"I firmly believe that the only good place to celebrate New Year’s Eve is at home with friends. Going out on the 31st of December only to have to pay exorbitant cover changes and wade through mobs of people at crowded bars just is not my idea of a good time. I’d much rather spend the evening at home with a glass of sparkling wine in hand, a big spread of snacks and appetizers on the table, and only my loved ones around me.
Hosting a New Year’s Eve party is now an annual tradition in my household, and with several parties under my belt, I’ve learned a few things about how to make it memorable without stressing myself out too much. After all, New Year’s Eve is a big night, and throwing a party to celebrate comes with a lot of pressure. Here are all the hacks I use to make hosting a New Year’s Eve party as stress-free as possible.
1. Prep all the food ahead of time
IMO, the perfect New Year’s Eve menu consists of finger foods and snacks that people can pick at throughout the night. I steer clear of anything that needs to be eaten hot and fresh out of the oven or off the stove. That way, I can prep everything ahead of time and don’t have to worry about cooking as guests show up.
My New Year’s Eve party prep usually entails assembling a charcuterie board and veggie tray earlier in the day and popping them in the fridge with plastic wrap over top. I also dump chips and snacks into bowls and get out all my serving utensils. Then when the party starts, I can simply uncover everything and set it all out. For anything that needs to stay hot, I utilize my slow cooker so I can be truly hands-off once guests arrive.
2. Keep it simple with decorations
Trust me: You really don’t need a full-scale balloon arch or a cheesy photo backdrop for your New Year’s Eve party. Keep it simple with just a few decorations in classic colors like black, metallic gold, and silver. Tie some black ribbon around champagne coupes, blow up some balloons and let them float up to the ceiling, or sprinkle some confetti around where you’re serving food and drinks. If you do buy any New Year’s-themed decorations, keep them generic rather than specific to the year so you can use them again in future years.
3. Serve one signature drink
I’ve followed this formula for several parties now, and it always makes my life so much easier. Plan to serve one signature cocktail that you can make in a big batch, then ask guests to BYOB if they prefer to drink something else. This saves me the stress (and expense) of trying to buy enough wine, beer, and spirits to suit everyone’s tastes. I always mix up a batch of sparkling punch before the party starts so guests can serve themselves and I don’t have to play mixologist all night.
4. Stock some non-alcoholic beverages as well
New Year’s Eve may be associated with popping champagne, but not everyone will want to imbibe at your party. I always like to have a few non-alcoholic options—like soda, juice, flavored sparkling water, or even canned mocktails—in a beverage tub on ice. That way, anyone who’s not drinking can still have something festive to sip on and won’t have to stick to plain water.
5. Plan some games or activities
As someone who is usually in pajamas by 9 p.m., I can attest that staying up until midnight can be a struggle without some entertainment. Set out a few crowd-favorite board games or a deck of cards, or play some question-style games as a group so guests can get to know each other better or reflect on their years. If games aren’t your vibe, pop on a New Year’s Eve-themed movie or TV episode, or plan a little DIY craft (like 2025 vision boards) that everyone can make together. Some of my friends always spend New Year’s Eve working on the New York Times crossword puzzle. Whatever piques your group’s interest!
6. Turn on the TV for the ball drop
It’s all too easy to lose track of time and suddenly look at the clock to realize midnight came and went four minutes ago. Make sure you don’t miss the chance to ring in the start of the year by turning on one of the televised New Year’s Eve celebrations well before midnight. You can follow the countdown as it gets closer and won’t miss the chance to see the ball drop and share a New Year’s toast.
7. Make a plan for the end of the night
With a holiday that’s so often associated with drinking, I can’t stress enough the importance of making sure everyone has a safe way home, whether that means a designated sober driver or a ride home with a service like Uber or Lyft. If you have room for overnight guests, you could also invite friends to stay the night and head home in the morning. Either way, encourage your guests to make a plan ahead of time so you can end the night safely.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.