Looking for the most creative, thoughtful 50th birthday decoration ideas? Excellent — that’s exactly what we at Peerspace have for you ahead! 50th birthdays are a huge deal – they’re marking half a century of life and experience. So whether you’re planning a birthday party for yourself or for someone you care about, you want a 50th birthday party to be as fun, meaningful, and special as it possibly can be.
One way to do so is by ensuring that the decor is perfect and perfectly suited to the person whose birthday is being celebrated. To help you make this a reality, here are 13 creative 50th birthday decoration ideas that will get you inspired as you plan the birthday party of a lifetime!
1. Decorate with a beautiful charcuterie board
50th birthday decoration ideas are all about maturity and maximizing visual appeal. Since we’re assuming you’re planning on serving food at your party (what’s a party without delicious treats?!), why not use the food as a form of decor in and of itself? Use a large, long table and make a huge and beautiful charcuterie board with all your favorite cheeses, cured meats, fruits, and other snacks. Need inspo? This list of drop-dead-gorgeous charcuterie board recipe ideas is a great place to start.
2. Add a photo wall
A pretty backdrop that fits the overall look of your party where guests can have their photos taken can be a great decor element as well as another activity for those in attendance. Need some backdrop inspo? Here are some DIY photo backdrop ideas that are easy, fun, and pretty!
3. Go wild with balloons
Balloons are a birthday classic for a reason, and one of our favorite 50th birthday decoration ideas by far. They’re fun, festive, and easy to incorporate into your decor! But don’t just have a few balloons floating here and there – get as many balloons as you possibly can for a fun and stunning visual effect. Looking for various ways to decorate with balloons? To get you started, here are 3 easy ways to do so!
4. Use a monochromatic color palette
If you’re planning to take things in a really tasteful and even minimalist direction, having your decor be all one color or a few neutral colors like white, black, gray, and various earth tones can be a great 50th birthday decoration idea. For decor like this, choose a matching space like this urban modern home in Austin, Texas, which gives you quite a neutral color palette to start with as you decorate.
5. Retro 1980s decor
Wish you could go back to the decade when you were born? The 1980s have an extremely recognizable aesthetic that’s been increasingly popular in recent years (think of shows like Stranger Things that have brought the look of the 80s back into the public eye). You can use this to your advantage, especially if you rent out a space like this downtown 80s neon pink loft for your party.
Love this idea to the max? Then be sure to check out our 6 awesome 80s party ideas for more inspiration!
6. Retro 1950s decor
Perhaps you’re a fan of the retro look, but prefer the aesthetic of the 1950s to the 80s. If so, you can incorporate elements of the classic 1950s diner into your decor, rent a jukebox, serve ice cream floats, and ask your guests to dress like they’re from that decade!
7. An outdoor birthday party with picnic decor
Especially if you happen to have your birthday during a season where the weather is balmy and pleasant, a picnic is a wonderful option with tried-and-true features like checkered picnic blankets and wicker picnic baskets. If you like the idea of a picnic in theory but you’d prefer to remain indoors, not to worry – the ultimate bohemian indoor picnic experience in Charlotte, North Carolina is a great example of a space where you can make this happen!
8. Hang a piñata
When was the last time you got to hit a piñata with friends? If it’s been a few decades, rectify that by adding a piñata to your party decor! It’ll serve double duty as a quintessential birthday visual feature while also being a fun activity. You can of course fill the piñata with candy, but you can also add things like gift cards and other stuff you think your friends will enjoy.
And here’s an extra tip: Etsy is a great place to find a cute and aesthetically pleasing piñata that might be more suited to 50th birthday decoration ideas than ones you’ll find at your local party supply store.
9. Slumber party for grownups with blanket forts
It’s probably been decades since you and your friends had a slumber party. So build the blanket fort of your dreams, scatter a bunch of pillows everywhere, buy all your favorite snacks, and get ready to watch movies and gossip with your pals. This is a great way to celebrate your 50th while enjoying a throwback from your childhood. (And you don’t have to have your guests sleepover if you’d rather send them home at the end of the night – that’s your call!)
10. Tea party decor
Do afternoon tea like the Brits do it! Go all out with scones, finger sandwiches, fruit tarts, and of course, the fanciest teas you can find. The beautiful pastries and sandwiches can do double duty as the food and the decor for this one, stacked on trays as centerpieces. Pretty teacups are also a must for this 50th birthday decoration idea.
11. Incorporate gold into your decor
Gold is traditionally the color associated with 50th birthdays because 50 is considered the “golden age”. Use gold as the dominant color in your palette for a glamorous and glitzy 50th! And if you’re in search of a gold-infused setting for your party near Lancaster, Texas, this glam open concept home in aqua and gold could be the ideal place for it.
12. Host an elegant dinner party
Decorate an elegant tablescape and invite your friends over for dinner. It’s a simple yet thoughtful and fun way to incorporate several 50th birthday decoration ideas. Bonus points if you book a truly unique and memorable Peerspace venue to serve as the site of your dinner party, like this Yucca Vallery art house mansion (pictured above).
Read our guide on how to host the perfect dinner party and wow your guests!
13. A fancy party favor table
Party favors are many guests’ favorite part about attending birthday parties, and who can blame them?! Spend a little more on especially nice party favors and fancy bags to put them in, and the table itself displaying the bags can be a form of decor all on its own.
