Deep blues and greens teamed with images of abundant sea life set the stage for a pool party with an under the sea theme. Bring the underwater fun to your backyard using theme-appropriate decorations around the party area. Focus your decorations on the area around the pool, the tables and the patio areas where everyone relaxes when they get out of the water. Does this Spark an idea?
Streamers and Garlands
Turn your party space into an underwater oasis. Hang blue and green matte or metallic streamers from the edges of patio umbrellas and awnings so that they nearly reach the ground. Intersperse a few fish or shell cutouts among the streamers. Cut them out of heavy paper and punch a hole in the top of each. Tie string through the holes to hang. You can achieve the same effect in an enclosed patio by hanging the streamers from the ceiling.
Place colorful shells inside clear balloons, then blow up the balloons. Do not use helium. Use fishing line to hang the balloons from ceiling beams or umbrella supports. The balloons give the illusion of underwater bubbles filled with ocean delights.
Attach dried starfish, sand dollars or colorful shells to twine to make ocean-inspired garlands. Drape a garland along a wall or along the fence, or use garlands instead of streamers for a more elegant look.
Table Decor
Use blue or green tablecloths, or leave the tables bare and use place mats of woven reeds, either in their natural colors or dyed in sea-inspired hues of blue and green. Sprinkle shells on the tables around each place setting or among the dishes on the buffet table.
Use clear plastic or glass serving bowls in blues and greens. Shell-shaped bowls are available for chips. Run oyster or clam shells through the dishwasher to clean and sanitize them, and use them to hold sauces, dips and other condiments at individual settings or on the buffet table.
For centerpieces, place a shallow bowl filled with sand at each table. Place a clear glass vase full of water in the center of each bowl of sand. Place seashells in each vase--they will sink to the bottom--and then float candles on the water. Place coral, shells, starfish or aquarium decorations in the sand around the candle vases.
Lighting
Lighting is a concern if your party continues into the evening hours. Hang holiday or fairy lights around fencing and on overhead structures, such as umbrellas and awnings. Instead of traditional white lights, you can choose strands of lights with miniature paper lanterns attached or with ocean-inspired shapes such as fish, shells and starfish. Use strands of lights in indoor areas like enclosed patios and sun rooms instead of your standard lighting.
Place 2 or 3 inches of sand into round glass or plastic fish bowls. Place on the bowls on tables or on the ground around the pool area. Place a green or blue activated glow stick into each bowl.
For existing lighting fixtures, scrunch up pieces of green or blue cellophane and tape them around the fixture covers. The wrinkles will create shadows from the light, which will be reminiscent of looking into water.
Tags: blue green, around pool, blues greens, buffet table, colorful shells, each bowl