How to Decorate for a Tiki Theme Party

You can bring the mood, the attitude and scents of a tropical island paradise to your Tiki Party with a few choice decorations. Follow these steps and your guests will think they're on a relaxing isle.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tiki torches
• Candles
• Grass skirts
• Tiki barware
• Paper lanterns
• Leis
• Plants

1. Buy leis from the local party store. No tropical island paradise is complete without them. If you really want to be fancy, make your own from inexpensive flowers.

2. Buy long grass skirts and wrap them around your tables.

3. Purchase candles with tropical scents. The Yankee Candle Store has several to choose from, including Canary Island Banana, Tahitian Tiare Flower or Island Spa.

4. String paper lanterns. These colorful lanterns can be purchased at just about any party store. Try your local Target.

5. Stock Tiki barware. Shot glasses, drink glasses, beverage napkins and even little palm tree straws (instead of umbrella straws) can be purchased at the Plumparty website.

6. Go green. Turn your deck or patio into a tropical paradise with large plants.

7. Transform a standard patio umbrella by purchasing a grass skirt cover. These skirts are made from raffia and are designed to hang perfectly on any standard patio table umbrella.

Tips & Warnings

• Check out eHow's "How to Make a Floral Lei" article to make your own leis.
• Make sure your candles are all the same scent or complementary scents so the smells don't clash: flowers with flowers, food scents with food scents.
• If you are serving food, use unscented candles until everyone is done eating. The candle scents will clash with the food.
• Keep candles and torches away from flammable objects. Don't light your Tiki torches too close to your grass skirts or any other flammable decorations.

Resources

• Party ideas are available at Evite.
• Perfect-part-ideas offers additional planning help.
• Find candles with tropical scents at Yankeecandle.