How to Do 80s Party Decorations

Set the mood with these ideas that will take you back.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Dot matrix banner

   Hang a dot matrix banner.
   If you lived through the 80s, you'll remember banners produced by the original version of Print Shop being standard for parties. Some basic research indicates you need to be a bit of a geek to make this happen in the present day, but it is possible.

2. 
   Nagel poster - icicle lights didn't come out until the 90s though.

   Print some of these things off the internet:
   Ascii art posters, Keith Haring or Patrick Nagel art, album covers of your favorite 80s artists, movie posters from the decade, pictures of early video game characters, rubix cubes, cabbage patch dolls, garbage pail kids. A slide show on your TV would work too.

3. Play vintage music videos.
   Remember when MTV played nothing but music videos?

4. Pick a color scheme.
   There's more than one to choose from. In he early 80s everything was pale mauve and dark beige. Neon was huge around 1986, especially combined with black. In 1987 everything went pastel.

5. Make some geometric or splatter art.
   Abstract art made by splattering paint, or repeating geometric patterns screams 80s. This is especially true if you use one of the color schemes from above.

6. 
   iris

   Use irises.
   If you're putting flowers on tables, irises seemed to be the flower of the 80s, like the gerbera daisy or sun flowers were for the 90s and orchids are for the 2000s.

7. Use lights.
   If you're trying to get a dance club feel, use colored light bulbs, or neon. Strobe lights and smoke machines were big too.

8. Put some cardboard on the floor.
   Try to get some break dancing started.

9. 
   ballons

   Use lots of balloons.
   This isn't purely 80s, but they work with the theme, especially covering the floor or ceiling.

[khristal23]

on 9/15/2009 I miss the breakdancing of the '80s! Great tips!

[Merriment]

on 8/21/2009 Wonderful ideas for 80's party decorations. We did a 70's party this year and are planning for an 80's party next year. I will be keeping this article on hand when we begin preparing for it. Having these ideas makes me more excited for the planning process!

[gahazeleyes]

on 6/5/2009 I like this. Very good article.

[sonni57]

on 6/3/2009 I remember the 80's they were fun so the party should be too.