10 Unique Party Themes for Adults for a Memorable Night with Friends

The art of party planning gets increasingly challenging as you get older. Eventually, it just stops being fun to call your friends and family over for pizza and some drinks, and before long, you hardly see your friends! While creating unique party themes for adults can be challenging, it is not impossible.

There are plenty of ways to plan a celebration different from the mundane parties you find yourself attending every other week. Ditch the paper plates and balloons and organise an unforgettable celebration for your loved ones.

In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of party theme ideas for adults to help you host a celebration that is over the top and fabulous. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, bachelorette, or a mere Friday night gathering—incorporate these themes into your event and have an amazing night!

1. Nightclub Theme

The timeless and popular nightclub theme is perfect for a night with high energy and lots of dancing. Transform your space into a nightclub with LED lighting, luxury illuminated bars, and LED furniture. LED signs with phrases such as “Let’s Party” can also be a great addition to the décor. 

A dance floor is a must when you’re planning on going crazy with the dance, paired with a fog machine and moving head lighting. Consider sectioning off a lounge area with plush seating and bottle service stations for a VIP feel. Drape the blackovers, glow-in-the-dark décor items, and high tabletops. Lastly, set up a selfie photo booth station with a sequined backdrop, LED neon signs, and fun props to let the guests capture memorable moments.

For entertainment, hire a live DJ to create a playlist with classic dance anthems to maintain the high energy of the celebration. Group choreography challenges and dance-off competitions can also be excellent ways to entertain guests through competitions. You can also add a karaoke competition and go wild by channelling your inner musician!

2. James Bond/Casino Night

Dive into the world of espionage with a classic James Bond/Casino Night theme. Start by creating a high-class casino ambiance and aim for a colour scheme of gold, red, and black. For a choice of furniture, opt for poseur cocktail tables and ottoman cube leather seats. James Bond-themed LED props can serve as the perfect addition, along with giant playing cards. Pull over the black drapes with gold cushions. Martini bowl centrepieces with LED sphere mirror plates can also do the perfect job of mirroring the theme.

Add a photo booth with a Las Vegas backdrop and giant James Bond props. Request the guests to dress like 007 detectives for an immersive experience! Lastly, don’t forget to add a dance floor and curate a James Bond-themed playlist to live the Bond experience.

The entertainment for a James Bond-themed party should revolve around the theme. After all, the theme is about transporting your guests to the world of 007. Consider adding games of poker and blackjack. It’s a “spy mission” game for a Bond-style adventure. You can also consider transforming your space into a screening area and playing some Bond films if you’re into movie nights. Or, if a sophisticated casino ambiance is your thing, add a cigar lounge set up for a unique and immersive experience!

3. Great Gatsby Theme

The Great Gatsby theme is all about luxury and elegance. Think white, black, and gold décor with retro and vintage touches. Consider draping pearl strings and feathers around the venue. Poseur cocktail tables with elegant table lamps. Create a photo booth with golden sequined backdrops and add Gatsby-themed props around the booth. Place black plinths around the venue and add martini bowl centrepieces for the perfect Gatsby experience.

A black and white Gatsby dance floor can also serve as the ideal addition to the theme. Sequined table cushions and elegant chandeliers will complement the 20’s aesthetic gorgeously!

Encourage your guests to come dressed in Gatsby-themed clothing. For instance, ladies can dress up in flapper dresses, whereas men can go for suspenders and bow ties. You can also kick off the evening with a Charleston dance lesson followed by a dance competition (winners get a prize). To unleash the guests’ creativity, play a murder mystery game where guests act as Gatsby characters and solve a murder case. Lastly, don’t forget to add a Gatsby-inspired playlist. Some soft jazz music playing in the background will also do!

4. Harry Potter

If you and your friends are into the wizarding world, consider a Harry Potter-themed celebration. It’s timeless, unique, and super fun. Transform your space into the wizarding world of Hogwarts by adding wireless uplighters to set the perfect mood for the party with spooky shades of green, red, or amber. Add must-have Harry Potter-themed props such as the sorting hat, Hedwig cage, and broomstick racks (also ideal items to place near a photo booth). Moreover, a Hogwarts-themed celebration is incomplete without the 9 ¾ platform entrance.

Wooden crates covered with spell books or the Harry Potter series can also be placed around the venue. For furniture, consider opting for rustic wooden cube tables and seats. Lastly, use lanterns as one of the lighting options to transport your guests to the world of magic and potions!

For entertainment, think of Hogwarts-themed games, such as a pre-planned sorting list to sort the guests into relevant houses. Trivia quizzes based on Harry Potter books and movies can also serve as the ideal entertainment option for HP lovers. A Horcrux scavenger hunt where guests hunt for clues around the venue to get to the prize can also be held for an adventurous twist to the day!

5. Black and White theme

A monochrome black and white theme can create a sophisticated and chic atmosphere. Think black and white balloons, elegant black and white table settings with white peonies in black vases, and white feather centrepieces. Use festoon lights and candlelight to enhance the ambiance. Venue drapes in black and white can also be the ideal addition. Lastly, add black and white film posters and vintage décor for the perfect old-school touch.

Request the guests to dress classy in black or white. Organise a photo booth with fun props like fedoras and classic black sequined backdrops. Use a black-and-white dance floor if you’re planning on dancing the night away; it can also enhance the energy for the party!

Conclusion

Planning parties for adults requires effort, hard work, and channelling some inner creativity to get unique party ideas to execute efficiently. However, it’s not every day you put work into organising a gathering where you and your loved ones can talk, eat, and dance to momentarily escape the worries of adulthood. So, it’s alright to go over the top and put in some extra effort to see everyone you love having the time of their lives!

Frequently Asked Questions—FAQs

How do you make adult parties fun?

You’ve got to get creative to make adult parties fun. To add a touch of thrill and excitement to a party of adults, add unique adult party ideas and organise themed and costume parties, dance competitions, and fun games.

What are good party activities?

Good party activities include games and tasks that keep the guests engaged and moving. For instance, live band karaoke, DJ hire, photo booths, music bingo, trivia quizzes, and silent disco.

What is the best theme for an adult party?

The most popular themes for adult parties typically include vintage retro/nightclub parties, Art Deco/Gatsby parties, and vintage Hollywood black-and-white-themed parties.