Teenager 18th birthday decoration ideas at home party should be an exciting event that lets the birthday boy or girl unwind and have fun with their friends and family, which is why it’s so important to plan carefully.
The teen years are exciting for the birthday boy or girl, but they can also be stressful for parents who have to plan an 18th birthday party.
Whether you’re having an at-home party or celebrating in a restaurant or venue, there are many things to consider when it comes to planning this type of event.
One of the best things about celebrating your 18th birthday is that you get to choose how you want to celebrate it.
If you’re not ready to go out to bars and clubs with your friends, throw a party at home with some other people your age and have fun decorating, planning activities, and making great food that everyone will love!
What will you serve? How will you decorate? Will your teen be interested in some of the activities on our list? You’ll find inspiration and ideas in this article on 18th birthday party ideas and inspiration, whether you want to stay at home or go out on the town!
18th Birthday Party Ideas and Inspiration
Decorations
Birthday decorations don’t have to be over-the-top or cost hundreds of dollars. According to a survey by Sun Chips, 55% of Americans make their own party decorations.
Decorations for an 18th birthday party can be as simple as hanging up streamers in your teen’s favorite color and playing some upbeat music at their party.
If you want to get fancy, try making some inexpensive decor from materials like construction paper, poster board, or wrapping paper that your teen can use on his/her bedroom walls after his/her birthday is over. Another idea:
Check out thrift stores for unused vintage items that could be used for decoration around your home for a very affordable price.
Activities
If you have a teenager in your life who’s turning 18, you’re probably looking for some fun party ideas.
Teenagers are often more self-sufficient than younger kids, so there are tons of great activities that don’t need supervision from parents or party planners.
Look for games that aren’t too competitive to avoid hurt feelings—we like volleyball and yard games like Cornhole (bean bag toss). If you do plan on having some games with prizes, make sure they’re small enough to not feel worth fighting over.
Another option is to plan for an overnight slumber party that includes plenty of sleepover activities.
Food
What better way to set a festive mood than by serving appetizers? Your guests will feel extra-special with special for you treats. You can either serve them yourself or hire servers to help out if you don’t want to be stuck in your kitchen all night.
Remember, though, that finger foods are not only what teenagers love; they’re also convenient for parents who may have to transport their kids home after dinner.
Think outside of your birthday box when planning hors d’oeuvres: Try mini grilled cheese sandwiches, spinach-artichoke dip, mini quiches (you can make these ahead), or store-bought cupcakes with icing.
Music
Nothing says celebration like music. Use an online tool to set up a playlist for you. Or, if your party is close to home, bring out some of your parent’s old records and play them on a record player! They’ll love it; trust us.
If you’re having trouble finding tunes from your parents’ generation online, consider these tunes from Grandma—they’re oldies but goodies.
Favors
Although you’ll undoubtedly have plenty of other costs associated with throwing a party, if you don’t want to break your budget, favors are an area where you can save some money.
If your birthday girl or boy has lots of friends (and they’re young teens), skip favors altogether and let everyone bring a gift. You could also try making homemade truffles; they don’t take long to make and people will be impressed by how yummy they are.
Another inexpensive favor idea is giving guests one high-quality candle—something like soy or beeswax candles—that burns for hours and hours.
Gifts
One of my favorite gifts to give (and get) is a gift card. Not only are they super easy to wrap, but they’re also really thoughtful.
Because everybody needs money to buy stuff, right? I like giving gift cards to stores that cater to teenagers since it keeps them from getting bored with their presents.
Common gift card options include places like Hot Topic, Urban Outfitters, Hollister Co., and American Eagle Outfitters. If you’re looking for an online option, some good sites include iTunes Gift Cards or Amazon Gift Cards.
There are lots of other cool ideas on Pinterest too! You can find lots of other cute teenager 18th birthday decoration ideas at home there.
