How to Decorate a Room for a Party: 8 Steps with Exact Numbers
Part of our guide: Party Backdrop and Decor Ideas: The Complete Guide
Most people decorate a party room by adding things until it looks full. A plan works better, and it is faster. This guide gives you 8 steps in the order to do them, with the numbers for a 15 by 20 foot room and 20 guests. The whole job takes about 2 hours.
Quick facts (15 by 20 ft room, 20 guests):
- Time: about 2 hours with 1 helper.
- Balloons: about 40 (2 per guest).
- Fairy lights: 20 feet for the main wall.
- Budget: about $55, a planning estimate. It excludes food, cake, and tax.
- Tools: tape measure, painter’s tape, removable hooks, a step stool, scissors, and a pump.
Top Decor Picks for this Setup
Curated essentials on Amazon to help you recreate this setup easily.
Gold Foil Fringe Curtain Backdrop 3x8 ft
The backdrop on the focal wall.
Blush Cream Gold Balloon Kit 40 Pack
The 40 balloons for the room.
Warm White Fairy Lights 20 ft
Lights along the top of the wall.
Cream Tablecloth Rectangle 6 ft Table
Cloth for the 6 foot table.
Before you start: how much room per guest
A 15 by 20 foot room is 300 square feet. A common event planning rule of thumb is about 15 square feet per seated guest and about 10 per standing guest. So this room holds about 20 guests seated or about 30 standing. If your room is smaller, keep the decor on one wall and the table, and skip the floor items.
Step 1: Map the room (15 minutes)
Draw a simple box on paper and mark the door, the windows, the outlets, and any furniture that cannot move. Then mark where the food table, the seating, and the photo spot go. Keep walkways about 36 inches wide. Put the food table away from the door, so guests do not block the entrance.
Step 2: Pick one focal wall
Choose the wall guests see when they walk in, or the wall behind the food table. Put most of the decor there. One strong wall looks better than four weak ones. For a backdrop about 6 feet wide, hang two 3 by 8 foot curtains side by side, from about 2 feet above the floor up to the top, so it frames the table. Do steps 2 and 3 in about 10 minutes while you plan, before the 2 hours start.
Step 3: Pick 3 colors
Use a main color, a second color, and a metallic or white accent. Stick to those colors, and reuse anything you already own that matches. For a split that works, see our 50th birthday color ideas, which explains the 60/30/10 mix.
Step 4: Hang the top layer first (30 minutes)
Start at the ceiling and work down, so you do not knock things off later. With an 8 foot ceiling, hang paper pom poms, paper lanterns, or streamers about 12 to 18 inches from the ceiling, in a line or in groups of 3. Run 20 feet of fairy lights along the top of the focal wall. Use removable hooks or clear clips, and check the weight limit on the package. See our fairy light decoration ideas for more.
Hang the top layer first: pom poms and lights on the focal wall.
Step 5: Build the backdrop (30 minutes)
Add one backdrop: a fringe curtain, a balloon garland, or a paper flower wall. A 2-pack of fringe curtains, each 3 by 8 feet and hung side by side to make a 6 foot backdrop, is the quickest, and it takes about 10 minutes. For a garland, see our how to make a balloon garland and how to hang a balloon garland guides, or use a paper flower backdrop.
Step 6: Set the food table (20 minutes)
Put a 6 foot table against the focal wall, so the backdrop sits behind it. Cover it with a tablecloth that hangs down about 6 to 12 inches on each side. Keep the centerpiece under 12 inches tall. Put plates and napkins at the left end, then the main food, then drinks at the far end. For a full dessert layout see our how to set up a dessert table guide.
Step 7: Add balloons last (15 minutes)
Plan about 2 balloons per guest: 40 for 20 guests. Make 4 clusters of 5 balloons for the corners, and use the other 20 for the backdrop or ceiling. Blow them up on the day, within a few hours of the party. A pump is much faster than blowing by mouth. Tie the clusters to a weight, such as a small bag of sand or a heavy book, and keep them away from walkways.
Balloon clusters in the corners keep the walkways clear.
Step 8: Walk through the room (10 minutes)
Stand at the door and look at the room the way a guest would. Then check these 6 things:
- Can two people walk past each other? (about 36 inches)
- Are cords taped down or out of the walkway?
- Do the lights work, and are they on a timer or a switch?
- Is there a place for coats and bags?
- Is there a trash bin and a recycling bin near the exit?
- Is anything hanging that could fall on the table?
Two-hour plan
| Step | What | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Map the room | 15 min |
| 4 | Ceiling layer and lights | 30 min |
| 5 | Backdrop | 30 min |
| 6 | Food table | 20 min |
| 7 | Balloons | 15 min |
| 8 | Walk-through | 10 min |
| Total | 2 hours |
Steps 2 and 3 are choices you make in about 10 minutes of planning before the clock starts.
Budget for a 15 by 20 foot room
This is a planning estimate for U.S. stores. It excludes food, cake, and tax, and prices vary by store and region.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 40 balloons | $12 |
| 20 feet of fairy lights | $8 |
| Fringe curtain backdrop (2-pack, 6 ft wide) | $10 |
| Tablecloth | $9 |
| 12 paper pom poms or lanterns | $12 |
| Removable hooks | $4 |
| Total | $55 |
The budget does not include tools you may already own or can borrow: a balloon pump, painter’s tape, a step stool, and weights for the balloon clusters (a bag of sand or a heavy book works). It also assumes you already have a 6 foot table. For ways to save money see our cheap party decorations guide.
If your room is different
- Lots of furniture: push it to the walls and decorate only the focal wall and the food table.
- A rental or a room you cannot mark: use removable hooks, check the weight limit on the package, and test one on a hidden spot first.
- No outlet on the focal wall: use battery lights with a timer.
- A room larger than 300 square feet: add a second small decor spot, such as a balloon cluster at the entrance, rather than spreading the same items thin.
Small room version
If your room is under 150 square feet, use one wall only: a 20 foot light strand, a fringe curtain, and 12 balloons in one cluster. Skip the ceiling layer and the floor clusters. See our small party decoration ideas.
Mistakes to avoid
- Decorating every wall. One focal wall looks better than four.
- Starting with the balloons. Blow them up last, so they do not get in the way or lose air.
- Too many colors. Stay with 3.
- Blocking the walkway. Keep about 36 inches clear.
- No power plan. Mark the outlets first, and use battery lights if a wall has no outlet.
- Tall centerpieces. Keep them under 12 inches.
Safety
- Use a step stool or ladder with a helper holding it. Do not stand on a chair.
- Keep real candles away from balloons, paper, and streamers. Use flameless candles.
- Keep balloons and balloon pieces away from children under 8, because a broken balloon is a choking risk.
- Do not leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F.
Helpful safety sources
- NFPA: safety with candles: Fire safety tips for candles, such as keeping them away from anything that can burn.
- HealthyChildren (AAP): choking prevention: Why balloons and small parts are a choking risk for young children.
- USDA: keeping food out of the danger zone: Why perishable food should not sit out for more than 2 hours.
FAQ
How do you decorate a room for a party?
Map the room, pick one focal wall, choose 3 colors, then hang the top layer first, build one backdrop, set the food table, add balloons last, and walk through the room. For 20 guests in a 15 by 20 foot room it takes about 2 hours.
How many balloons do I need to decorate a room?
Plan about 2 balloons per guest. For 20 guests that is 40 balloons: 20 for the backdrop or ceiling and 4 clusters of 5 for the corners. Blow them up on the day of the party.
How much space does each party guest need?
Plan about 15 square feet per seated guest and about 10 per standing guest. A 15 by 20 foot room is 300 square feet, so it holds about 20 seated or about 30 standing guests.
How do you decorate a party room on a budget?
Focus on one wall, use 3 colors, and buy a few big items instead of many small ones. A 15 by 20 foot room costs about $55: 40 balloons $12, fairy lights $8, a fringe backdrop (2-pack) $10, a tablecloth $9, 12 paper pom poms $12, and hooks $4.
What do you decorate first for a party?
Start from the top: the ceiling layer and the lights. Then do the backdrop, the food table, and the floor items, and blow up balloons last. Working top to bottom stops you from knocking things off.
What is not included in the $55 budget?
The budget covers decor only. It excludes food, cake, tax, a balloon pump, painter’s tape, a step stool, balloon weights, and the 6 foot table, since many people already own or can borrow these.
How do you decorate a small room for a party?
Use one wall only: a 20 foot light strand, a fringe curtain, and one cluster of 12 balloons. Skip the ceiling and floor decor, and keep walkways about 36 inches wide.
Related articles
- Party Decoration Ideas
- Party Table Decoration Ideas
- How to Set Up a Dessert Table
- Small Party Decoration Ideas
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Recreate This Look: Complete Supply Checklist
Every prop, decor item, and material identified in our styled photos, linked directly to top-rated supplies on Amazon.
Hanging decor at different heights.
Another hanging option.
Hooks for pom poms and lights.
Clips for the fairy lights.
Fills 40 balloons quickly.
Weights for the corner clusters.
Safe reach for hanging.
Marks spots and holds light items.
For the room map.
Plates for 20 guests.
Napkins at the left end.
Safe candles for the table.
Runner under the centerpiece.
Centerpiece under 12 inches.
Hang the backdrop safely.
Bins near the exit.
