Decorations that aren't balloons but look WOW

[BirthdayQuestions]

We're having a small family party at home for my DHs milestone birthday. I'd like it to be special and classy if possible but I don't have a vision so need walked through what to do. I'd like to avoid balloons if possible, especially helium as I'm not keen on the environmental impact.

Any ideas? I put put a tablecloth and a banner for the kids birthday and they are happy with that but I'd like a bit more. I thought about renting those big light up numbers and maybe a pick n mix stand (his favourite) but not sure.

I don't have Instagram but is that the sort of place I might see ideas?

Also I had thought about a small gazebo or something with fairy lights but it's December in Scotland with elderly people attending who I don't think would really enjoy being outside.

Thank you!

What about those fold out paper balls, if you have lots it can look really effective

this kind of thing There are also garland versions that hang along a wall.

Thanks yes they are pretty. Do you think they would blutack to the roof without damaging it? (Or falling into our dinner 😂)

For my DD’s 18th at home, I strung up loads of fairy lights and bought some paper ball lampshades and small LED lights and hung them from the string of fairy lights like in the attached screenshots.

They’re really lightweight but have a metal frame inside so I’m not sure if you could just blutack them up.

Looked fab.

I’ve used the same ones a few times so they’re pretty sturdy and can be reused

Balloon displays can be done without helium, but I understand you might not be keen on the balloons themselves.

The paper decorations linked above, or the garland type (I like These stars ) but there’s lots of types on Amazon.

The 3M Command decorating clips are a great way to hang decorations securely without damaging your walls.

You could also contact a local florist who could do a centrepiece for the table?

Fairy lights
Disco lights
Crepe Paper garlands

Could you put fairy lights or similar all around the room?
I bought a large birthday wall banner recently which did look good, about 1.5m x 1m (from Shein though so you may be against that).
If you're concerned about non-paper waste you could go retro with crepe paper streamers 😃

Ordinary balloons with a colour changing led light popped inside. So pretty.

Thanks everyone. Fairy lights are a good shout, they always look lovely and especially in December/dark/cold.

Pinterest is your friend here.

We did light up numbers, a foil curtain hung the length of bifold doors, some balloons (just blown and hung together) with fairy lights and glitter balls for a recent big birthday in our house.

ps. We also did glitter balls dotted throughout the room, as table decor etc too.

I used the paper balls when we had a party and stuck them up with a cross of masking tape.

I mostly stuck them to things that were not painted such as UPVC window frames, tall furniture, wooden doors and tied them to light fittings.

The ones with masking tape were taken down the next morning so not to leave a mark.

Thanks - I've ordered a fairy light curtain so far. I'm hoping it's sturdy enough to be reused (or just kept up) but it looks very pretty

How are plastic battery operated fairylights from China less environmentally impactful than balloons?

I love those paper honeycomb balls.

How are plastic battery operated fairylights from China less environmentally impactful than balloons?

Because they don't get thrown away immediately and use up precious helium resources, they don't escape into the air and endanger wildlife.

I'm not saying they are perfect, or that anything else is. Even paper decorations will have an environmental impact. I'm going for re-usable if possible.

I think the balloon decorations look a bit hemorrhoidy.

I did the same as previous posters and used paper lanterns and e-tea lights, stuck on with command hooks and fishing line.

For a hen do we did disco balls. We will have them again at New Year.

How to Make Tissue Paper Pom Poms - an easy step by step tutorial (onelittleproject.com) A cousin made similar to these herself with crepe paper.

I've had balloons, normal, blown up ones (NOT helium) and then added a blob of white blu tak to the top and stuck to the ceiling. They look like helium balloons on the ceiling, but clearly arent. You can then have short, curled ribbons hanging from them or fairy lights.

You can buy balloon dots.

Thanks OP, makes sense.

The tissue pom poms posted above look fabulous too.

we hire giant numbers with lights for milestone birthdays - they look great inc in photos. you might be able to find a supplier near you

I bought a light board and a string of happy birthday LED lights from flying tiger. They get strung up for every birthday now instead of buying banners etc and they weren’t that expensive 🙂

Japanese Paper Balloons are nice. I had some animal ones for a kid's party and they're decorating bedrooms now.

Thank you all for the suggestions! Great ideas. I think I struggle to envisage a final 'look' so will scour Pinterest etc. I just want it to be nice and special.

I like the light up letters but hire is £60 for the day. It feels like a lot but I appreciate they are making a living.

@BirthdayQuestions some advice which I used when planning my wedding, because I was having trouble with liking a lot of decorations that weren’t particularly cohesive - pick two or three words to describe the look you want eg, colourful, elegant, rustic, modern, streamlined, fiesta etc.
Then think of a colour scheme. Then anything you buy, does it fit the colour scheme, and does it match your ‘vibe’, if not then don’t buy it. Pinterest is a great idea to start working out the styles you like.

Paper chains