Color Combo Party Ideas

Are you throwing a party but lack inspiration? A great place to start when planning a party is with the color scheme. A coordinated party color scheme infuses the party space with life and helps tie the food, dessert and activities together. Pick and use colors that work well together, have special meaning or are significant because of the season.

Punchbowl offers digital invitations in a plethora of color combinations. Check out some fun color theme invitations below:

As with any party, there are TONS of party planning options. When it comes to choosing a color theme, you'll want the colors to coodinate well together, create the right atmosphere and create the most bang for your buck. Here are a few helpful hints to keep in mind when picking what colors to use:

• Look online and in magazines for images that inspire you with color and create an "image board." Use the image board as your compass when picking the food, decorations and other elements for the party. The images can be of anything as long as they provide inspiration and get you excited about planning the party!

• Go shopping in your own house! Dig out old decorations, platters, place settings, etc. and assess what party supplies you already have. If some items and their colors work well together, use that as a starting point for figuring out what else you need.

• Think outside your comfort zone and try color combinations that you otherwise wouldn't choose for your interior decor or clothing.

• Go with the flow and use colors that are trendy and popular right now and you'll be more likely to find supplies in stock and readily available.

A black and white world would be beyond boring, so think in technicolor and throw a party using one of our suggested color combinations:

• Bubblegum Pink and Lime Green: Ideal for a girl baby shower, bridal shower or girl's birthday party, bubblegum pink and lime green go together seamlessly. This color combination is playful, whimsical and evokes fresh feelings of spring and summertime.

• Decorations: Sure, you can have a party with just food and drinks, but what's festive about it without decorations? There are some really fun, creative and inexpensive decorations you can make yourself that will fit with a pink and lime green color scheme. Take a design cue from items you can find at the grocery and dollar store and start decorating!
  • Use bright green apples as candle sticks. Cut the bottom of an apple to it lays solidly on a table. Use a sharp knife to cut a hole the size of a tall, thin pillar candle in the top of the apple. Stick in the candle and light! The apple will catch the dripping hot wax and smells good too.
  • Display flower arrangements in inexpensive plastic rain boots and use for table centerpieces.
  • Plant rooted perennial plants in cheap, decorative watering cans and hand out as party favors.

• Flowers:  Pink flowers abound during every season and it's OK to mix and match shades of pink. Try making flower arrangements using the following common pink flowers:
  • Peonies
  • Roses
  • Tulips
  • Pink Hydrangea
  • Lilies
  • Ranunculus
  • Dahlias
  • Orchids
  • Pink Gerbera Daisies

• Food and Beverages: It's possible to use your color scheme when deciding on food and beverages for the party too! Try these fun and flirty recipes to infuse your party with flavor.

Grilled Salmon with Asparagus

• 20 asparagus spears, washed
• 4 large fresh salmon fillets
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 large package of washed spring greens
• 1 cup pitted black olives, sliced in half
• 1 small red onion, sliced

• Navy and Gold: While always the classical nautical combo, navy and gold are fun summer color choices for any kind of party. Incorporate striped patterns and sparkly gold details in all the decorations and play with textures to add depth to your table settings and floral arrangements.

• Decorations: Think blue jeans, gingham and all-American when planning your navy and gold party. Coming up with creative decor is a snap - plan an outdoor picnic with items you already have or make it a beer-tasting party and design the menu and decorations around things found at a BBQ. If your imagination fails, stick with the nautical theme and transform your party space into a seaside escape. Need ideas? Check out some favorites:
  • Purchase a variety of denim, cut into squares and sew, patchwork-style (or use stitching glue and your iron) into table cloths.
  • Wrap parchment paper around garden pots and tie in place with gold ribbon. Wrap all cutlery in blue gingham napkins and tie with the same ribbon and diplay in the center of tables.
  • Tie navy and gold balloons to the top of a dowl rod (clear string is best) and stick in outdoor potted plants to add height to the party space.

• Flowers:  You'll be hard-pressed to find navy flowers, so focus on white and deep gold flower choices:
  • Daisies
  • Hydrangea
  • Queen Anne's Lace
  • Tulips
  • Roses
  • Sunflowers
  • Daylilies
  • Daffodils
  • Irises

• Food and Beverages: Give your navy and gold food menu some bite and be playful with ingredients like blue cheese, blue corn chips and blueberries. Doesn't sound mouth-watering? Get inspired with our recipes below:

Easy Buffalo "Wings" with Creamy Blue Cheese

• 3 pounds of chicken breast strips
• 3 tbsp. onion powder
• 3 tbsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 cup seasoned salt
• 1 tbsp. paprika
• 2 tsp. chili powder

Dressing:

Blueberry Cheesecake

• 3 cups of fresh blueberries
• 2 tbsp. cornstarch
• 24 oz. cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 8 oz. sour cream
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• Lilac and Silver: Lilac with silver or shades of grey is the perfect color combination for a retirement dinner, a loved one's birthday party or even a baby shower. Lilac is a delicate color - ideal for flower arrangments and simple table decorations. Combine matte and shimmery silver tones to the table settings, balloon arrangements and other decorations to balance the soft purples elsewhere.
  

• Decorations: Simple is best when it comes to lilac and silver - colors make a statement together. Decor based on dramatic purple florals will blow guests away. Focus on playful details and simple lighting to ensure your lilac and silver party will make everyone swoon.
  • Use a variety of short and tall, thick and thin, new and old, silver candlesticks for the center of each table. Place white and lilac pillar candles in each and scatter lilac petals around the base of the centerpiece.
  • Wrap bunches of dried or fresh lavender with twine and place at each setting.
  • Line paper lanterns with shades of purple tissue paper, tape the top edge and hang throughout the party space.

• Flowers:  Most of the flowers below have silvery, frosted stems and leaves, so place simple arrangements in clear glass vases for a graceful touch to any table.
  • Purple Sweet Peas
  • Asters
  • Purple Phlox
  • Tulips
  • Irises
  • Lilacs

• Food and Beverages: Vegetables and fruits that are purple in color tend to be flavorful and rich. Serve juicy beets, creamy berry ice cream, fresh cabbage slaw and a variety of meats on the grill. All the guests will be asking for more - and for the recipes!

Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

• 3 large red beets, sliced
• 3 large golden beets, sliced
• 1/8 cup shallot, minced
• 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 oz. soft, mild goat cheese, crumbled
• 1 package arugula
• 1/2 cup olive oil

Berry Crumble

• 1 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
• 1 pint blueberries
• 1 pint raspberries
• 1 pint blackberries
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter, cubed
• 1 cup toasted oats

• Rainbow: Can you think of anything more festive than a rainbow of colors? Use all the colors of the rainbow to infuse your party space with spirit. Perfect for just about any type of party, consider using rainbow colors for a big birthday or summer celebration.

• Decorations: Just about every decoration for a rainbow color scheme can be found at your local party supply or dollar store. Keep decorations playful and fun and consider throwing the entire party outdoors, during the day in the bright sunshine. Use these clever ideas to add a rainbow of colors to your party space:
  • Hang multi-colored kites from the ceiling and hand out at the end of the party for favors.
  • Purchase red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple streamers from a party store and hang vertically from ceiling to floor (adhere using double-sided tape) on either side of the dessert or food table.
  • Balloons!!! Go crazy with balloon centerpieces - combine all colors, shapes and sizes, use helium, bunch together and tie to the center of all the tables. Scatter beach balls and summer fruit arrangements around the space.
  • Create a table with glass jars full of brightly colored candies, gumballs, penny candy and take-home baggies.

• Flowers:  Anything goes when it comes to rainbow flower arrangements. Try doing arrangements of just one color each or combine all flowers together - the colors will play off one another and create a festive touch. Use any of the flowers found above to create an original floral arrangement and scatter in a variety of greenery for dimension.

• Food and Beverages: One of the most colorful food options is sushi. Hire a pro and set up a sushi bar (raw and cooked options) for guests. Serve a wide variety of rolls, sashimi, tempura vegetables and edamame (you may also want to offer an alternative for kids OR adults who aren't a fan). Set up a lemonade bar with different flavored juices to make raspberry, lime, blackberry and green tea lemonades. End the meal with rainbow cupcakes - a surefire hit for any party.

Rainbow Cupcakes

• 1 box of white cake mix
• Food coloring (red, blue, green and yellow)
• Silver cupcake cups
• Whipped cream
• Cut up fruits (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and mint leaves)