Entertaining: How to Host a Beautiful Baby Shower
Make any mum-to-be feel extra special by throwing her a stylish baby shower — storks and nappies optional…
A chance to spend some time with friends and celebrate the imminent arrival of a new life, a baby shower is a fun, pampering party. Show the mother-to-be some extra love by personalising the party and tailoring it to her tastes. Whether she loves bold brights or soft pastels, these inspiring ideas will get your party started.
Gather gifts in one place
Create a designated space, on a table or console, for gifts, and ask guests to put their offerings there, ready for the present opening part of the celebration. It will keep the party flowing nicely until the expectant mum is ready for her pressies, and will reduce the risk of any gifts getting lost.
Create a designated space, on a table or console, for gifts, and ask guests to put their offerings there, ready for the present opening part of the celebration. It will keep the party flowing nicely until the expectant mum is ready for her pressies, and will reduce the risk of any gifts getting lost.
Embrace pastel colours
Pastel colours may not be the pregnant party person’s first choice for interiors, but they are a perfect fit for a baby shower. This table owes its elegance to a soft palette of pinks and blues, the classic tones associated with boys and girls and the ideal colour scheme if the baby’s gender is still unknown.
Pastel colours may not be the pregnant party person’s first choice for interiors, but they are a perfect fit for a baby shower. This table owes its elegance to a soft palette of pinks and blues, the classic tones associated with boys and girls and the ideal colour scheme if the baby’s gender is still unknown.
Work in bright accents
Or if pastels just aren’t your thing, go for zingy orange and fuchsia pink. They look brilliant together and are an excellent colour theme for a baby shower, injecting an upbeat, cheerful feel. Use these shades on party tableware and simple homemade banners for a bright and happy celebration.
Or if pastels just aren’t your thing, go for zingy orange and fuchsia pink. They look brilliant together and are an excellent colour theme for a baby shower, injecting an upbeat, cheerful feel. Use these shades on party tableware and simple homemade banners for a bright and happy celebration.
Create a calm welcome
Candles and flowers bring warm light, delicate colour and soft scent to a home. Combine both in the entrance hall to create a sophisticated welcome and kick your celebration off elegantly. Just be aware of leaving candles unattended, especially if there are little people invited to the baby shower.
Candles and flowers bring warm light, delicate colour and soft scent to a home. Combine both in the entrance hall to create a sophisticated welcome and kick your celebration off elegantly. Just be aware of leaving candles unattended, especially if there are little people invited to the baby shower.
Remember some flowers
Whether you go all out on a bold and big bouquet or pluck a few stems from your garden, flowers are the perfect finishing touch to any baby shower. You don’t need to be an expert at flower design, either, just keep it simple by popping blooms into old jars and bottles and lining up along the length of the table. If you are feeling crafty, create a beautiful flower garland from coloured paper, too, like the one pictured here.
Whether you go all out on a bold and big bouquet or pluck a few stems from your garden, flowers are the perfect finishing touch to any baby shower. You don’t need to be an expert at flower design, either, just keep it simple by popping blooms into old jars and bottles and lining up along the length of the table. If you are feeling crafty, create a beautiful flower garland from coloured paper, too, like the one pictured here.
Take the party outside
If you are organising a summer baby shower, why not host it outdoors? Vintage chairs, twinkling candles and bunches of simple flowers will look beautiful as the sun begins to set. Or string up the floral bunting for a daytime celebration bursting with colour.
If you are organising a summer baby shower, why not host it outdoors? Vintage chairs, twinkling candles and bunches of simple flowers will look beautiful as the sun begins to set. Or string up the floral bunting for a daytime celebration bursting with colour.
Be inventive with displays
Hosting a shower does not mean plundering the nearest interior store for expensive new vases and china. Instead, be imaginative with whatever you have at home. Create a floral display like this one with a cake stand, some jam jars or glasses and a few flower sprigs. Spray glasses white, stick on numbers (or use transfers) and pop in a few flowers such as roses or carnations. Then just spread out the glasses on each tier and use as a table centrepiece or mantelpiece decoration.
Hosting a shower does not mean plundering the nearest interior store for expensive new vases and china. Instead, be imaginative with whatever you have at home. Create a floral display like this one with a cake stand, some jam jars or glasses and a few flower sprigs. Spray glasses white, stick on numbers (or use transfers) and pop in a few flowers such as roses or carnations. Then just spread out the glasses on each tier and use as a table centrepiece or mantelpiece decoration.
Stick to two colours
A mix of colours can look rather random, but a strict scheme of just two shades shows design intent. This cake table is eye-catching due to its striking blue and white theme. Carry this theme through on napkins, plates and surrounding decorations for even more oomph.
A mix of colours can look rather random, but a strict scheme of just two shades shows design intent. This cake table is eye-catching due to its striking blue and white theme. Carry this theme through on napkins, plates and surrounding decorations for even more oomph.
Give guests a mini takeaway
Party favours do not need to be expensive and over the top to be appreciated by guests. A few chocolates or a chunk of homemade brownie wrapped in paper and tied with a ribbon is just as thoughtful. Line them all up on a tray by the front door, ready to give to departing guests.
Party favours do not need to be expensive and over the top to be appreciated by guests. A few chocolates or a chunk of homemade brownie wrapped in paper and tied with a ribbon is just as thoughtful. Line them all up on a tray by the front door, ready to give to departing guests.
Baby showers involve a fair bit of sitting down and cooing over the mama-to-be. Make this a comfy experience by incorporating luxe fabrics and textures. Think velvet, faux fur and shaggy sheepskin, to ramp up the cosy, nurturing feel.