Cater-Hater - Party Consumer Guide - Catering Expert - Event Planning Expert, Carlo Powe-Crawford

Resolve to party better in the New Year with 10 party ideas that get "The Look".

We often make New Year's resolutions with the best intentions. We have to be firm in them.

Resolve to keep your party looking like a professional planner did it and fun.

Let's assume you already have a "party wardrobe" of linens, glassware, dishes, platters, and serving pieces. In terms of upcoming purchases, set your sights on buying some exciting extras.

Catch sales and buy a few party decor pieces that will give your parties a fresh vibe, breathing new life into the things you're bored with looking at and using. Retire them.

Head over to Target or WalMart and check out what's new in their home decor accessory department. You'll find get platters, serving pitchers and whatnot there, and at fantastic prices.

10 Party Ideas That Get "The Look"

1.) Gold Finger - Think fresh and bright with a new set of gold-plated cutlery. Challenge your friends. Have gold parties, choose the best one, then declare a winner. Go bold. Go gold like the folks at American Party Rentals!

2.) Party Remix - Sick and tired of that paisley-patterned (or any type of pattern for that matter) tablecloth that it seems like you've used too many times? Mix it - with some caution, of course - with a different patterned linen napkin choice.

Cater-Hater Tip: Stick with no more than two patterns. This is a definite case of, "less is more".

3.) Go sporty? - Yes, why not? Whether you're looking for Super Bowl party ideas or not, it's not too a bad idea to add to your favorite team theme to a "just because" party. Shop for a party decor football helmet. Or, buy a brand new soccer ball. Next, gather together your sporty "party booty" for your buffet table centerpiece display, staggering your newly acquired display items at various heights - intermixed with fresh flowers, to add drama.

Cater-Hater Tip: If you can't think of any cool ideas; about how to add in fresh flowers to your new sporty centerpiece, stop by your favorite, most talented local florist shop and ask questions. Professionals love it when you ask questions. I'm sure they'll be happy to oblige.

4.) Go Pastel - Traditionally used for baby showers, think outside the box - adding baby blue and soft yellow into your party decor. Going any direction you choose, be it table linens or your centerpiece flowers, incorporate these colors for a "different" look for your next party that you're hosting for "no particular reason".

5.) Double Take - Entertaining more than 50 to 60 guests can cause a major dinner party buffet table "traffic jam". So, double set your entire buffet down both sides of the length of your table.

This gives your guests two sides of the table to use to access their food, shrinking your food line, making it easier for party guests to navigate their way through the buffet line faster. Excuse me, what line? Right. Uh huh, that's exactly what you're shooting for - no lines.

6.) Softer Can Be Sweeter - You've seen those jersey sheet sets that are so nice to sleep on, right? Well, they're awesome looking - adding a soft texture to any buffet table, which can especially be nice for "sweet party" like a baby shower.

Find a jersey sheet set that you like (on sale of course) and use it on top of the buffet table cloth to rouche into fabric "clouds" for a stylish addition to any basic table-scape. Remind us. We'll add a video to display this effect.

Cater-Hater Tip: Choose any solid or patterned sheet set that suits your fancy. Use it on the table alone or as suggested above, atop the tablecloth that you've already placed on your buffet table - preferably a table cloth that drapes down to the floor.

7.) That Girl/That Guy - Here's another interesting party decor theme to host. Here's what you do. First, place a solid-color floor length tablecloth on your party buffet table in any color. Next, add multi-colored napkins (in a stripe maybe?) inside your buffet table silverware and bread baskets and strategically place one or two extra napkins around the base of your floral centerpiece, in an attractive scrunched-style for a modern take on a vintage 70's inspired party decor look.

Cater-Hater Tip: Center your party around the "That Girl" television show, which aired from 1966 to 1971. Feature a retro 70's menu of delicious finger foods and groovy cocktails. Then, add Gerber daisies to your floral arrangement for a fresh remake of Ann Marie (or Don Hollinger - her boyfriend, remember?)fun, upbeat style. Don't forget to wear blue eye shadow, false eyelashes, and style your hair in a "That Girl" flip. How "That Girl" chic!

8.) Blue Hue - Electrify your party atmosphere with electric blue decor items. You know the drill... Electric blue patterned tablecloths with electric blue solid colored napkins as accents.

9.) Red With Envy - Another way to add color is with party decor accessories. Red glassware on any print looks good. But, we especially like red with a zebra print table cloth or table runner as a head turner that commands attention. Your party guests will roar!

10.) Party pair-up, stylishly - Create a tailored, classic look with traditional white linens - paired with a neutral or khaki color to add contrast and keep everything looking fresh and clean. Party cuisine looks best displayed on white linen. This is simply superb!