Your Next Party Should Be a Rainbow-Hued Party — Here’s How to Throw One

Everything is just a little more fun with a theme. Think of a high school prom: Without its “Roaring Twenties” or “Under the Sea” branding, it would be an underwhelming collection of crepe paper and circular tables. Themes bring things together in a campy way that lets you embrace creativity and get excited over the little things. That’s why I’m suggesting a theme for a fun night in each month, where you can gather a few friends, a partner, or simply indulge in a solo shindig. 

If you’ve been on TikTok in the last several months, chances are you’ve scrolled upon a color party: A gathering either centered around one color or where each guest claims a color to represent, wears that hue and brings a food or snack themed in that color. If you were inspired by Apartment Therapy’s colors month, why not keep the party going? Read on for how to host your own kaleidoscopic soiree. 

This is your opportunity to get creative in the kitchen (or at the bar cart). The color you choose will determine the noshes you bring to the table, so here are some hue-specific thought starters:

• Red: A virgin Shirley Temple, perhaps? If your tooth is sweet enough, you could also whip up this decadent and refreshing red velvet ice cream cake. 
• Orange: If you haven’t yet sipped some orange wine, this is the perfect excuse to do so. Looking for something a little sparklier? Try this blood orange French 72 that you can make in batches. You could pair them with a cheese board or, if you’re going all out, this blood orange olive oil cake I’ve been wanting to try ever since I glimpsed it on the cover of Claire Saffitz’s cookbook. 
• Yellow: Whip up your family’s best lemonade recipe (feeling fancy? Add some lavender) and serve it with some corn salsa and tortilla chips. 
• Green: No need to go green eggs and ham with it (unless you want to). Lettuce wraps are conveniently packaged in a bright green wrapper and lend themselves to all sorts of flavor profiles — try these chili lime seitan wraps for a vegan-friendly option. You could go with a green juice on the side to keep it ultra nutritious, or shake up some gimlets and top with a slice of cucumber. 
• Blue: There aren’t many naturally occurring blue beverages, so your best bet is probably to add some blue curaçao to the cocktail you’re making. While slightly off-shade, some beet hummus and blue corn chips are still in the azure spirit. 
• Purple: Get your hands on some blueberry syrup or shrub and the world is your purple oyster — simply add some sparkling water, ginger beer, and if you’d like, your favorite spirit. Pair with some blueberry stilton and crackers and enjoy. 

The nice part of each guest coming decked out in a different color of the rainbow is that the decor can be pretty simple to let the good and clothes shine. White plates and napkins are the perfect blank palette, and you can amp up the rainbow with a multi-colored bouquet of flowers and some chromatic vintage glass coupes.

If hosting all of these colors in your home makes you want to make it a permanent fixture, though, check out this eclectic, maximalist loft or this polychromatic home for some splashy design inspiration. 

For some temporary mood-setting, you can project a movie with saturated hues like any Wes Anderson, or go in the opposite direction and screen an old black-and-white film to make sure you and your friends are the colorful stars of the show. 

After you’ve tasted the rainbow, try using an aura reading app to snap a picture of each other’s auras and see which colors you give off. If you’re looking to get a little crafty, take to the backyard or bathtub and get to tie dying some T-shirts, bucket hats, couch cushions, or whatever strikes your fancy — then enjoy the colorful keepsake that can continue to make your life a little brighter even after the drinks have been drained.

🪩First Night is a series by our partner site, Apartment Therapy, all about having fun at home. Browse ways to make your next night in feel special here.

This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Mix Up Your Usual Happy Hour by Having Friends Over for a Rainbow-Hued Party