Tips for making New Year’s Eve cozy at home

New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to gather with friends and family to end the year festively and welcome the new year. If you choose to stay home this year, it can be just as cozy and festive as a big event. Here are a few fun tips to make your New Year’s Eve celebration at home an unforgettable one!

Choose a theme for your evening

A themed party brings instant atmosphere into your home and provides a fun thread throughout the evening. Think for example of a glitter & glamour party where everyone comes in festive clothes, an 80s theme with wrong disco clothes and music or choose a wrong pajama party, with fun games like Party & Co, where it’s all about comfort and humor. Don’t forget to match the decorations such as garlands, balloons and table decorations to the theme as well!

Create a cozy atmosphere with decorations

Make your home extra festive by choosing atmospheric decorations. Think of beautiful garlands of lights, balloons, candles and stars. You can also (together with your children, you also have a fun craft activity with them during the Christmas vacations) make DIY decorations, such as paper garlands, or confetti in champagne glasses for a festive touch. Choose gold and silver accents or a color scheme that matches your theme. You can even create another photo wall where your guests can take pictures during the evening.

Create an appetizer buffet

Good food is obviously part of a good New Year’s Eve celebration! Instead of an elaborate dinner, you can opt for a snack buffet. This way, everyone can grab whatever they’re in the mood for, and it’s ideal if you don’t feel like spending hours in the kitchen. Choose a mix of sweet and savory appetizers, such as doughnuts, apple turnovers, mini sandwiches, cheese boards, and even sushi. In our blog The tastiest savory snacks for New Year’s Eve you will find tips and recipes for festive savory snacks. Of course, you can also agree with your guests that everyone will bring something tasty to share. Don’t forget the champagne or non-alcoholic bubbles to make the party complete!

Music determines a large part of the atmosphere

Of course, a good playlist should not be missing during New Year’s Eve. Make a playlist with the biggest hits of the past year and don’t forget the classics, such as “Happy New Year” by ABBA. Make sure the music plays in the background throughout the evening and as it gets closer to midnight, choose some uptempo songs to build the excitement. Want to really bring some energy into the evening? Set up a special dance hour with uptempo hits for a small party in your living room.

Play a game (or several…)

New Year’s Eve is an ideal time for fun games. Organize a quiz about the past year, where everyone comes up with questions about events from the news, movies or music of the past year. For some competition, you can also have a karaoke battle where everyone sings their favorite New Year’s Eve songs. Another fun option: a guess-the-s resolutions game where everyone writes down their good resolutions and the rest have to guess whose is which.

Or play board games such as 30 Seconds, Party & Co, Hitser Bingo or one of Jumbo’s other party games. Of course, you can also play a card game that you can do with a large group. It makes for lots of laughter and a relaxed atmosphere, and is perfect for passing the time until midnight.

Make a yearly review

New Year’s Eve is also a great time to look back on the past year. You can do this in a fun way by making a short annual review. Have everyone share their best memory of the year, or make a timeline of all the events together. It is a nice way to reflect on the beautiful moments and go into the new year in a positive way.

Countdown to midnight together

The countdown to midnight is, of course, the moment of the evening. Make sure you have a fun way to do this. Turn on the clock or timer on the television or use your smartphone. Make sure everyone has a glass of champagne or other drink in hand to toast the new year together. Don’t forget to pop the cork as soon as the clock strikes midnight!

Start new traditions

New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to start new traditions. Maybe you want to watch a special movie every year, make a certain dish or work out a good intention together. By doing something recurring every year, you will make New Year’s Eve at home even more special.

It doesn’t have to be a big, extravagant celebration to make it cozy. With the right atmosphere, pleasant company, fun activities and some creativity, you can make it an unforgettable night at home.

Happy New Year!

Credits photos: Canva.com