How to decorate a New Year’s Eve party on the cheap

While it’s super fun to host a New Year’s Eve party, there’s no need to cripple your bank balance before 2011 has begun. See our top tips to decorating a frugal New Year’s Eve party.

Image credit: Graham and Green

1. Countdown to the fun. Synchronise and pile high alarm clocks – the more retro the better – in plain view of guests.

2. Utilise all the leftover Christmas wrapping paper. Fold up the paper and cut into snowflakes or make party hats with the prettier of designs.

3. Place candles on mirrors. Pick up polished-edge mirror tiles and candle votives from a bargain home improvement store. Add a few flowers and the reflective surface catches the light beautifully.

Image credit: Dwell

4. If like me, you think of your TV as an offensive black monstrosity, play an old black and white romantic film on silent.

5. Pile margarita glasses high with retro sweets, colourful M&Ms or nuts.

6. Make an edible and low cost centrepiece for your table; have a bash at sculpting bread with the numbers 2011 or an animal – 2011 is the (Chinese) year of the rabbit.

7. Spray tall bare branches from your garden (or poach from next door), walnuts and dried satsumas with metallic paint. Place in an elegant vase.

Image credit: The White Company

8. Play on the budget-friendly charm of soft glowing candle light and scatter tea-lights everywhere.

9. Instead of blowing a fortune on huge flower displays, go modern minimalist and place a few individual buds in shot glasses.

10. And the most essential thing on the list: do NOT throw out the mistletoe.