Red Themed Party Ideas: Costumes And Decor For A Colour Night

Colour themes are the kindest dress code there is - everyone owns something in the colour, and nobody has to hire anything.

Red is the best of them. It photographs strongly, it works for Christmas, Valentine's, Red Nose Day and birthdays, and it's the one colour most people already have in the wardrobe.

Here's how to host one and how to win it as a guest.

Honest note: we make cards, pin badges, prints and party decorations, not costumes.

What to wear if you want to win it

• Head to toe in one shade, not three reds fighting each other. Matching beats maximum.
• A red costume beats red clothes every time. A lifeguard set is bright red, instantly readable and funnier than a red dress.
• Red characters: Where's Wally, Mario, Ariel, a devil, Santa out of season, a postbox, a fire hydrant.
• Red food costumes: a tomato, a strawberry, a chilli, a tin of soup.
• All-red plus one white accessory photographs better than all-red alone.
• Red lipstick, red nails, red sunglasses - the accessories do a lot of work.

Setting the dress code

• Say how strict it is on the invitation: "something red" or "head to toe". Otherwise people guess and half of them guess wrong.
• Have a box of red accessories by the door for anyone who forgets - it saves the evening for them.
• A prize for best red keeps the standard up - Read the guide
• Tell people the night before, not three weeks before. Costume reminders work best at 24 hours.

Decorating in one colour

• Red plus one neutral. Red and white, or red and black, or red and gold. Pure red everywhere looks like a fire drill.
• Red balloons at three different heights - Shop the range
• A red banner and bunting on one wall as the photo backdrop - Shop the range
• Red table confetti scattered after the plates go down - Shop the range Shop this card
• Red bulbs or a red gel over a lamp changes the whole room for a few pounds.
• Theming step by step - Read the guide

Red food and drink

• Strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, cherry tomatoes, red peppers.
• Tomato pasta, chilli, red velvet cake, jam tarts.
• A red punch, and an identical alcohol-free one so nobody's left out.
• Red paper plates and napkins, which does more theming per pound than anything else.
• Sweets: strawberry laces, jelly beans sorted to red only, heart sweets.

Other colour nights that work

• Gold for a milestone birthday, white for a summer party, black for an evening do.
• Neon for a 90s night - Read the guide
• Blue and green for under the sea - Read the guide
• One colour per table, if the group is big enough to split.
• More theme options - Read the guide

Shop party decorations

How to write it so it lands

• One shade, head to toe, plus one neutral accessory.
• Red plus white, black or gold - never red on red on red.
• A red bulb changes the whole room for pounds.
• Accessories box by the door for the people who forget.

Where to shop next

• Party supplies
• Bunting and banners
• Funny pin badges
• Funny cards
• Table confetti
• How to plan a themed party
• Fancy dress prize ideas
• Funny stag do fancy dress ideas
• 90s fancy dress ideas
• Beach party theme ideas
• Emergency services fancy dress
• Pub crawl fancy dress themes
• 2000s fancy dress ideas
• Duo fancy dress ideas
• Under the sea fancy dress
• Funny fancy dress ideas
• Fancy dress party themes
• DIY fancy dress on a budget
• Last minute fancy dress ideas
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What do you wear to a red themed party?

Head to toe in one shade of red rather than three reds clashing, with one white or black accessory. A red costume - a lifeguard set, Mario, Where's Wally or a devil - beats red clothes.

How do you decorate for a red themed party?

Red plus one neutral, never red everywhere. Balloons at three heights, a red banner and bunting on one wall as the photo backdrop, red confetti on the tables and a red bulb in a lamp.

What food works for a red party?

Strawberries, watermelon, cherry tomatoes and red peppers, tomato pasta or chilli, red velvet cake, and a red punch with an identical alcohol-free version.

How do you set a colour dress code people actually follow?

Say how strict it is on the invitation, remind people 24 hours before, keep a box of red accessories by the door for anyone who forgets, and offer a prize for best dressed.

Do you sell fancy dress costumes?

No. We design and print greetings cards, enamel pin badges, prints and party decorations in the UK. Costumes are recommendations from elsewhere - the only things linked to our own shop are ours.