Decorating for St. Patrick’s Day: Fun Ideas for Families

Gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day? What a wonderful way to celebrate luck and all things green! When our family was young, the holiday always featured a gold coin treasure hunt; clues led our kiddos from one coin to another, eventually leading the to a pot of gold. No matter how your own family celebrates the holiday, we've got some quick and easy ideas to get your St. Patrick's Day started!

1. Create a Green and Gold Tablescape

St. Patrick’s Day is often associated with good luck and fortune, so why not create a table setting that matches? A green/black table cloth or table runner is a classic option, and if you want an extra bit of sparkle, throw in some gold accents, such as golden chargers, napkin rings, or plastic/chocolate coins. You could also create a table display using a cute basket or tray (we love these darling scalloped wicker baskets and scalloped trays), spray-painted gold mason jars, and yellow flowers.

2. Get Festive with Green Gingham Bows

Why limit the green accents to inside your home? Brighten your porch decor with a green gingham bow. Simple yet charming, these decorative bows are soft on doors, easy to put in place, and versatile, matching well with other decor in your entryway. Other complimentary decor to your green gingham bow could include golden lanterns or pots, shamrocks, or decorative banners or signs.

3. DIY Shamrock Garlands

Shamrocks are a staple of St. Patrick’s Day! Pull out some scissors and green construction paper (or felt for a more tactile decoration), string them together with twine, and hang them across a mantelpiece or along a staircase railing. To add a personal touch, consider making shamrocks in different shades of green or with tiny, playful touches like glitter or buttons. This would be a particularly good activity to involve the whole family.

4. Homemade Leprechaun Trap

If you’re searching for a way to keep young kids entertained, this one is a winner. You don’t need anything elaborate—a simple box or shoe-box with decorations like glitter, green paper, and sparkly "gold" coins is enough. Let your kids create their own leprechaun trap before St. Patrick’s Day, then leave the trap out overnight. In the morning, though the leprechaun will have “escaped”, your kids will find that he has left behind some treats for their efforts.

5. Get Creative With Foods

Make your meal plans more festive by finding some holiday themed dishes to try! Beef stew, irish soda bread, shepherd's pie, irish apple cake, and corn beef are just a few more traditional ideas to get you started. Then again, you could go with something less serious like green eggs and ham!

Making St. Patrick's Day Special

With simple yet creative decorating ideas like green gingham bows and themed crafts, you can easily involve the whole family in your St. Patrick’s Day! Which idea is your favorite?