Budget-Friendly New Year’s Eve Party Ideas

If your New Year's resolution is to stay on track with your budget, start with your New Year's Eve party decorations. You don't have to spend a lot to create a festive atmosphere. You simply have to get a little creative.

Here are eight New Year's Eve party decoration ideas that will make your gathering stylish and save you some money.

Skip Extensive Decorations

Don’t feel pressured to decorate every square inch of your party space. Creating a festive and chic atmosphere can be as simple as lighting candles and dimming the lights. Put on some background music, or turn on the television to keep tabs on New Year's celebrations around the world. That's sure to put your guests in the spirit of the evening.

Make DIY Confetti

Throwing confetti is a New Year's Eve tradition for many people. But there's no need to spend money on tiny scraps of paper that will just end up in the trash. Instead, create your own confetti by shredding paper. You can use pages of magazines you're done reading for colorful confetti. Or you can shred paperwork, junk mail, and even sensitive documents such as old bank statements. The pieces will be small enough to keep your personal information safe, and you'll put paper you would have shredded anyway to good use.

Visit Party Warehouses

The supplies and decorations in the party sections of many retailers, such as grocery stores, can be pricey. Plus, there isn’t much of a selection if the party items are limited just to one section of the store. So if you do need to shop for some decor, visit a party warehouse first that is solely dedicated to party goods. These stores buy party supplies in bulk, which usually means they can sell them at a lower price.

Opt for Chic Black and White

Trying to coordinate colors in your party decorations can get expensive, as you might be tempted to buy items outside of your budget if they come in that perfect color. To avoid this, opt for a black-and-white color scheme. It's a chic look that can be dressed up or down depending on the feel you want for your party. And you'll easily be able to find party decorations in these neutral colors that won't break the bank.

Reuse Holiday Decor

Don't put away that holiday decor just yet. You might be able to rearrange some items for your New Year's Eve party. For instance, remove strands of string lights from a Christmas tree, and hang them on the walls or from the ceiling of your New Year's Eve party space. Even sparkly ornaments can be placed around the space to add a quick touch of glam.

Display Clocks Galore

Every New Year’s Eve party needs a countdown clock where guests can watch the seconds tick away until midnight. But why stop at one clock? To really play up the theme, display several clocks around your party space as festive and functional decorations. Gather the ones you have in your home, and borrow some from friends if you want. You also often can find inexpensive and aesthetically interesting clocks at flea markets and thrift shops. They all don't necessarily have to work to serve as decor.

Make Simple Bites

When it comes to food for your New Year's Eve party, skip a full sit-down meal and go with hors d'oeuvres instead so you won't have to spend a lot on full table settings or pricey centerpieces. Simply set up a table with a festive tablecloth and pretty platters for all of your food that are surrounded by a few candles. Let the food be the main decoration for the table.

Repurpose Home Decor

Before purchasing party supplies and decorations, look around your home for items that can be temporarily repurposed for your event. This is where you might have to get a little creative. For instance, old wine bottles can be repurposed into candle holders. Glasses can hold nuts and candies. Beaded necklaces draped over lights can add some twinkle and color. And a storage basket or crate can be used to keep beverage bottles all in one spot. The possibilities are endless when you use your imagination.