At-home New Year’s Eve ideas
Whether you couldn’t find a baby sitter or simply decided on a more low-key New Year’s Eve, you don’t need to spend the evening in your yoga pants. Celebrate at home with a few festive New Year’s Eve ideas. With a little planning, you can ring in the New Year in style, even if you are doing it from your couch.
Start with fabulous lighting
Changing your lighting can turn your everyday living room into an intimate, celebratory setting. Clusters of candles work wonders, but if you’re looking for something a little more dramatic, consider the Ruffled Lotus Lantern tutorial from Aunt Peaches. With a few simple materials, you definitely have time to create this lantern between now and New Year’s Eve. Tailor the size to your room, and it will completely change the ambiance of the room where you’ll welcome in the new year.
Look festive — without sacrificing comfort
Andrea put together two fabulous looks for New Year’s Eve, and I personally think you can pick and choose from either for a New Year’s date night at home. I adore the gold, but if you’re partial to silver, she created a beautiful look in that hue as well. The best part? Both looks are centered on a pair of jeans that are comfortable enough to wear all evening. Even just adding a dangly pair of earrings and metallic nails can transform the simplest look into something celebration-worthy.
Plan a special menu
If your at-home New Year’s involves the kids spending the night with Grandma and Grandpa, you might have the time to create a full, sit-down dinner. If you’ll be noshing after putting the kids to bed, you might want to consider a tapas-style meal. Making a few different appetizers allows you to sample different flavors without feeling too full for dessert. Start with the Open Face Fig and Blue Cheese Crostini Sandwiches from From Calculus to Cupcakes.
Whether you spend the evening munching on appetizers or decide to prepare a main course, be sure to save room for the Decadent Frosted Brownies from Dine & Dish. Enjoy every bite of the rich dessert — your New Year’s resolutions don’t start until the morning.
Ring in the New Year with a holiday cocktail
Champagne — or other sparkling wine — is the standard for toasting the end of one year and the beginning of another. Before you pop the cork on your favorite bottle, start with a holiday cocktail with a peppermint punch. The creamy cocktail is almost like a second dessert!
