Cheap (Cute) Decoration Ideas for Your Big Empty Space

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Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

Do you want to know why every Pinterest wedding (aka fake wedding shoot) is super tiny and only has ten people at it? Because decorating a small space is easy. And more importantly: decorating a small space costs significantly less than decorating a big space with the same amount of stuff. (Math! It’s never your friend.)

So if your wedding plans involve a big empty space (think social hall, rec room), it’s understandable if the prospect of decorating might be… daunting. Big empty spaces come with their own set of challenges: tiny details are liable to get swallowed up, but trying to tackle the question of scale without destroying your budget is hard. Which is why the answer for big empty spaces is often less about how you fill it, and more about how much you can fill it. Aka buying inexpensive decor in bulk. Think: paper streamers, honeycomb decorations, balloons, and anything else you can buy large quantities of, fill lots of space with, and not spend a million dollars on. But how do you do that without making your wedding look like a children’s birthday party?

The answer is: it’s all in the execution. So when our friends at Oh Happy Day launched their brand new party shop this month, we were pretty excited. While the online shop features some things you’ve probably seen before (honeycomb decorations, streamers, balloons), this #lazygirl is very into the idea of having it all in one place, curated by someone with a designer’s aesthetic, so I can give my Googling a rest. We thought we’d use the launch of their shop as an excuse to show you a bunch of different ideas for decorating big empty spaces with lots of cheap (cute) decor. Because with a cool idea, bulk decorations in a big empty space can actually look way more stylish than the intricate details you see on those fake weddings on Pinterest.

Just… don’t tell Pinterest I said that.

Cute Cheap Decor IdeasUse: Honeycomb diamonds ($7)

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

To Make: A cool oversized ceremony backdrop. Bonus: this design is scalable, so make it as huge as you want for a really oversized backdrop.

Cute Cheap Decor IdeasUse: Giant balloons ($5)

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

To Make: Have a space with really tall ceilings? Use giant balloons to make floating centerpieces that pack a lot of punch.

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

Or: If you don’t want to bother with helium (more on that below), stick big balloons to a wall for a big ass ceremony backdrop.

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

Use: Paper Garlands ($10)

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

To Make: A photo booth backdrop (or to highlight any other part of your reception.)

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

Use: Washi Tape ($4)

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

To Make: You don’t need to go for broke to make a cool backdrop or statement wall. Some strategically placed washi tape will suffice.

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

Use: Bright Balloons (6 for $6)

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

To Make: Sometimes you just gotta FILL the space. Colorful balloons are a cheap and effective way to do just that (and I think these dip-dyed ones would look super cool.)

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

Use: Honeycomb Balls ($7)

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

To Make: Honeycomb balls look great hanging from a ceiling or a tree, but you can use them pretty much anywhere, including as ad hoc wall decor.

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

Or: Use smaller honeycomb balls for an easy centerpiece.Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

Use: Mylar Numbers ($5.50)

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

To Make: Floating table numbers. Makes your table easy to find, and fills up lots of space. Win/win?Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

Or Use: Mylar Letters ($5.50)

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

To Make: A personalized ceremony backdrop.Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

Use: Geronimo Balloons ($60)

Cute Cheap Decor Ideas

To Make: A cool dance floor.

A note on setup: If you’re ordering balloons from a local party store, you should be able to order pre-inflated balloons. If you’re ordering from a place like Oh Happy Day, you’ll need to look into getting a helium tank. Call around your local party stores to ask about renting, or you can order one from Party City right here. For hanging paper products, Oh Happy Day’s Jordan recommends white gaffers tape for its staying power and because it won’t ruin walls.

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