Beach-themed summer party decorations

You don’t have to be along the shore to have fun in the sand and enjoy surf tunes and fruity drinks. A beach-themed party can be thrown in your own terrace or garden. Having a party like this means that you get to wear comfortable surfwear, don’t have to wear shoes, and can enjoy drinks. Finger-friendly foods can be prepared and a prize may be given to the one wearing the best beach-inspired outfit. Here are some suggestions on how to decorate your beach-themed summer party.

The first you have to consider is the sand. Some commercial dealers involved in the construction industry sell all sorts of sand. The one you need for the party is the kind used in a sand-box or in the play areas of children because they are very fine and its sharp bits have been removed. A bag or two of this should be enough. Spread the sand in the area around the patio and place small tables and chairs there. Your guests can remove their shoes when they step in the sand. Scrunching your bare feet on the sand feels sexy and luscious. It is also easy to remove if you want to go inside the house.

If you have a palm plant at home, you can put it outdoors. Smaller plants, which are available at bigger DIY stores and garden centres, are cheap and would serve as a pleasant centrepiece. If you have some sea shells at home, those you have collected as souvenirs during holidays in warmer climates, put them randomly on side tables or on serving trays. However, you don’t need to go to the beach to collect sea shells since it is not eco-friendly. Instead, you can go to aquatic fish shops to buy sea-themed items.

You can also go to places like Woolworth’s, shops with the bargain ‘Everything for a Pound’, and Pier One to buy items such as buckets and spades, blow-up plastic beach balls, and even a children’s pool for those who want to get their feet wet. Beach-themed things can also be bought from charity shops.

Purchase plates, napkins, and unbreakable plastic wine glasses that are brightly coloured. Buy different colours, rather than buying sets of the same colour. You can also get fish- or star-shaped reusable ice cubes, those which you freeze and put into drinks. Maybe give out a beach themed usb memory stick to each guest.

If you are serving seaside cocktails, you can find drink umbrellas at specialist cook shops or party shops. You can also load a large tub or an ice chest with ice and bottles of refreshments such as a crisp Mexican or Spanish lager. Tie a string to the opener and attach it to the ice chest’s handle.

Once you’ve set this scene, you can start putting on surf music, shaking the cocktails, and putting out trays of nibbles.