20 Christmas Party Themes and What Props to Hire
Every Christmas party starts life as an empty room. What turns it into something people photograph, post and still talk about in March is what you put in it. At Funky Event Hire, we supply props, furniture and installations for festive events up and down the UK. So we get to see which themes really land once they are built rather than just sketched.
We’ve put together 20 Christmas party themes and the props you should hire that will help create the most memorable event!
1. Winter Wonderland: The Classic, Done Beautifully
There is a reason this one never goes out of fashion. Snow covered trees, glittering walkways and a sleigh taking pride of place, our Winter and Christmas theme is the full festive experience and it never fails to get a reaction!
Highlights:
A Frosted Forest: White Christmas trees, snow covered trees and twinkle twig trees fill your venue in every direction.
The Grand Entrance: Walk guests through our twinkle twig entrance tunnel or beneath a snowflake arch.
Ice Cool Drinks: Our ice bar and ice stalagmites make the bar area a proper talking point.
The Centrepiece: The Winter Wonderland sleigh is the photo everybody goes home with.
2. Après Ski: Alpine Warmth Without the Airport
Swap the queue at departures for a mountain bar in your own venue. Our Après Ski theme is all about cosy corners, warm lighting and something strong in a mug. It is easily one of the most popular festive themes we hire!
Slope side highlights:
Mountain Styling: Wooden skis, snowshoes, ski signs, cable cars and wicker reindeers scattered throughout.
Gather Round the Fire: Our cosy fireplace gives guests a natural spot to huddle, chat and warm up.
Chalet Seating: Pallet seating, rustic stools and benches, barrels and a pallet bar for that authentic alpine feel.
Soft Glow: Fairy light lantern table centres and winter twig table centres on every table.
3. A Great Gatsby Christmas: Glitz, Glamour and Gold
Bring the Roaring Twenties to your Christmas party and watch everybody rise to the dress code. Our Great Gatsby theme is opulence from floor to ceiling, and it suits a black tie December night perfectly.
The full Gatsby treatment:
Art Deco Elegance: Art Deco screens and fans, Tiffany lamps and a Roman bust on a pedestal.
Ceilings That Wow: Ceiling chandeliers and black and gold draping transform even the plainest venue.
A Dazzling Table: Candelabras, crystal ball table centres, gold glam table centres and black and white feather table centres.
The Big Finish: A gold champagne tower and a gold mirror bar to keep the sparkle flowing.
4. The Yule Ball: A Hogwarts Christmas
Magic and midwinter were made for each other! Our Harry Potter theme turns your venue into the Great Hall, and it is a brilliant option for family events and corporate parties alike.
A little bit of magic:
Platform 9 and 3/4: Our sign, luggage trolley and old style suitcases recreate the famous scene at your entrance.
The Great Hall: Rustic trestle tables and wooden benches, with all four house banners flying overhead.
Star Filled Ceiling: A black star cloth gives you that enchanted night sky indoors.
Wizarding Details: Small cauldrons, magical broomsticks, old books, knights armour and the Sorting Hat itself.
5. A Peaky Blinders Christmas: Industrial, Moody and Brilliant
By order of the Peaky Blinders, this is Christmas with its sleeves rolled up. Our Peaky Blinders and Steampunk theme trades tinsel for brick, iron and gaslight, and it looks incredible in a warehouse or industrial venue.
Moody festive decor:
Back Street Styling: Street lamps, old fashioned street signs, finger post signs and a life sized horse.
Industrial Table Centres: Choose from gas lamp, steampunk clock, industrial sphere or industrial pipe table centres, all light up.
Somewhere to Gather: Barrel poseur tables, gin and rum crates, rustic tables and stools.
Photo Opportunity: Our Peaky Blinders backdrop frames the room and gives guests somewhere to pose.
6. Viva Las Vegas: A High Roller Christmas
Feeling lucky? Our Las Vegas and Casino theme brings all the neon and nerve of the Strip to your Christmas party. Roll the dice, spin the wheel and let your guests try their luck!
Jackpot highlights:
Statement Props: Large dice props, giant playing cards, a large dollar sign and our Las Vegas sign.
Roll Out the Red: Red carpet, ropes and stanchions, or our glitter carpet for extra sparkle.
Vegas Nights: Black star cloth, red velvet draping and a black and white dance floor.
Winning Tables: Playing card, dollar sign and gold star table centres across the room.
7. A 007 Christmas: Shaken, Not Stirred
Black tie, high stakes and just a hint of danger. Our James Bond theme gives your December party a serious dose of cinematic cool, and the dress code practically writes itself.
Licence to celebrate:
A Bond Worthy Arrival: Red carpet with ropes and stanchions, and our James Bond themed entrance.
Sleek Furniture: Gold Chiavari chairs, white ottomans, white and black coffee tables and poseur tables.
Dramatic Lighting: The James Bond light box prop and a black star cloth ceiling.
Sharp Detailing: Gold star, playing card and black and white feather table centres, with a gold mirror bar.
8. Hollywood Christmas Premiere: Roll Out the Red Carpet
Give your guests the film star treatment! Our Hollywood theme turns your Christmas party into opening night, and it works brilliantly for awards evenings and end of year celebrations.
Blockbuster decor:
Star Arrival: Red carpet and stanchions, plus glitter carpet for the walk in.
Big Screen Props: Film camera prop, giant Oscar, large clapper board and Hollywood large letters.
Lights, Camera: Light up stars, gold glitter stars and light up boxes throughout the venue.
Award Winning Tables: Oscar table centres, gold and silver film reel table centres and movie boxes.
9. Masquerade Christmas Ball: Mystery and Midnight Glamour
Masks, candlelight and a room full of intrigue. A masquerade is the easiest way to make a Christmas party feel like an occasion, and guests genuinely love it.
Masked prop hire:
Statement Masks: Our large freestanding masquerade masks in blue, silver, gold, red and black make unforgettable photo spots.
Candlelit Tables: Masquerade mask, half mask, gold floral candelabra and black candelabra table centres.
Grand Entrance: Black and gold entrance draping with stanchions and ropes.
Ballroom Finish: A white dance floor, Chiavari chairs and a gold mirror bar.
10. The Greatest Showman: A Christmas Circus
This is the one for family events and anyone who wants a party with proper spectacle. Our Greatest Showman and Circus theme fills a venue with height, colour and noise!
Under the big top:
Build Your Big Top: Circus ceiling draping and red entrance draping turn any hall into a tent.
Crowd Pleasers: Circus mirrors, a circus peep through and our tiger in a cage prop.
Colour Everywhere: Hanging circus posters, circus podiums, balloon arches and giant balloons.
Ringmaster Tables: Circus hat, circus feather, giraffe, elephant and horse table centres.
11. A Willy Wonka Christmas: Golden Ticket Guaranteed
Chocolate, colour and pure imagination. Our Willy Wonka theme is a joy for children's Christmas parties and works surprisingly well for grown ups who fancy something playful.
Sweet inspiration:
The Walkway In: A grass carpet walkway with ropes and stanchions builds the suspense beautifully.
Larger Than Life: Our lollipop mound, Willy Wonka trees and toadstool props are pure chocolate factory.
Purple Everything: Purple draping and colourful chair covers transform the space in one go.
Glowing Furniture: Illuminated poseur tables and snake seating that change colour through the night.
12. Alice in Wonderland: A Christmas Tea Party
Down the rabbit hole we go! Our Alice in Wonderland theme is whimsical, colourful and full of detail, making it a wonderful alternative to a traditional festive sit down.
A weird and wonderful welcome:
Enter Through the Flowers: Our floral archway and foliage ceiling set the scene from the very first step.
Curiouser and Curiouser: The Cheshire Cat prop, large pocket watch, pink flamingo, teacup stack and giant flowers.
Queen of Hearts Corner: Artificial turf for the croquet lawn, large playing cards and hearts and clubs stands.
Tea Party Tables: Teacup, cup and saucer, playing card and teacup candelabra table centres.
13. Enchanted Woodland Christmas
For clients who want festivities without a single bauble. Our Enchanted Woodland theme leans on trees, greenery and soft light, and it photographs beautifully.
Enchanted ambience:
A Room Full of Trees: Silver birch, brown oak, autumn and blossom trees create instant woodland.
Step Through the Arch: Our woodland archway gives guests a proper sense of arrival.
Natural Textures: Living walls, box hedges, artificial turf and a white picket fence.
Rustic Seating: Pallet seating and coffee tables, picnic benches, rustic tables and stools.
14. Secret Garden Christmas: Hidden Away and Full of Magic
A garden in December sounds unlikely, and that is exactly why it works! Our Secret Garden theme brings blossom, foliage and fairy tale detail indoors where it is warm.
Behind the garden gate:
The Way In: Our Secret Garden archway and foliage tunnel hide the room until the last moment.
Living Greenery: Foliage ceilings, a Secret Garden living wall and a stone living wall.
Charming Props: A wishing well, sheep prop and light up letters spelling out your festive message.
Garden Bar: Our foliage bar and a champagne tower make the drinks station the centre of attention.
15. Arabian Nights: A Warm and Exotic Christmas
Rich colour, low seating and lantern light. Our Arabian Nights theme is a wonderfully warm departure from the usual festive palette, and it encourages guests to relax rather than sit in rows.
Exotic highlights:
Low and Luxurious: Colourful velvet benches, Moroccan seating, bean bags, Arabian rugs and low coffee tables.
Lantern Light: Authentic Arabian lanterns as table centres, with Arabian jugs adding detail.
Bold Structures: Colourful Arabic and Moroccan archways, wall and ceiling draping, and our umbrella backdrop.
Feast and Drink: World street food huts and an Arabian bar dressed in gold.
16. Carnival Christmas: Colour, Music and Movement
If your guests would rather be on their feet than at a table, this is the one. Our Carnival theme is bright, loud and brilliantly sociable.
Carnival highlights:
Fill the Ceiling: Bunting ceilings, ribbon ceiling draping and colourful draping all around.
Standing Room: Festival drum tables, pallet poseur tables, cube pallet seating, bean bags and barrels.
Street Food Feel: Festival food huts keep everybody fed and moving.
Bold Backdrops: A sequin LED foliage backdrop, carnival foliage archway and tropical living walls.
17. A 1970s Disco Christmas: Glitter Balls and Great Tunes
Get your flares out! Our 1970s theme is guaranteed to fill a dance floor, and it gives a Christmas party that bit of nostalgia everyone secretly wants.
Funky festive decor:
Disco Details: Disco mirror ball table centres, a disco neon sign, giant musical notes and a giant silver star.
Retro Props: Our vinyl record prop, 70s numbers, 70s backdrop and John Travolta cut out.
Glowing Furniture: Illuminated snake seating, illuminated poseur tables and an illuminated pop up bar.
Dance the Night Away: Our retro dance floor, with a balloon archway framing the entrance.
18. An 80s Christmas: A Trip Down Memory Lane
Big hair, big colour, big fun. Our 80s Retro theme is a brilliant icebreaker for work parties, because nobody can take themselves too seriously in neon.
Totally 80s highlights:
Nostalgia Props: A large Rubik's cube, large stereo, slinky props and a retro sweets display.
Signs of the Times: Our "I Love the 80's" and "Top of the Pops" signs, plus colourful or LED 80s numbers.
Neon Furniture: Illuminated snake seating, illuminated poseur tables and an 80s themed bar.
Get Competitive: Giant Connect 4 keeps the games going between dance floor sessions.
19. Neon Jungle Christmas: Glowing, Tropical and Completely Different
Forget frost, this one glows. Our Neon Jungle theme combines lush greenery with electric colour, and it is perfect for a younger crowd who have done Winter Wonderland one too many times.
Neon highlights:
Glowing Entrance: Neon archways and a foliage tunnel lead guests straight into the jungle.
Greenery Above: Foliage ceilings and ceiling greenery chandeliers fill the space overhead.
Light Up Everything: LED cube seating, LED poseur tables, an illuminated bar and a retro dance floor.
Standout Props: A neon living wall, graffiti mannequin, pink flamingo and deep letters filled with bright flowers.
20. Christmas in the Sun: A Beach Party in December
Why not break every rule at once? Our Beach theme swaps snow for sand, and pairing it with a few Santa hats makes for a brilliantly silly Christmas party.
Sunny highlights:
Beach Club Setup: Deck chairs, rattan stools, bean bags, picnic benches and tropical umbrellas.
Tropical Greenery: Kentia palms, a tropical living wall and foliage tropical archways.
Seaside Details: Our ice cream prop, Copacabana beach sign, painted oil barrels and bunting.
Food and Fun: Seaside food huts, beach and garden games, and a light up walkway on the way in.
Have a Different Christmas Party Theme in Mind?
We have plenty more where these came from, including Shabby Chic Vintage, Wild West, British and Jungle, and every one of them can be given a festive twist. Browse the full event prop hire range to mix and match.