Hopefully most of your guests will have made an effort to look good for your party theme. In turn, you need lighting that will flatter and not make people self-consciousness. If your guests feel attractive they will relax into the party more easily.
Generally, softer lighting makes people feel comfortable and makes rooms appear bigger.
Create light from different sources around the party rooms using lamps and lights that fit with your party theme. Position them at head height or lower and make sure they are not shining directly at people but bouncing off walls and ceilings. Opaque lampshades help keep light out of people’s faces and directs the light up and down.
Use 25w (watt) light bulbs, which is equivalent to 15w halogen or 2-3w LED bulbs. Make sure you use warm light.
Put uplights behind plants and furniture to cast interesting shadows and create pools of light on your walls and make your ceiling feel higher.
Or if you want something that can create an uplight but also be used in your bedroom or study later.
If you have an interesting ceiling with beams or moldings, attach string lights to create a sparkling canopy. Make sure to take measurements first so you know how many sets of lights you need.
Guests will need regular bathroom lighting to check their make-up etc. but add dim lighting such as a night light or candle so your guests don’t walk into a dark room and are shocked by a bright light when they flick the switch. It may also encourage them to flick it off again when they have finished.
Set up clusters of candles in various locations. Thicker ones have sturdier bases so are less likely to be knocked over.
Pillar candles work well.
Or bubble candles for something a little different.
Non-scented are best in rooms where you will be serving food but put a scented candle in the bathroom. Citrus or floral fragrances are usually better than anything woody or musky. You need something that will burn for a few hours.
If you are worried about fire hazards, use LED candles. The flames can look very real and you can re-use them for future occasions or just to relax at home.
Go to town with your dance room. You want this room to be dazzling with constant movement so people feel motivated to move with the music. Try out a few things at the same time.
Plug in a couple of disco ball lights pointing at different corners of the room. Set them to different modes for interesting effects that will help get people going.
Add a strobe light but just turn it on at peak moments throughout the night. Set it up so it’s not pointing directly at people’s faces.
A fog machine mixed with disco lights can make a dance floor even more inviting. Don’t have it running the whole time. Choose the right moments, such as when the music is building, or when people are in the room watching and need that extra nudge to get grooving.
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Don’t forget the fog liquid.
Finally, make sure all cords are safely out of the way of traffic areas and not close to sinks or where drinks will be prepared.
There’s also a few things you definitely shouldn’t do.
Don’t use harsh or bright lights in your party rooms.
Don’t use overhead lights. Light from above puts shadows on people’s faces affecting how they look. If you really have to use overhead lights, change the bulbs to lower than 40w.
Watch out for accidental lighting that might stream into your party room from the kitchen, bathroom or other room and ruin the ambience every time someone turns the light on. If that room has to be used, create a simple curtain to shield from the light.
Unless it’s relevant to your party theme, avoid coloured lighting in the room where people will mingle and get to know each other. Coloured lights change how people look and may make them feel self-conscious and leave the room. For example, green lighting makes people look older. Golden light makes people look younger. Use multi-coloured lights in your dance room if you can, not just one or two colours.