Mardi Gras decorating ideas are the perfect way to bring the festive air of the celebration to your home, work, or party. Add a subtle hint of carnival to your workplace or completely transform your home into Bourbon Street with these decorations.
Flags and Florals for Carnival
Add a flag to your pole so it stands out from your home or business. Look for one that celebrates Mardi Gras with a saying, the Mardi Gras colors of green, purple, and gold, and features a mask or fleur-de-lis. Streamers, garlands, and flower arrangements help further decorate the front entrance area.
Carnival Banner and Flag Display
Coordinate your flags and banners with neighbors or other area businesses. Large Mardis Gras banners can be hung from balconies and across windows. Hang larger flags from poles and add small banners where appropriate, like under a covered porch. Look for kings' crowns, stripes, swags, jazz instruments and musical notes, fleur-de-lis, and masks in the designs.
Wreaths for Doors and Windows
A wreath is an indoor-outdoor decoration to add anywhere. Look for one that has flair using carnival masks, large bows, ornaments, and glitter.
Outdoor Swags for Mardis Gras
An outdoor swag is perfect for hanging from your balcony, though they can also be placed on fences and between windows. Make one using large ornament strands to resemble beads, striped tulle, and add colorful flags and curtains for additional ambiance. If you criss-cross them, you'll add interest to a simple design.
Fat Tuesday Masks
A mask is an integral part of decorating for Mardi Gras. From masquerade masks to half-face masks to comedy/tragedy masks and more, you'll find them in decorations as often as you see them as part of a Mardis Gras costume. Add a mask to a swag, wreath, table centerpiece, or hang one from your camper door. Look for brightly colored ones in gold, green, and purple.
Balloons and Harlequin Patterns
The harlequin pattern is common around Mardi Gras and it makes a great backdrop for a parade float or wall at home or work. Add some balloons to the top of the float or around the ceiling line, and add comedy/tragedy and jester masks to complete the design.
Umbrellas and Feathers for Mardis Gras Centerpieces
Feathers have flair and carnival definitely calls for as much as possible. When planning a party or fundraising event, you'll want to have Mardi Gras centerpieces that stand out. Look for feathers in vivid colors such as pink, turquoise, and green -- you're not stuck with using the traditional purples and golds if you don't want to. Line an umbrella and then place in the center of the table.
Carnival Lighting for Any Building
Add lighting to any building or party space during Mardi Gras. Even if you're not hosting a celebration, you can still get in the fun by adding some colored gels to outdoor spotlights and training them on your house. Business, both government and civilian, and workplaces can also add outdoor lighting. It's a great idea if they happen to be along an evening parade route or if people frequently walk or drive by on their way to events.
You can also add string lights or rope strands to other spaces. For example, rope lights in Mardi Gras colors are perfect for outlining a camper, school window, or even work cubicle. Outdoor lights can even go around trees.
Beads Go Everywhere
Beads are likely the first thing everyone thinks of, along with masks, when it comes to Fat Tuesday. Beads are colorful and can be added to just about any decorating scheme you desire. A few placed in a glass vase makes a good centerpiece at home or work, while you can also hang them from trees, lamp posts, and just about anywhere else your heart desires (with permission), like fencing, balconies, and floats.
Doubloons As Part of Decorations
Like beads, doubloons are often tossed and given away during Mardi Gras. Incorporate them into your celebration by scattering them on tables throughout your home or party space. Look for ones that match masks, feathers, and beads.
Window Ropes
Look for a thick rope with metallic threads in traditional Mardi Gras colors. Hang it in a window or on a fence and add a mask to the center. This is a simple and cheap idea anyone can add anywhere.
Ceiling Streamers
Ceiling streamers add a celebratory look without a lot of fuss. Large glittery dots work work, but so do streamers featuring fleur-de-lis or crowns. Add a few hanging paper lanterns and some beads to round out your area.
Bourbon Street Jazz Parade Scene
Pick up a backdrop kit and some musical standees to create the ultimate Bourbon Street parade scene. All you have to do is set them up in your designated space and you're ready to party. It looks involved, but is just a step harder than tossing beads everywhere.
Carnival Celebration Decorations
Getting ready for the Mardi Gras carnival usually means picking out a few decorations. It doesn't matter if you just want to jazz up your workspace or if you're hosting the bash of the season, these ideas will get you decorated in all areas of life from your home to work and even to a camper you rolled in with for the famous parade!
