ECO-FRIENDLY PARTY DECORATIONS: HOW TO HOST A STUNNING EVENT, MINUS THE WASTE!

Looking for eco-friendly party decorations as an alternative to the regular single-use plastic and disposable decorations? See below for the party essentials that will help you host a stylish, colourful and fun celebration... with less waste!

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 ​Related: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Related: Awesome Eco Gift Ideas

​Fabric

BUNTING

★Click here for some beautiful fabric bunting options★

One of my favourites! Bunting made from fabric is not only durable and reusable, but also beautiful.

Decorate your event by hanging it above food tables, between trees, across rooms or along fences. You could even wrap it around tree trunks or posts for a unique look.

If you're a bit of a pro with the sewing machine, you can create your own banner at home using old fabric (such as unused clothes), material found at your local thrift store, or fabric pieces purchased from a craft store.

Not so confident in the DIY department? Many retailer, boutique stores and etsy sellers stock handmade fabric bunting (such as those pictured below).

Handy Tip:
​Create or purchase bunting in colours and/or patterns that can be used at a variety of events (e.g. neutral colours such as white suit just about any occasion, and reds can be used at Christmas, Valentine’s day, colourful parties, etc.). If you have children, the bunting you choose for your event will also come in handy at their parties, and can be used as a beautiful decoration in their bedroom/playroom #somanypossibilities

Click here to view ↑ these ↑ garlands by 'Cheeky Corner Gift Shop'

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​CLOTH NAPKINS

★Click here to find see a range of beautiful, fabric napkins★

Reusable napkins not only make beautiful table décor, but they also add a touch of sophistication and (if you choose) a pop of colour to your overall celebration.

If you purchase colour schemes or patterns you love, they can also be used frequently in your day-to-day life (or stored neatly in the cupboard until your next event!).

Click here to view ↑ these ↑ napkins by 'Organic Event Supply Co'

​TABLE CLOTHS​
Another fantastic product to have in the cupboard at home, fabric table cloths are well worth the initial investment.

​Once again, stick to colours and/or patterns that you will be able to use at future events. White tablecloths are always a good starting point, as you can dress them up with colourful food and décor to match the particular party theme you’re preparing for.

Party ​Favors

​Not technically classed as decorations, but whenever I set up for an event, the favour table is always a big part of the overall ‘look’ and ‘feel’. So, if you’re after eco-friendly party favours that are fun for guests AND beautiful to look at, see below:
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SEED BOMBS

These favours are designed to make flowers grow wherever they land. Wrapped in burlap or fabric, tied with twine and finished with cute, dried flowers, seed bombs can also be a stunning part of your overall event decoration.

Click here for images and crafting instructions (if you love a bit of DIY, this option is for you!).

For pre-made seed bombs that the bees and butterflies will adore as much as your guests, click here. Alternatively, stick to the party spirit with these cocktail mix seed bombs! They will grow into beautiful garnishes that can be used at later events #sohandy

Click here to view ↑ these ↑ seed bombs by 'Becky's Botanics'

​PERSONALISED DRINKING TOOLS
Plastic straws and cups be gone! This is an option that can be used throughout the party and for many years to come.

'Get a metal straw, jar and cutlery engraved for each person', says Lottie Dalziel of Banish. 'Not only does this look amazing, it keeps everyone accountable'. Jars can be saved from your cooking escapades in the lead-up to your celebration, whilst cutlery and metal straws can be purchased from many local or online stores.

If you're after a colourful straw option, I suggest taking a look at the Turtle & Me range (pictured below) by clicking here.

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​For those who would prefer an alternative to jars for their guests to drink from, there is also the option of personalised cups. Dedicated to ‘creating fun and simple environmental solutions that reduce unnecessary waste’, co-founders of 'Better Cup', Sam and Christie, provide custom-made tumblers, flutes and stemless glasses; perfect for bringing your theme to life in a sustainable way.

​​OTHER ECO-GIFTS
From organic skincare to home-baked goodies, you will find an incredible list of eco favour ideas by clicking here.

The Food

Food isn’t usually something that comes to mind when you’re in the midst of planning your event decor, but you would be surprised by just how handy it can be! See below for ways in which edibles can become the decorations you desire:


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HERBS
Not only delicious in meals, but also perfect for creating hanging decor and/or natural fragrance! ‘Herbs are great for the kitchen, but they can also make great decoration when they’re dried’ says Siavash Ghazvinian, co-founder of Ethical Tree. ‘Hang herbs like rosemary to dry in a visible place to add life and aroma to a room. Once dried you can even make wreaths out of them with a bit of string and hang them across your venue’.



SEASONAL FRUIT & VEGETABLES
If particular foods are in season when your event is on, use this to your advantage. An example of seasonal foods that make great decor is pumpkins, squashes and gourds. ‘[These] are three things you can grow relatively easily and proudly display across your home’ says Siavash Ghazvinian; then once your event has wrapped up, you can either keep them as decor or ‘use the edible ones in various recipes you can find online.’

​REAL PLATES​
Rather than using plastic plates (or even paper plates), stick to the reusable kind. You can choose the options in your cupboard at home, an eclectic assortment sourced from local thrift shops, or a variety of plates borrowed from friends/family for the occasion.


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UTENSILS & SERVING DISHES​
The best party decorations aren't always what you'd expect.

‘You can get super creative with food to help you prepare or serve your dishes’ says Laura Trotter, sustainable living educator. A few of her favourite options include ‘using rosemary skewers for kebabs on a BBQ, a ring of red capsicum as an egg ring, serving guacamole inside a halved avocado shell [and] serving fresh fruit salad inside a halved watermelon, rockmelon, honeydew or pineapple’ (more detailed information can be found here).

Eco friendly and a fabulous way to reduce the amount of dishes you need to wash after the party!

​Handy Hint:
Set up a designated bin for guests to dispose of food waste. You can then transfer contents to your compost bin after the party.

Hire and/or Borrow

If you know exactly what you need to decorate your event, it's worth asking friends and family if they happen to have one/some of these items stashed away at home.

​Borrowing décor (such as tablecloths, chairs/chair covers, centrepieces, string lights and more) will be a fantastic way to save some cash. And if you don't happen to come across the product/s you need in this way, consider hiring from your local event business instead. They often have everything mentioned above, plus options such as karaoke machines, portable heaters, etc.!

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Jars

Mason jars are one of my favourite things to re-purpose! From lighting a room to sipping on a cool beverage, there are so many uses. See below for a few of the best:


CANDLELIGHT
‘Put a tea light candle in old jars to create an amazing atmosphere’, says Lottie Dalziel. To pull this off, save up a variety of jars (small, large and in-between) in the lead up to your event.

​When it comes to decorating, create small clusters (approximately 5 different shaped and sized jars) in the middle of dinner tables, favour tables, food tables, etc. For larger areas, such as the corner of a balcony, place approximately 10 – 15 jars (depending on the space, maybe more). In the hour before your event is due to start, light the candles and carefully place them inside your jars. Instant ambience!

Handy Tip:
​If you’re going for a rustic theme, placing one, two or a cluster of jar candles on top of logs will create a beautiful centrepiece for your celebration.

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DECORATIVE JARS
Olinda Collective created these decorative jars as a unique, waste-free Australian centrepiece for the Christmas table, but they’re so beautiful I think they’d be perfect at any event during the year as well! Click the image below for DIY steps:

​VASES​
Jars also make fantastic vases. With so many different sizes available, you’re sure to find something to display your beautiful bunches in! And if you want to put a unique spin on this décor option, hang the jar vases from the ceiling or trees. Or even mount them on the wall!

Getting Back to Nature

DRIED FLOWER CONFETTI

Whilst the process of drying flowers can be quite time consuming, the results will be amazing!

Dried flower confetti isn't only great for decorating dinner tables (spread down the middle like a 'table runner'), venue entrances (create a petal pathway) or scattered around the food/present tables (a touch of WOW factor), but would also be a cute addition to guests' favour bags.

Related: Natural Confetti Ideas
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Click here to view ↓ these ↓ confetti packs by 'Barakah Gardens Hive'

FLOWERS​
Flowers can make the most bland room look amazing, which is the reason I absolutely LOVE using them at parties and celebrations! And with so many colours to choose from, you can't go wrong (simply create bunches using your theme palette and you have instant, beautiful décor). The perfect finishing touch to any event.

​Related: The Art of Floral Decoration at Events

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LEAF CONFETTI
​Made from leaves in your backyard and a hole punch, this confetti is like no other! Zero waste, cheap, a variety of shape options, and colourful - the perfect way to steer clear of disposable products whilst still getting the results you want/need!

Plants

Plants are a fantastic eco-décor option. They’re not only available in a range of types and sizes, but will continue to add colour to your household for many years to come! Perfect for use indoors and outdoors, see below for ways in which plants can be incorporated into your event:



POTTED PLANTS
Clustered in corners, used as favours, placed in the centre of a table or even hung from the wall/ceiling; potted plants have so many points of use! You could even go so far as decorating with edible plants (such as parsley, basil and/or chives). As Siavash Ghazvinian says, ‘If you have a window that gets good sun, it’s worth finding a shelving unit to plant herbs that you can grow and use in various foods. [They] taste delicious, and really liven up the energy in the kitchen’. Serving meals garnished with organic produce that doubles as decor – imagine!
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Handy Tip:
​‘The best way to go about getting potted plants with minimal impact on the environment is to join a local community garden or even a local gardening Facebook group. These groups often have someone who is giving away free pots that they no longer have use for’ – Siavash Ghazvinian

STATEMENT PIECES​
Large plants, when placed appropriately, can be the highlight of a room. For instance, placing 2 to 3 bigger plants (of varying heights) together in a corner creates an instant talking point; as does placing two large plants either side of your entrance. To make these beauties truly stand out, ‘arrange in woven containers’ says Jane Clarke of Fantastic Services Australia; ‘and if you have white walls, place the plants nearby as the greenery will contrast against them’.



SMALLER PLANTS
Whilst large plants create an instant ‘wow’ factor, this doesn’t mean smaller plants should be completely overlooked. ‘Smaller plants can also be a great decor’ says Jane Clarke. ‘Arrange them in geometric forms [and] for even better results, use geometric pots’. Whilst there are a vast array of smaller plant options, Jane suggests using succulents when it comes to decorating; they’re hardy, look gorgeous and are small enough to be anything from a favour to a table centrepiece. 

Second-hand Items

Garage sales, op shops and antique stores are all great places to pick up a bargain and/or unique decor items that will fit with your event theme perfectly! Think along the lines of stunning vases, large mirrors, shabby chic furniture, picture frames (great for photo booth props), baskets, etc. And once the party is over, you can either keep the item/s in your home or take back to the op shop for others to enjoy!

​​Other Fun Ideas

Feeling creative? Why not make your own piñata using old newspapers? The shape is limited only by your imagination; meaning it could fit in seamlessly with any party theme!

Paper chains are another low-waste option for décor. They add a pop of colour, and can be recycled afterwards.

And finally, let's talk about balloon garlands. These on trend displays can be re-created using tissue paper pom-pom decorations. The same colour, the same effect, but a reusable product that can be stored until your next celebration (rather than thrown away after one use).

Articles Related to Eco Party Decorations

HOW TO HOST AN ECO PARTY:

How do you host an event without costing the earth? This 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' article gives you EVERYTHING you need to know to pull off an awesome (eco) event that everyone will love!

READ MORE

​ECO GIFT IDEAS:

With this inspiration you’ll have no problem delighting guests with eco gifts that are not only unique and unexpected, but also zero waste and/or reusable. Meaning they’ll benefit the environment as well as party goers in their everyday lives!

READ MORE

Did These Eco-Friendly Party Decorations Inspire You?

As you know, we absolutely love a wedding shower, hen do or kitchen tea. But we love them even more when the environmental impact is less.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

If you have any ideas for eco friendly party supplies or decorations, please share with everyone via the comments below or one of our social media platforms! 

Much love, keep smiling - Bec x
​​(AUS Facebook Group | Worldwide Facebook Group | Pinterest)
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​P.S. THE BELOW IMAGE IS PERFECT FOR PINTEREST... GO ON & SHARE THESE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PARTY IDEAS FOR YOUR BRIDAL SHOWER OR BACHELORETTE - YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO! :-)