Ideas for 80s Party Decorations

80s Hanging String Decorations (UK)

Also available in the U.S.

Use old cassettes to decorate a room

If you want to host an 80s-themed party and you need ideas on how to decorate a room, then you've come to the right place! I hope to give you a little inspiration in this post, so read on and I'll reveal some ideas that should get you started, at least.

Further down, I'll take a look at some terrific items that you can purchase to give a room an instant eighties look. But let me start with a free way to decorate your room with items you already own. If you have any old cassettes or video tapes (blank or commercial) then why not place them in small stacks in different areas of the room? You can also do the same with old toys, too. So, if you have an old Rubik's cube or Etch-A-Sketch then dig it out now. Your guests can also play with them, too!

Cassette Decorations

I have a friend who stuck some old cassette tapes onto a square vase and filled it with flowers. It looked really effective. Simply stick on with Blu-tack or self-adhesive strips which, unlike glue, won't leave a mess or damage your vase or tapes.

By the way, you can actually still buy blank cassette tapes from Amazon, believe it or not, so if you don't have any to hand then you still have this option open to you.

You could even create your own hanging cassette decorations.

Cassette Tape Bunting by 80s Material Girl

This low-cost cassette tape bunting features authentic cassette designs that look just like the brands I used to buy back in the 80s such as Memorex and Maxell. If you hang above a shelf, then you can add other items underneath such as the retro toys as shown in the picture above.

Alternatively, why not create your own bunting using real cassettes?

Suitcase Record Player (public domain photo)

Vinyl Decorations

Another option is to dig out your old vinyl. Suitcase record players are very much in fashion at the moment and one of these would look great at any party, and you guests could will have fun choosing which records to play. Maybe you could ask them to bring their own favourite single or LP along with them.

Alternatively, you can mount records on your walls to use as a decoration or thread colourful ribbon through the centre and create hanging decorations.

Vinyl Wine Rack

Here is a photo I found by Esmagnus (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Now, don't ask me whether this was a bought rack or a self-made one, because there are no further details given. However, it's a quirky idea, although you will need to make sure it's sturdy enough to hold your wine, of course!

This is a simple idea I found on Pinterest.

Posters

We all stuck posters of our favourite pop stars and movies on our bedroom walls back in the day, and a few posters will rekindle some childhood memories for not only yourself but for your guests, too. They're an excellent, low-cost way to add more of an 80s atmosphere to your room. The following links will bring up some popular ideas;

80s Posters at Amazon.com

80s Posters at Amazon.co.uk

Add Some Old Magazines to your Party Room

Now, here's a simple but effective idea. Simply add a few old magazines from the 80s to your room and your guest will have great fun reading and discussing them. They're a wonderful way to get conversations started and rekindle old memories. If you didn't keep any magazines, then you can always try ebay. Search for favourites such as Look-In, Smash Hits, Number One, TV Times and Radio Times. You could even cut out posters/pictures and create a collage for the wall.

Retro Sweets

Add a bowl of retro sweets/candy/chocolate  to each table so that everyone can dip in. Alternatively, place the sweets in paper bags just like you used to get from the sweet shop, or use party favour bags.

There are lots of ideas for British sweets from the 80s at my website.

Candy Stripe Paper Bags (UK) 

These old-fashioned paper bags are very cheap to buy and would are

Retro Sweets Edible Cipcake Toppers (UK)

Cupcakes are a retro favourite, and these toppers featuring 70s and 80s sweets and chocolate made from edible wafer card and ink are a great idea.

Use Old Toys and Games

Many of us will still have old toys or games that we kept from our childhood. Dig them out, give then a clean, and add them to your room. Your guests will have fun playing with them. You could encourage your guests to play old board games such as Snakes and Ladders, Ludo or Tiddly Winks while waiting for the other guests to arrive, or before the party really gets started. It would be advisable not use more complex games such as Monopoly or Chess as your guests may be playing for the entire evening!

As I mentioned near the top of the post, the ideal toys would be a Rubik's Cube/Snake or an Etch-A-Sketch which are instant fun. If you have a View-Master with some film reels then they would really go down a storm at any 80s party.

Original View-Master Toy

Twister Game

There were a great many of us who played Twister back in the day, and it's ideal for kids and adults alike. This is the perfect party game and is currently a best-seller at Amazon (as I write), proving that you can't beat the classics!

Buy Twister at Amazon.co.uk

Buy Twister at Amazon.com

Other popular games were Simon, Connect Four, Guess Who? and Battleship.

Ready-Made 80s Decorations to Buy

I Loveheart 80s Party Balloons

One of the best places to buy decorations with a 1980s theme is from Amazon or ebay, Here are some links you can use to see everything available;

Decorations at Amazon UK

Decorations at Amazon.com (US)

I also discovered lots of suppliers selling decorations on ebay.

Nothing shouts out "It's party time!" more than balloons. They have been around since Adam was a lad, and add an instant retro party feel to any room. These 80s party balloons have recently appeared at Amazon and are a must-have if you're serious about creating a retro party atmosphere.

80s Slogan Balloons

The "Frankie Says Relax" and "Choose Life" slogans are an iconic reminder of the great decade, and now they're available printed on to balloons, too! These particular balloons are only available in the UK and supplied by 80s Material Girl.

80s Style Table Runner - 5ft

I love the design of this table runner with geometric, neon shapes and 2 tone, chequered background. It will give your table(s) an instant 1980s feel. The link above is for the UK, but this can also be bought at Amazon.com

80s Drink Coasters (pack of 8)

I was very pleased to see these drink coasters which match the table runner. Also available at Amazon.com.

Totally 80's Drink Coasters (pack of 8)

These alternative coasters have a very different 8-bit graphics style design, and will be especially appealing to retro gamers. Buy from Amazon.com

There are actually plenty of designs to choose from at Amazon, with some designs featuring computer games such as Donkey Kong and Pac-Man. Some coasters can be bought individually, rather than in packs, allowing you to mix different styles and add some variety to your table.

All 80s Coasters at Amazon UK

All 80s Coasters at Amazon.com

Totally Awesome Cut-Out 80s Decorations

These American-style decorations will add some extra 80's colour to your room. There are four in a pack and you can place them almost anywhere you wish. They're not self-adhesive, so you can move them around and use them again and again!

Totally 80's Party Invites (UK)

Buy at Amazon.com

Now you've sorted out your room decorations, all you need to do is invite some friends. This pack of fun invitations will show that you're totally serious about your retro party!

You may also be interested in;

80s Party Ideas (our Pinterest board)

80s Party Food Ideas (UK)

80s Party Balloons and Hanging Lanterns

80s Party Decorations (UK) at simplyeighties.com

I'll leave you with some more ideas - have fun!

I Love the 80s Wall Decorations

This eye-catching  scene setter looks fabulous and is available at; 

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Boom Box Stand-Up Party Accessory

This stand-up ghettoblaster decoration would an awesome addition to any 80s party room. This item is only available in the United States, but there alternatives Boombox decorations at Amazon UK.