The decorations for a baby shower bring a lot to the mood of the event. Done well, the room feels soft and warm and even a little bit magical.
Do them badly though and it feels more like a meeting with a cake in it. The gap between those two is a lot cheaper than you’d probably think.
I remember the first shower I helped decorate. I panicked and bought everything in sight, which ended up with a big clash of themes and whole load of stuff that I didn’t really need.
Read More: 15 Amazing Girl Baby Shower Theme Ideas
The decorated room looked like a party store had exploded. I did learn a good lesson for that though: pick one soft color palette, commit to it and concentrate the pretty things in one spot. That’s the real secret.
My mistake is one probably a lot of people make. A baby shower on average costs a minimum of $550 when using a venue; less if staying at home. That’s the average cost but it could easily be brought to half that with some good planning and knowing the right things to buy.
So these are the decoration ideas I come back to when I’m throwing or helping with a baby shower, from the one big backdrop down to the little details.
Start With the Backdrop
If you’re only going to do one thing, build a single focal wall. It’s where the cake table goes, where the mum to be sits and where every photo gets taken. Get this right and the rest of the room matters a lot less.
An “Oh Baby” Backdrop
The classic for a reason. A balloon arch or garland on a wall with a big “oh baby” sign in the middle is the most pinned baby shower setup there is, and it’s much easier than it looks. An “oh baby” sign or backdrop kit does the heavy lifting.
A Fabric or Fringe Backdrop
If balloons aren’t your thing then a simple draped fabric, a fringe curtain or a flower wall makes just as strong a backdrop for the cake table. Soft neutrals like sage, cream and tan photograph really well and suit any baby. A fringe or fabric backdrop sets up in minutes.
Balloons (Always the Kit)
Baby shower balloons deserve their own moment because they do so much for so little. A garland behind the backdrop, an arch over the table or a cluster in the corner all look great. Pick two or three soft shades and maybe a metallic and thread them onto a kit strip – never tie them by hand.
A balloon garland kit in shower colors is the the one thing you can buy from here that will probably make the biggest impact.
The Table Is the Star
The food or dessert table is where everyone gathers and where the photos happen so it’s definitely somewhere you should give a little extra love. A bare folding table and a styled one are going to look very different and it costs almost nothing to do it well.
A Diaper Cake Centerpiece
Uniquely a shower thing, and people love it. A “cake” built from rolled diapers, decorated with ribbon and a little toy on top. It doubles as decoration and a useful gift, which is the best kind of decoration there is. A diaper cake kit or stand makes assembling it less hassle.
A Dessert or Grazing Table
Themed treats lined up on a runner with little labels shows lots of effort even when half of it came from the store. Tie the colors to your palette and add a tiered stand for height. A tiered serving stand instantly makes the table look designed.
Coordinated Tableware
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Matching plates, cups and napkins in your two colors quietly pull the whole table together. Nobody compliments them but the table looks like you made more of an effort because of them. A coordinated tableware set saves you matching colors by hand.
The Touches That Make It Personal
These are the details I’d add once the big stuff is done. Small, cheap and exactly what makes guests feel the day was thought through.
A Welcome Sign
A simple “Welcome to [Mum’s name]’s Baby Shower” sign at the door sets the tone the second people arrive. A personalized welcome sign is an easy Etsy find and a lovely keepsake afterward.
An Onesie Clothesline
String a little line of tiny onesies, hats and booties across a wall or mantel. It’s super cute, costs almost nothing and several of the pieces become real gifts the mum keeps.
A Mum to Be Sash and Chair
Give the guest of honor a decorated spot. A “mum to be” sash and a chair dressed with a little garland or a balloon cluster makes her the center of the day. A mum to be sash is a couple of dollars of pure photo value.
A Guest Book or Advice Station
Set out cards for guests to write advice or wishes for the new parents. Or a book for them to sign. It doubles as a quiet activity and becomes a keepsake the parents treasure. Advice cards or a guest book make it effortless.
If you some more help see our Examples of What to Write in a Baby Shower Book.
Picking Your Palette and Theme
Everything above gets easier once you’ve picked a direction. A few that always work: soft sage and cream for a calm, neutral feel, boho tan and rust, classic blush or blue or a sweet theme like woodland animals, “twinkle twinkle little star” or a little garden. Pick one, repeat it everywhere and try not to add a second theme halfway through.
A Few Questions People Always Ask
How much do baby shower decorations cost?
Less than you’d fear. A backdrop, a balloon garland kit, a welcome sign and coordinated tableware will set up a beautiful shower for a pretty small budget, especially if you concentrate spending on one focal wall rather than spreading it thin.
What if I don’t know the baby’s sex?
Neutral palettes are the prettiest option anyway. Sage, cream, tan and soft yellow look wonderful in photos and sidestep the question entirely. You really don’t need pink or blue to make a shower look lovely.
When should I set up?
Air filled balloons and most decorations are happy done the night before, so build your garland and backdrop then and save yourself the morning rush. Leave only the food and any fresh flowers for the day itself.
What’s the one decoration I shouldn’t skip?
The backdrop. One focal wall does more for the photos and the mood than a whole room of scattered bits. If you’re short on time or money put it all into that.
Where to Start if You’re Overwhelmed
Pick a soft two color palette, build one balloon and sign backdrop behind the cake table, add a welcome sign at the door and that should be enough. That’s a beautiful baby shower and it’ll look absolutely brilliant in photographs. Everything else here is just for when you want to add a little more.
More Help:
- Baby Shower Party Themes for Girls
- 90+ Sweet Baby Shower Wishes
- New Baby Congratulations Messages
- Baby Shower Invitation Wording Examples
Sally Gibson is the founder of Someone Sent you a Greeting, a holiday/celebration website. Sally’s writing work has been mentioned in Woman’s World, Yahoo, Women’s Health, MSN and more. If you have any questions get in contact with one of the team via the about page.