Last-Minute New Year's Decorating Ideas

With Christmas decorating being a priority in December, decorating for New Year's Day may be an afterthought, or forgotten all together. If you plan to have a New Year's Eve or New Year's Day celebration, here are a few ideas for last minute decorating.

Recycle Christmas Decorations
To do a quick change from Christmas decorations to New Years decor, use some of the Christmas decorations you already have. When I think of New Year's I think of white, silver and gold decorations. Make use of the white Christmas lights you have. String them around windows and doorways.

If you decorate for Christmas in mostly red and green, be sure to put back some decorations in silver, gold and white. White poinsettias can replace red, silver stars and white snowflakes can replace green wreaths and red bows.

If you leave your Christmas tree up through New Years, take a few minutes to redecorate it for ringing in the coming year. Change out the lights to all white and remove all of the ornaments and other decorations. Replace the decorations with white or silver snowflake and icicle decorations. Add in some gold decorations to create a celebratory feel. Be sure to add silver and gold tinsel icicles to add some bling.

After the gifts have been unwrapped, save a few of the boxes then wrap them in shiny silver and gold wrapping paper. Add some glittery bows in the same colors and put them under the newly-decorated New Years tree.

Look for Shiny Decorations
My local dollar store carries cheap Christmas decorations that included a large, silver iridescent star that I have hanging from my ceiling. It works for Christmas and it's a perfect choice for New Year's decorating.

Look for decorations that portray stars, snowflakes, icicles and other shiny objects. Shiny plastic champagne glasses can be used as centerpieces. Sprinkle gold, silver and white sequins and novelty sprinkles in and around these glasses.

Celebration is the Theme
When it comes to decorating for a New Year's party, celebration should be the theme. Look for anything that portrays a spirit of jubilation. Party horns and noisemakers can be used as decorations instead of actual noisemakers. Glue or tie a loop of string around the decorations and hang them from the ceiling or on the New Year's tree.

Use a silver or gold Christmas tree tinsel garland to create a New Year's garland to hang around doorways or windows. Use hot glue to glue miniature champagne glasses (found at craft stores), party horns and other items to the garland.

Remember, it doesn't take much to create a festive New Year's atmosphere for a party of just simple home decorating.