Theme-Setting 101: Lights

If you use nothing else to set the theme or tone for your party, do not pass on the lights and music. Lights are the single most important decoration, and probably the most versatile – they go along way to setting the mood of the event, and can even be used to give different tones to individual areas of your home or yard at the same event. For instance, consider the difference between the lights you might use in a dance area, versus the lighting you might use at the same party in a quieter area where people are talking.  For dancing, you might choose to decorate with a rented strobe unit, or strings of flashing lights – in an area where you want motion, you are using lights that spark the energy level.

For the conversation area, on the other hand, you might consider putting a few tiki torches around your deck – or perhaps light up a fire bowl or fire pit in your backyard, if you have one – there are very few people, I suspect, who don’t like kicking back with friends around an open fire.

If you don’t know which way to go, for a look that goes with multiple moods,settings, and themes, consider non-flashing strings of plain white mini-lights --  versatile and cheap, they are great for making any area look special. Try sprinkling them in the trees over your yard or deck, or outlining the ceiling of your recreation room, edging the roof of your house, or making a net of them on the ceiling of your front porch  –  the uses are practically limitless.

Stick to white lights and you'll never have to worry about color coordination!