Our Colorful and Rustic Barn Party

Psssst… this post *might* contain affiliate links: see my disclosure here.

How to Decorate for a Colorful Barn Party

The barn party reveal is here! Back in April, we offered to host a summer party for parents at the kids’ preschool as a way to make a little money at the spring auction. At the time, I figured we’d have a barbecue going with burgers and hotdogs and keep it nice and casual. Until I started talking to my friends over at Luna Bazaar and the idea of a barn party was hatched! Our barn has been in the throws of construction for MONTHS but it was the perfect space in which to host a party last weekend!

Disclosure: Luna Bazaar sent me all the decorations for this post, but all opinions and colorful strokes of genius are my own!

Settle in for some pictures. There are… plenty. As I mentioned above, just about all the decorations were sent to me by Luna Bazaar and I’m THRILLED by how everything came together… capturing all that color and magic was the challenging part, but hopefully a few of these photographs will do the space justice!

Shop my favorites!

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

When I started, the space was emp-ty. Nothing. I rented chairs and borrowed three long 8 foot tables from the school.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

I strung lots of globe lights across the ceiling and then hung the parasols and paper lanterns.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

To class up the joint a bit, I hung painters drop cloth from the barn doors with a staple gun and tied them back with leftover tulle.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

The inspiration for the whole design was this serape cloth. I bought these ones from Amazon (affiliate) and then cut them into thirds to make them into runners. (To keep the blanket from fraying, I sewed first, and cut second.)

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Obviously Pinterest was helpful, and I got the idea for these ladders shelves from some barn decor I saw online. I snagged the ladders at the flea market (they totally work as ladders, bee tee dubs) and we had leftover scrap wood from the barn itself.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

What barn party would be complete without some boozy lemonade and a little sweet tea, amiright?

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

I had the food catered from a local BBQ joint so a table against the side wall was where we set up the food. For dessert… a fire pit out front was the perfect spot for s’mores.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

At the last minute, I decided I wanted to do a little something to gussy up the chairs.  There were SO many that I was worried the mass of white plastic would take away from the colorful table… There weren’t any sales at Michaels in the ribbon department, but these tulle ribbons are pretty inexpensive and added just a little hint of color! (Affiliate)

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

OK. The tablescape itself…. Thanks to Luna Bazaar, I had an assortment of wonderful votives. I was a little nervous that the overhead string lights wouldn’t be bright enough so I wanted votives, votives, and MORE votives. I decided to make life easy and we used battery powered tea lights… Made the last ten minutes before the party much easier and the light is honestly pretty similar to the real deal tea light.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

I also filled super large mason jars with microlights to illuminate the serving table as well as the barn doors.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Those white glasses are technically votives, but I loved the vintage little touch they brought to the table as water glasses.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

I found some retro glass bottles at Homegoods that I scattered along the table with water so we didn’t need big bulky water pitchers.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

For flowers, I wanted something but nothing too big and showy (and expensive!). Maybe one of you are smart enough to tell me what these are, but they were sweet and cheap and worked perfectly in those fun vintage-inspired bottles.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

The napkins are rented (how much do you LOVE all the colors), but the glass napkin rings are a favorite from Luna Bazaar. That pale green is just the right amount of color against everything else going on along the table!

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

The barn party reveal is here! Back in April, we offered to host a summer party for parents at our kids preschool as a way to make a little money at the spring auction. At the time, I figured we'd have a barbecue going and would keep it nice and casual. Until I started talking to my friends over at Luna Bazaar and the idea of a barn party was hatched! Our barn has been in the throws of construction for MONTHS but it was in the perfect rustic condition to host a party last weekend!

Remember that moment 63 hours ago when I said you’d have a lot of pictures to look at? Well… you did it. You saw the good ones! And just because I can, here are a few more to tide you over until the next shindig in this space!
Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

lantern selfie

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

Decorating details to host a colorful rustic barn party.

pin-me-pin-me

This backyard barn party was SO fun and easy to decorate!

Don’t Miss Out

Become An Insider!

Signup for exclusive tips, and tricks from Charlotte’s House!

Let’s chat!

I love comments from you, so feel free to leave your thoughts and ideas below! And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for even more!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

18 Comments

  1. Amazingly beautiful transformation. have a question, Charlotte, do you sleep? I so admire your energy and ideas. i forward your blog to my youngest daughter who is pregnant with her second baby at soon to be 41. You give her inspiration…and engender awe! What an adorable family…and you are simply hilarious!
    Holly

    1. Oh my goodness, what a wonderful complement, Holly! And no… I probably don’t sleep nearly enough! 😉 I’m blessed to have a wonderful support network in my husband and my right hand babysitter. Congrats to you and your daughter! I had our youngest at 41… he’s the sweetest! xx