Indoor party ideas
Indoor parties don't depend on the weather, which makes them ideal for winter birthdays, rainy days and flats without a garden. This collection includes craft and science parties, discos, sleepovers, gaming tournaments, escape rooms, tastings, dinner parties and cosy themed nights.
Each plan explains how to use your space well, from clearing a dance floor to setting up activity stations.
105 ideas
Anti-Valentine's party
A tongue-in-cheek party for singles with black balloons, break-up songs karaoke, a piñata and comfort food.
Baby shower afternoon tea
Tiered cake stands, tea in vintage cups, a onesie decorating station and gentle games for the parent-to-be.
Big game watch party
A big-screen watch party for the championship game with wings, nachos, a squares pool and halftime games.
Black tie dinner party
A formal five-course dinner at home with place cards, matched wines, candlelight and a midnight toast.
Board game night
A games café at home with a menu of board games for every group size, snacks and a tournament leaderboard.
Bon voyage retirement party
A travel-themed send-off with boarding pass invitations, a world map of suggestions and dishes from around the globe.
Building brick challenge
Timed building challenges with plastic bricks, a team city build and a brick-themed cake.
Candle making party
Pour scented soy candles in jars, choose fragrances and colours, and take home a candle and a wax melt.
Casino and game night
Play-money blackjack, poker and roulette tables, a dress code and prizes for the biggest winner.
Ceilidh party
A live ceilidh band and caller lead everyone through Scottish country dances, with a hearty supper and a dram.
Choo-choo train party
A wooden railway play zone, a cardboard train ride, ticket punching and a train cake with sweet cargo.
Christmas cocktail party
A glamorous festive drinks party with three signature cocktails, canapés, a mistletoe photo spot and a cracker toast.
Christmas cookie swap
Each guest bakes a batch of one festive cookie and goes home with a tin full of everyone else's.
Christmas Eve family night
A Christmas Eve box for everyone, a buffet, family games, reindeer food and tracking Santa before bed.
Christmas pyjama party
Kids arrive in festive pyjamas for a hot chocolate bar, a Christmas film, a 'ticket to the North Pole' and a sleepover.
Christmas wreath making
Build a fresh foliage wreath on a moss ring with pine, eucalyptus, dried oranges and ribbon, with mulled wine.
Comedy night at home
Book a comedian or two for a living-room comedy club, with cabaret seating, a bar and an open-mic spot.
Couples' cooking night
Couples cook a three-course meal side by side with recipe cards, a cook-off dessert and wine to match.
Cupcake decorating wars
A baking show style contest where teams decorate cupcakes against the clock for a panel of judges.
Dance class party
A dance teacher leads a routine to a favourite song, finishing with a filmed performance for parents.
Day-after wedding brunch
A relaxed brunch the morning after the wedding, with a bacon roll station, coffee bar and the couple's favourite photos.
Easter bonnet parade
Kids decorate Easter bonnets and hats with flowers, chicks and eggs, then parade them for prizes.
Easter brunch
A spring brunch table with pastel flowers, eggs benedict, a hot cross bun bake and a mini egg hunt for kids.
Egg decorating party
Dye, paint, marble and glitter hard-boiled or wooden eggs, then display them on an Easter tree.
Engagement party
Celebrate the newly engaged couple with a toast, a love story slideshow and a guestbook of date ideas.
Escape room at home
Locks, riddles and a ticking clock in your own house: teams solve puzzles to escape in 45 minutes.
Family New Year's games night
A games tournament for all ages with a points board, snacks and a countdown at midnight (or earlier).
Fashion show party
Guests design outfits from a dress-up box, have hair and make-up done and walk the runway for a photo shoot.
Festive afternoon tea
Tiered stands of turkey and cranberry sandwiches, mince pie scones and mini yule logs with tea and fizz.
First birthday party
A relaxed first birthday with a smash cake, a milestone photo display and a sensory play corner.
Foam dart battle party
Team foam dart battles with barricades, capture the flag and target practice, plus protective glasses.
Fondue night
A cosy evening of cheese fondue followed by chocolate fondue, with games until midnight.
Football tournament watch party
A watch party for a big international football match, with flags, a sweepstake, national dishes and a penalty game.
Friendsgiving potluck
A shared autumn feast with friends: the host roasts the turkey, everyone brings a dish, and there's a gratitude tablecloth.
Galentine's brunch
A brunch for best friends with a waffle bar, a flower bouquet station, compliments jar and pink fizz.
Gin tasting party
Taste four craft gins neat and with matched tonics and garnishes, then build a signature G&T.
Gingerbread house contest
Teams build and decorate gingerbread houses against the clock, then a judge crowns the best.
Glow-in-the-dark party
Blacklights, neon face paint, glow stick games and a dance floor that lights up after dark.
Golden anniversary party
Celebrate 50 years with a gold-themed lunch, a photo timeline of the marriage, a slideshow and a vow toast.
Graduation open house
A drop-in afternoon party with a photo timeline, a memory table, a food bar and cards of advice for the graduate.
Grand prix race day party
Watch a motor race on the big screen with a chequered-flag theme, a race sweepstake and a sim-racing challenge.
Halloween bake-off
Families decorate spooky cupcakes, cookies and a graveyard cake in a timed bake-off with silly prizes.
Halloween costume cocktail party
A grown-up Halloween night with spooky cocktails, a dark buffet, a costume contest and a horror quiz.
Haunted house walk-through
Turn your garage or hallway into a spooky walk-through with scare actors, fog and creepy sounds.
Hen party cocktail class
A hands-on cocktail-making session at home, with a bartender or a step-by-step guide, games and a glam photo booth.
Horror movie marathon
A spooky film night with a duvet den, a scary snack bar, a jump-scare bingo card and a costume vote.
Housewarming open house
A drop-in afternoon to show off the new home, with a self-guided tour, a grazing table and a 'favourite local spots' map.
Ice cream sundae party
A sundae bar with five flavours, sauces and toppings, an ice cream eating race and a vintage ice cream parlour look.
Jewellery making party
A bead bar for bracelets, charm necklaces and friendship bracelets, packaged in gift boxes to take home.
Jungle safari party
Explorer hats, an animal tracking trail, binocular making and a jungle juice feast.
Junior detective party
Young detectives dust for fingerprints, decode messages and interview suspects to solve the case of the missing cake.
Karaoke night
A home karaoke stage with lights, duets, song-challenge cards and an awards show at the end.
Kids disco party
Disco lights, a dance-off, party games like musical statues and limbo, and a glow-stick finale.
Kids Halloween disco
A spooky disco with costume parade, monster freeze dance, a mummy wrap race and glow-stick finale.
Kids' Valentine's craft party
Kids make cards, heart garlands and treat boxes for friends and family, with heart-shaped snacks.
Laser tag party
Mobile laser tag in the garden or a park, with team missions, scoreboards and a debrief over pizza.
Mad scientist lab
Safe fizzing, slime-making and colour-change experiments in lab coats and goggles.
Magic show party
A magician performs, then children learn three tricks of their own and put on a show for the parents.
Masquerade ball
An elegant evening of masks, candlelight, a waltz lesson and the big unmasking at midnight.
Mini golf party
Build a crazy golf course in the garden from household items, play nine holes and award a green jacket.
Monster mash for kids
Not-too-scary Halloween fun with a costume parade, a pumpkin hunt, monster crafts and a mummy wrap race.
Mum-to-be pamper party
A relaxing baby shower with a mobile therapist for hand and foot massages, a face mask bar and a nourishing lunch.
Murder mystery dinner
Guests play characters at a dinner party and work out whodunnit across three courses.
New Year's Day brunch
A relaxed late brunch to start the year: pancake stack, full breakfast, Bloody Mary bar and resolutions jar.
Noon Year's Eve for kids
A New Year's countdown at 12 noon so children can celebrate without staying up: balloon drop included.
Office Christmas party
A festive work party with a venue, a two-course dinner, awards, a secret Santa and a DJ.
Paint and sip evening
Everyone follows the same step-by-step painting with a drink in hand, and goes home with a canvas.
Pizza chef party
Little chefs make their own pizza from the dough up, decorate chef hats and bake cookies for dessert.
Plant swap party
Guests bring cuttings and plants to swap, pot up new finds at a repotting bar and learn propagation tips.
Poker and steak night
A stag or birthday night with a steak dinner, a Texas Hold'em tournament with chips, and whisky.
Pottery workshop party
Hand-build mugs and trinket dishes with air-dry clay or book a pottery studio throwing session.
Prom after-party
A safe, supervised after-party at home with a DJ playlist, photo booth, late-night food truck and sleepover option.
Pub quiz night
Host a proper pub quiz at home with teams, picture and music rounds, a jackpot question and prizes.
Racing car party
A chequered-flag party with cardboard box cars, a slot-car racetrack, a pit stop challenge and a podium.
Retirement party
Celebrate a career with a 'this is your life' slideshow, speeches, a memory book and a bucket-list jar.
Roaring twenties party
Flapper dresses, pinstripe suits, jazz, a champagne tower and a speakeasy password at the door.
Roller disco party
Book a rink or clear a hall for a retro roller disco with skate games, glow sticks and 80s tunes.
Rustic barn wedding
A barn reception with long trestle tables, hay bales, jam jar flowers, a ceilidh or band and a dessert table.
Santa's elf workshop
Kids become Santa's elves for the afternoon, making toys, wrapping presents and decorating cookies.
Santa's grotto at home
Transform a room into a grotto with a sleigh, snow and fairy lights for a visit from a hired Santa.
Silent disco
Wireless headphones with three DJ channels, so everyone dances to their own choice without disturbing the neighbours.
Sip and see
Friends and family meet the new baby over drinks and cake, with a welcome book and short visiting slots.
Slime making party
A slime lab where every guest makes fluffy, glitter and glow slime to take home in labelled pots.
Spa and sleepover night
Face masks, nail painting, a pamper station and a movie, followed by a pancake breakfast.
Space mission party
Astronaut training, rocket launches and a moon rock hunt, with a galaxy cake for the countdown.
Storybook baby shower
Each guest brings a favourite children's book with a message inside, building the baby's first library.
Superhero training camp
Kids make capes, pass an obstacle course and defeat a slime villain to earn their hero certificate.
Surprise anniversary dinner
Friends and family secretly gather at a restaurant or home for a surprise dinner with messages from far-away loved ones.
Sushi making party
A hands-on sushi class at home: roll maki, shape nigiri and finish with mochi and green tea.
Taco fiesta
A build-your-own taco bar, a piñata, papel picado bunting and fresh agua fresca.
Thanksgiving family feast
A classic Thanksgiving dinner with a timed cooking plan, a kids' table with crafts and a pie buffet.
Through the decades party
A milestone birthday where each guest dresses as a decade, with a music quiz and a photo wall.
Trampoline park party
A booked session at a trampoline park with dodgeball, foam pits and a party room for food afterwards.
Tween New Year's Eve sleepover
A sleepover with a hot dog dinner, a games tournament, a confetti countdown at midnight and pancakes for breakfast.
Twinkle twinkle little star baby shower
A dreamy star and moon theme with a gold balloon garland, wish stars for baby and a starry dessert table.
Ugly Christmas jumper party
Everyone wears their tackiest festive jumper for games, a jumper catwalk and a cosy Christmas buffet.
Uni send-off party
Send a student off to university with a 'survival kit' gift table, a recipe card book and a farewell barbecue.
Unicorn rainbow party
Glitter, rainbows and a unicorn horn craft, plus pin the horn and a rainbow cake reveal.
Vampire gothic dinner party
A candlelit gothic banquet with black roses, blood-red cocktails, a dark menu and velvet everything.
Video game tournament
A bracket-style gaming tournament with multiple consoles, a leaderboard, snacks and a champion's trophy.
Whisky tasting night
Taste five whiskies from different regions with tasting notes, water droppers and food pairings.
White elephant gift swap
Everyone brings one wrapped gift; players unwrap or steal in turns for the funniest swap of the season.
Wine and cheese tasting
A guided tasting of four wines with matched cheeses, score cards and a blind-taste guessing game.
Witches and wizards potion class
Young witches and wizards brew colour-changing potions, make wands and sort into houses.
Yoga and brunch party
A private yoga class in the garden or a studio, followed by a healthy brunch spread and smoothie bar.