Posts by Lauren Debellis at Holidays News

Mardi Gras Party Decor

Email this| Posted Feb 8th 2010 at 2:00PM by Lauren DeBellis

Decorate for Mardi Gras with masks. Credit: Getty Images

When it comes to decorating for a Mardi Gras party at home, more is definitely -- well, more! Mardi Gras (also known as Fat Tuesday) is all about indulgence, so going overboard with the decorations is required. We're talking feathers, beads, glitter and anything else you can get your hands on. Here, six creative ways to celebrate like they do down in New Orleans.

Color Me Happy

Purple, green and gold are the traditional colors of Mardi Gras. They stand for justice (purple), faith (green) and power (gold), so be sure to choose your supplies based on those colors. Also, to help fill in any decorating gaps, stock up on paper streamers, latex balloons, ribbon, paper goods and other party basics in this triple color combo.

Feathery Table Topper

Whether you're serving dinner or cocktails at your Mardi Gras party, a festive centerpiece will set the tone for the night ahead. Gather a group of three clear, glass cylinder vases in various sizes. Fill each vase with decorative acrylic stones in shades of green and purple. Then insert two or three faux peacock feathers into each. To finish, scatter more stones, a few votive candles and chocolate gold coins (also known as doubloons, which are thrown as prizes during Mardi Gras parades) around the vases.

DIY Masks

Extravagantly decorated Mardi Gras masks are an absolute must and making your own adds to the fun. Pick up a bunch of plain, undecorated face masks at the craft store. Be sure to have lots of supplies such as stick-on rhinestones, glitter, feathers and glue. Then, have everyone decorate their masks to wear the rest of the evening. Hold a contest and award a prize to the winner with the most-embellished mask.

Chocolate dubloons make a great table decoration. Credit: Getty Images

Set The Table

If you are serving dinner at your Mardi Gras party, start with a crisp white table linen and use all white dishes, then spice things up with the accessories! Layer a gold melamine charger under each white plate, or if you're crafty, use 12" x 12" scrapbook paper squares in festive Mardi Gras colors. Next, choose a solid color napkin in a bold purple or green and place it folded on top of your plate. Finish with festive acrylic jewel-toned party-ready cutlery.

Jeweled Rings

Jazz up napkins using beaded necklaces, another Mardi Gras staple. Wrap a necklace around a rolled-up napkin and add on a Mardi-Gras-themed wine charm. Guests can then use the charms for their wine glasses and take it home as a favor. Another option? If you used scrapbook paper as a charger under your place settings, cut 4" wide strips from another piece, wrap around your napkins and use a Glue Dot to secure.

Raise a Glass

To dress up wine glasses, tie on green, gold and purple ribbons add a fleur-de-lis decals to all of your glassware (The fleur-de-lis is a popular decorative symbol used during Mardi Gras, as it represents royalty). Then, be sure to serve up a traditional cocktail such as a Hurricane.

Royal Place Holder

Crowns are another huge must-have accessory. Personalize a paper crown for each of your guests and use it as a place holder. Pick up a pack of pre-made paper crowns or make your own using scrapbook paper. Then, add on lots of stick-on jewels and write each guest's names on it later with a glitter glue pen. Leave a crown hanging from the back of each Mardi Gras party guest's chair so they know just where they're seat of honor is.