Farm Birthday Decoration Ideas

A farm-themed birthday party is great for kids of many ages, and you can adapt it to offer more sophisticated decorations for older kids, although it is a perennial favorite for young children who love farm animals. One of the best things about the theme: it can be cheap to put together. After all, farms aren't known for their elegance. Use brightly colored decorations and make a few of your own crafts, and you'll have an attractive farmyard look easily. Does this Spark an idea?

Room

You can use vinyl wall cling "scene-setters' that depict a barn door, corral, stable, or fields with hay bales and fences. For a low-budget version, draw your own to fit your room with white craft paper and markers. Colorful streamers and balloons are not only cheap; they're also easy to use when decorating. Bright colors like yellow, green, blue and red are classic farm decor colors, but you also can use pink pigs and baby animals for a lighter color scheme. A farm animal pinata hanging from the ceiling adds splash and a fun activity later in the party. Hay bales, fencing and rocking horses also are great additions to a farm decor theme. You can make your own wall sheep by cutting out poster board shapes and gluing cotton balls on for the wool.

Tables

Use a piggy bank, stuffed toy or tissue centerpiece in the middle of the gift, cake or eating table, and tie balloons to it for an easy decoration. Add curling ribbons for a more decorative look. Use an easy-clean vinyl tablecloth in a red gingham check or a cow print to cover the table, and match it with brightly colored plastic or paper tableware. Scatter metallic confetti--shaped like cowboy hats, animals or barns--over the table for some glitz.

Accents

If your child has stuffed animals that can double as farm animals, set them out to sit on furniture, in corners and on top of mantels. Turn other stuffed toys into farm animals by tying bandannas around their necks.

A cardboard appliance box can double as a fun activity if you paint it red and cut windows and doors to make a barn for kids to play in. To cover furniture, drape it in canvas, burlap or faux-fur materials that fit your theme and protect your furniture.

If you have time, you can turn sawhorses into big play horses and cows by gluing on felt and tying pillows to the seats. Attach cardboard faces to the front.