Looking for holiday party themes that give you a little more to work with than red and green? Think gingerbread villages, a Grinch movie night or even a disco-ball snowman.
These ideas include dressed-up dinner tables, playful snack stations and activities you can build a gathering around.
You can keep it simple or go all out. Pick the idea that suits your celebration, then borrow a few details for your own table, entryway or party corner.
Festive party ideas worth saving
silver snowflakes and white trees
We’re starting off strong with this pretty winter wonderland table. I love the little silver reindeer between the white trees.
Blue and silver snowflakes are scattered across the white tablecloth.
Read also: 20 Winter Wonderland Party Ideas You'll Love to Throw
Try a sparkling runner down the middle with glowing candle-style lights to follow this look.
gingerbread village dinner
How cute is this little gingerbread village? The white icing details look so pretty beside the greenery and red berries.
Even the striped napkins have little tree decorations.
Read also: 20 Christmas Baby Shower Ideas With Bows, Bears and Festive Treats
For your own gingerbread-themed dinner, arrange a few houses along the center of the table. Keep the place settings simple with white plates.
all-out ugly sweaters
I am obsessed with this Christmas-tree top. The green tinsel-like strands and red and gold ornaments are so fun with the sparkling red skirt.
Make the outfits part of your party by inviting everyone to wear an over-the-top holiday sweater. A red headband and oversized ornament earrings are extra touches worth borrowing.
pink nutcrackers and bows
This nutcracker table may just be one of my favorites here. I love the pink figures beside those red bow napkins.
The plates carry the same nutcracker theme with striped bow borders.
Hang a candy cane over each glass if you want to keep that sweet little detail.
candy cane lane
If you are looking for an entrance with lots going on, then this one is for you. Giant candy canes frame a black path with a dashed white center line.
Little green trees line the snowy-looking edges.
Read also: 20 Christmas Party Food Ideas With Cute Snacks and Festive Sweets
For a smaller version, try a candy-striped doorway and a few peppermint-swirl decorations rather than recreating the whole lane.
woodland greens and pinecones
Don’t want to go all out with bright colors? No problem!
This woodland collage brings together pinecones, deer figures and tree-patterned plates with burgundy and green plaid.
The pinecones with little red bows are my favorite part. Use that detail for a garland above your dinner table.
ski-lodge photo corner
How cute is this ski-lift-inspired seat? The crossed skis and snowy forest backdrop do so much for the theme.
Red patterned cushions add a little color between the white trees.
Try a bench with a winter backdrop for your own photo corner. You don’t need a full lift-style frame to borrow the idea.
Grinch movie night
Calling all Grinch fans, this snack setup is so cute. There’s a big popcorn bucket, matching green cups and little red hearts on the drink glasses.
Set out your movie snacks together on one counter. I especially love the tree-shaped dish tucked into the platter of green chips.
Christmas cookie swap
Who doesn’t love a table full of cookies? This one has everything from sprinkled cookies to dark cookies with white drizzle. Handwritten labels sit beside the different piles.
For a cookie swap, ask guests to bring a batch with an ingredient card. Use food-safe liners or serving trays for your spread, then add greenery down the center.
disco snowman
OMG, how adorable is this snowman? The mirrored balls, white top hat and pink plaid scarf are such a fun combination.
Use this as inspiration for a holiday disco night. I’d carry the silver and pink into the table decorations too.
burgundy candlelit dinner
If you are looking for something a little more understated, this one is for you. Burgundy tapers rise above a green garland with red berries.
The white napkins are finished with matching dark red bows.
I love the mix of amber-colored and clear stemware. Keep that mix if you want your table to feel less matchy.
snowmen on vacation
Looks like these snowmen are ready for a beach trip, lol! Sunglasses, flower leis and colorful flip-flop cutouts give the stacked white figures a tropical twist.
If you want to mix Christmas with a beach-party theme, this is a fun way to do it. Don’t forget the beach-ball decorations.
North Pole post office
This little post office is just too cute. A black typewriter sits on the desk beneath mail cubbies, with red-and-white stripes behind it all.
Turn the idea into a holiday card-writing corner for your party. Set out blank cards and envelopes so guests can write a note while they’re there.
paper chains and hanging stars
I love this red-and-white dining setup. The paper chains stretch across the ceiling with gold-colored tinsel and big hanging stars.
There are even little building outlines on the windows.
Try the overhead decorations for a playful Christmas supper. A red checked tablecloth brings the same colors down to the table.
Grinch sweets and streamers
Here is another Grinch idea, but this time the dessert table gets all the attention. The green face cake with its red Santa hat sits between trays of treats.
I love how the red, pink and green streamers fill the wall behind it. Add a few hanging ornaments to follow this backdrop.
gold and black masquerade
Want a reason to dress up? Try a holiday masquerade inspired by this gold-and-black place setting.
A silver-and-black mask rests on the plate beside a decorative invitation.
The white flowers and glowing candles keep the rest of the table pretty without adding more colors. I’d leave that combination just as it is.
blue and gold Hanukkah table
This Hanukkah table is so pretty. I love the blue stemware beside the gold-rimmed plates, especially the plate with the gold menorah design.
Small white flower arrangements run down the middle. Borrow those for your celebration, then add silver accents like the little party hats shown here.
red black and green Kwanzaa table
The layered black, red and green plates are a lovely detail on this Kwanzaa table. The kinara stands at the center with red, black and green candles above a colorful patterned runner.
Books, yellow gourds and strands of beads fill out the display. For your own Kwanzaa gathering, the matching plate colors are a detail worth keeping.
Christmas tree drink stand
How cute is this drink display? Greenery drapes around a tall stand holding flutes of yellow-orange drinks.
The big red bow at the top makes it look like a little Christmas tree.
Read also: 20 Christmas Birthday Party Ideas With Festive Cakes, Decor and Treats
Use the idea for a holiday brunch drinks station. You could offer a sparkling juice option alongside any cocktails.
wreath-making gathering
Last but definitely not least, we have a wreath-making party idea. People are gathered around tables covered with greenery and red decorations in an open barn setting.
You could bring the same activity to a smaller space with a shared worktable. Set out wreath bases, greenery and ribbon so everyone can choose their own combination.
Related stories