/div>\n Prepare to ring in midnight with sparkling new wine glasses or champagne flutes. You may find you guests need several glasses during the course of the evening.<\/p>\n If you’re starting with cocktails, make sure you have the right glasses. Then you’ll need wine glasses for dinner (red wine glasses and white wine glasses if you want to be proper about it), and you’ll almost certainly want champagne glasses for the big toast at midnight.<\/p>\n Photo: Dartington Crystal<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Happy](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Celestial-New-Year-Garland-1.jpg\")
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2. Prep a cocktail area<\/h2>\n
![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/New-Years-Eve-Party-Drinks-Trolley-Decoration-1.jpg\")
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3. Tablescape like a pro<\/h2>\n
![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Disco-Table-Decorations-1.jpg\")
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4. Playlists and party games<\/h2>\n
![\"Dinner](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dinner-party-guests-640x480.jpg\")
<\/a>5. Upgrade your glassware for the big toast<\/h2>\n
![\"Crystal](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Dartington-Crystal-Juliet-Flute-Set-Of-4-1.jpg\")
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