Baby Shower Decorations: Everything You Will Need for a Memorable Baby Shower

Baby showers note an exciting time in people's lives and should be vibrant celebrations of the new life about to arrive. Baby shower decorations can transform a room, patio, office, or any area into a fun celebration of motherhood and babyhood. Just a few key baby shower decorations can turn a room into a whimsical, colorful, or even elegant homage to the mother and her new child (or children, as the case may be).

Before you start making or buying your baby shower decorations, decide on a color theme. Rather than just pink, blue, yellow, or green, think about decorating in the theme colors of the baby's nursery. Also, decorate with items that the mother can take home as gifts. Most of these baby shower decorations can be purchased at your local party store, discount store, dollar store, or baby store, but I have also provided links to online sources where you can buy each item. Even if you decide to make your baby shower decorations, do take a look at these links, as many of them will give you some great ideas.

Start off your baby shower decorations at the entrance. Colorful balloons and a yard sign are usually enough to let people know that they are where they should be, plus start the excitement for the party. Use simple plastic door banners as part of your baby shower decorations. They can be purchased on eBay for around $5, but if you want something customized and a bit fancier, you can get them online for $16 to $35, or try your local print shop.

As guests come in, have a place for them to sign in. A simple baby shower guestbook will do, but if you are on a tight budget, create some pretty baby shower themed pages, decorate them with free baby shower clip art, make lines on them where guests can sign in, and print them out on your computer. The pages may simply be laid out on a table covered with a white tablecloth or a receiving blanket, along with pink and blue pens. Spread baby shower confetti on the table to add to the festive look. On the entrance table you can also put a baby shower keepsake autograph dog, something you can buy at most party stores, and give it to the mother-to-be at the end of the party. As a part of your baby shower decorations, the guestbook table should add something to the overall look of the party.

First impressions are lasting. Get your guests excited when they first view the baby shower decorations by hanging lots of balloons and swirling ribbons from the ceiling. Party shops sell all kinds of banners, garlands, and baby shower decorations for the ceiling. Interestingly, I found the exact same baby shower decoration for the ceiling online for as little as $8.95 and as much as $16.74. This still just reaffirms to me that a little shopping around online pays off.

One very cute idea to add some whimsy to your baby shower decorations is to hang a clothesline along the wall or across one part of the room and hang baby items such as bibs, tops, diapers, socks, onesies, and hats. In fact, whole baby shower parties can have clotheslines as the theme. This is a very popular idea for baby shower decorations.

Near the door, position the gift table. Hang baby shower decorations from the ceiling here as well. A simple plastic or linen tablecloth or even a receiving blanket dresses up the table nicely. The table itself can be decorated with confetti or a nice centerpiece.

Baby shower decorations are not all about sight. Consider what guests will hear and smell as well. Play soft classical music or any soft music you like for your guests. Interestingly, someone has made a recording of music just for baby showers. It's available on Amazon for just a few bucks, or you can buy a country version (not kidding) of baby shower music, also on Amazon.

Scented candles add atmosphere to your baby shower decorations and can double as take-home favors. You can also add scents to the room with flowers and even scented oil air fresheners. Baby powder scented candles, oils, and plug-in air fresheners go hand in hand with the baby shower theme.

In a special place in the room, have a chair of honor for the mother-to-be. Choose a comfortable chair, add pillows and a footstool, and be sure to have a table handy on which the mother can set down her refreshments. Decorate the mother's chair by simply throwing a baby quilt on it, or get fancier by tying a plastic tablecloth around the legs, making the chair look like a throne. Top that idea off by having the mother-to-be wear a tiara, something available at party stores for just a few dollars.

Over the mother's chair, hang an umbrella in keeping with the shower theme. From the umbrella, hang lots of colored streamers to look like rain. Put some pizazz into your baby shower decorations by putting an arch of balloons over the mother's chair.

On the tables around the room, you can place flowers in vases, votive candles in baby jars, rattles, baby shower confetti, building blocks, pacifiers, baby pins, or anything small that says "baby shower" to you. Use toys as baby shower decorations around the room. If you know it's going to be a boy or girl, you might decorate with trains or dolls, respectively. Set teddy bears and stuffed animals around the room on shelves or on the backs of furniture in playful positions.

What baby shower would be complete without a diaper cake? Whether it's one or three tiers, diaper cakes are cute, fun baby shower decorations. Use a huge baby bottle as a centerpiece. Tightly roll diapers, put a rubber band around each one, and position them in a circle around the baby bottle. Then tie them all tightly together. Various AC articles on how to make a diaper cake can be found here. Even if you make this one at home, do check on the link above for some great ideas.

If there is to be a food table, put a baby shower themed tablecloth over it. Use themed or pastel colored plates, napkins, cups, and tableware. Spread baby shower themed confetti on the food table, such as miniature ducks, boots, pacifiers, or baby dolls, and hang balloons, garland, or streamers over or near the table.

Around the room, it's a good idea to put out candy or nut dishes in case guests get hungry. Make sure to have healthy treats available near the mother-to-be. You can get personalized candy wrappers, Hershey's candy, or M & M's that can be used in candy dishes or as favors for guests attending the baby shower. As an added touch to your baby shower decorations, use baby bottles for the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, or other condiments. Cut a larger hole in the nipple for easier dispensing.

When it's time to open gifts, be sure someone records the gift and the gift-giver in a journal of some sort. It can be a store-bought item, which also serves as a keepsake for the mother, or simply a pen and pad of paper.

As an added touch, put out a few disposable baby shower cameras with which guests can take pictures. It saves you from having to be both the host and the photographer, plus adds a fun element for your guests. Your baby shower decorations should shine in the photos, making them fun and memorable.

With all of these baby shower decorations in place, there is no doubt that the mother-to-be, your guests - and you - will have an fantastic time at the baby shower. As a final touch, give each guest a party favor to take home, and they will be sure to remember what a great time they had at your baby shower!

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