I don’t know about you, but I’m not much of a New Year’s Eve partier. We live a good 30-45 minutes away from the nearest “big cities,” and the prospect of driving that far in the dark and snow has never been very appealing!
But staying home on New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to be boring—not by a long shot! To help prove my point, today I’ll be sharing over two dozen brilliant ideas from around the web of ways to ring in the new year at home!
31 Creative Ideas For Celebrating New Year’s Eve At Home
1. Confetti Bar
From kojodesigns
Whether you make these confetti shooters from push pop containers (which you may be able to find at Target, but can for sure find on Amazon) or simply place small plastic boxes or glasses filled with confetti around the house, this is a fun way for you and your guests to celebrate when the clock strikes midnight!
2. New Year’s Eve Noise Makers
From Worth Pinning
This craft only takes about 20 minutes and you probably have everything you need for them around the house. Break open the noise makers at midnight (or 9pm if that’s more your style) and eat the candy!
3. Printable New Year’s Resolution Cards
From Lia Griffith
Setting goals and intentions for the year ahead is an inspiring way to celebrate! Set out a vase full of these cute little cards and invite your guests to put some thought into their year to come.
4. Countdown Bags
From Happy Home Fairy
Here’s a fun family activity that will keep your occupied as you count down to the new year. Simply several bags with a different treat or activity, then have someone open the bag at the indicated time. Fill your bags with treats, disposable cameras, a new movie, craft kits, noise makers, confetti, and more!
5. Paper Number Piñatas
From A Subtle Revelry
This would be a fun way to either count down to the new year, or to make your own custom “2020” piñata! So fun!
6. “Kiss Me” Kits
From Shaken Together
Fill the bag with everything for the perfect kiss at midnight: bubbly, lip balm, sparklers, and, of course, some minty-fresh gum! These kits make great party favors for your New Year’s Eve party.
7. New Year’s Resolution Party Cups
From Momtastic
They are the perfect way to ring in the new year so the whole family can join in on the fun. With just a few supplies and a couple of minutes you can have these fun bottles ready for your new years resolutions! Fill them with juice or milk and start the new year off right.
8. Reflection Questions
From The Art of Simple
Follow the link to download a free printable with 20 questions to use as a springboard to reflect on the past 365 days. There’s also a 10 question version that’s perfect for the kiddos!
9. Minute-To-Win-It Games
From One Good Thing by Jillee
These quick and easy games are guaranteed to liven up any party! Stock up on treats or small gifts to give out as prizes to the winners, and watch the hilarity ensue.
10. DIY Confetti Throwers
From Oh Happy Day
A creative twist on traditional confetti. Fill a plastic tube with confetti and hand them out to all your guests. With just a flick of the wrist the confetti propels out of the tube and goes everywhere. Perfect for New Year’s Eve!
11. Build The Best Blanket Fort
From Pretty Providence
Gather every pillow, sheet, and mattress and bring the comfy party to the living room. Order in some pizza and put on your favorite movie and enjoy a relaxing and cozy New Year’s Eve at home in your pajamas. This idea is sure to be an easy win if you have young kids at home!
12. Good Luck Grape Skewers
From Kix Cereal
Participate in the Spanish tradition of ushering in the New Year (or Año Nuevo) by eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. The practice is supposed to promote prosperity and good luck in the coming year, and who couldn’t use a little good luck in their lives? 🙂
13. DIY Balloon Drop
From One Good Thing by Jillee
What could be more festive than a balloon drop!? Make a homemade balloon drop and at midnight pull the string and let the balloons fall. Kids and adults alike will LOVE it!
14. Printable New Year’s Eve Bingo Sheets
From Thirty Handmade Days
Free printable New Year’s Eve Bingo game that you can play while you wait for the ball to drop on TV!
15. New Year’s Party Donuts
From The 36th Avenue
Sparkling donuts are perfect for a New Year’s Eve Party or New Year’s Day Breakfast! The best part? They’re store bought! Easy, quick, and extraordinary.
16. NYE Scavenger Hunt
From Reasons To Skip The Housework
This scavenger hunt will keep the kids busy until midnight searching for things on their list. Little ones can simply put an X on items as they find them. Have older kids at the party use their smartphones and challenge them to take photos of each of the items on the list.
17. Sparkling Cider (Non-Alcoholic) Jello Shots
From Something Swanky
Toast the New Year with a cool, sparkly dessert that wiggles and jiggles.
18. Printable Bottle Labels
From Bespoke Bride
If you’re going to be throwing your own party this year then why not jazz up the decor even more by adding these fun, colorful labels?! These would even work for any party, not just new year!
19. Bubble Wrap Stomp
From The Loop
Ring in the new year with this fun idea the kids of all ages will love! Buy bubble wrap (the large bubbles work best) and spread out on a hard floor just before midnight. At the end of the countdown, stomp! It sounds like firecrackers and is a fun way to start the year.
20. Cupcake Countdown Clock
From People
Create an edible clock—with moveable cookie hands!—with each tiny cake representing the final hours before the new year. (Store-bought cupcakes would work just fine!) Add party hats and noisemakers, and you’ve got a celebration at any hour.
21. New Year’s Tree
From Our Best Bites
Use your New Year’s Eve at home to start a new family tradition! Strip your Christmas tree of all the decorations (except the lights) and dress it all back up again with inexpensive New Year’s decorations.
22. M&Ms Straw Game
From TipSpoke
Transfer M&Ms from one plate to another, using a straw. And as an added bonus, you get to eat all the M&Ms after the game is done! 😉
23. Wishing Wall
From Mark Addison
Every year in New York City, visitors from around the world write their wishes for the New Year on colorful pieces of paper and attach them to the Wishing Wall in Times Square. The wishes are collected and then become the confetti that flutters down at midnight on New Year’s Eve!
Make your own version of a Wishing Wall by designating an area where your guests can post their wishes on sticky notes. (The more festive the colors, the better!)
24. Kid-Friendly Milk & Cookies “Champagne Toast”
From Style Me Pretty
Let the kids in on the fun of “toasting” the new year! Grab some plastic champagne flutes, get everyone their favorite cookies, and when midnight strikes, everyone can toast together!
25. New Year’s Eve Kit
From inchmark
Hit your local party store for noisemakers, balloons, blowers, poppers and some sparkly confetti. Package it up in a party bag and attach to a bottle of Martinelli’s. Instant fun!
26. New Year’s Eve Conversation Game
From Alice & Lois
This free printable card game is a great way to get your guests talking, with prompts like Best Song of the Year, Best Movie of the Year, Most Embarrassing Moment, and more. It’s an easy and fun way to reflect back on your favorite moments of the year!
27. New Year’s Bell Noise Maker
From Paging Supermom
Ring in the New Year with this fun noisemaker! These New Year’s bells made with silver bells, golden yarn and wrapping paper are genius.
28. DIY Photo Booth
From pomtree on Etsy
Photo booths can be really easy to set up, all you need is some kind of backdrop, props, and a camera. The backdrop could be something as simple as a table cloth hung from the ceiling, and the props could be something as easy to find as crazy scarfs or glasses.
If you’re looking to create more of a professional looking booth, special New Year’s Eve props can be found at many party stores and online like this adorable champagne bottle prop from Etsy seller pomtree! 🙂
29. Midnight Kisses
From Create.Craft.Love.
This New Year’s Eve printable is perfect for that special midnight “kiss!” A super easy party favor!
30. Printable NYE Photo Props
From JOANN
Photo props are a fun way to capture all the fun of celebrating New Year’s Eve at home, and these one’s couldn’t be easier to make!
31. Mini Marshmallow Shooters
From Coffee Cups and Crayons
Gather up balloons, cake pop containers (or plastic cups would work too), and mini marshmallows and make these really easy and inexpensive marshmallow launchers! Have a contest to see who can pop marshmallows the farthest or get the most into a bowl that’s a few feet away.
I hope these ideas get you excited about ringing in the New Year at home this year, and I hope you all have a wonderful 2020! 🙂
