Decorating Ideas for a 80s Theme Party

Any 80s party worth decorating for is worth over-decorating for. The 80s brought fashion and music to a visual extreme. Everything was big, bright and colorful from women's makeup to fashion. When you decorate for your 80s party, accessorize as much as you can and then add more. When you think you're done decorating, add a few more decorations. No wall should be left bare and overlap images and decorations when you can. Make your 80s compilation playlist ahead of time, and gather your favorite 80s movies to play at the party.

Things You'll Need

• Neon balloons
• Neon streamers
• Inflatable guitars
• Animal print tablecloths and cups
• Cassette tapes
• VHS tapes

Instructions

1. Accessorize the party with excessive decorations and extreme color combinations. The 80s was a time of excess and frivolity. Popular colors included neon yellow, neon pink and neon green. Use those colors for balloons, streamers and party candles. Add other popular 80s color combinations including dark aqua blue and red, or light blue and pink (think Miami Vice).

2. Hang up movie posters of popular 80s movies, such as "Top Gun," "Sixteen Candles," "E.T.," "Indiana Jones" and "Back to the Future." Decorate with inflatable guitars, fedoras, Pacman cut-outs and mini boom boxes (party favor size or draw some and hang them up). Old band T-shirts can also be hung up on the walls. Use your own 80s photos to decorate the walls.

3. Ask the guests to dress up as their favorite 80s movie star, TV star of MTV icon. Madonna, Billy Idol, Boy George, Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper, Prince or Michael Jackson (circa 1982) costumes will add to the 80s ambiance.

4. Cover tables with animal print tablecloths and tableware. Look for black-and-white combinations, including zebra prints. Leopard prints and tiger stripes are also encouraged. Decorate with polka dots, too, another popular design used in the 80s.

5. Set up a hair station in the bathroom complete with large cans of Aqua Net hairspray. The 80s were all about big hair and your guests can primp up their hair while at the party. Also supply colored hair glitter, head bands and extra shoulder pads for party goers.

6. Place 80s party favors around the room. Purchase cheap Rubik's cube keychains, neon or black rubber bracelets, neon sunglasses, or black Ray ban-style sunglasses (like those worn by Tom Cruise), and Pee Wee Herman toys around the room.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to hide away the DVDs and CDs. Put out any cassette tapes or VHS tapes instead.

• Do not include disco balls, as people who partied in the 80s associate disco balls with the 70s.