How to Learn Event Decoration?

Event decoration is the art of designing and decorating spaces for special events like parties, weddings, corporate functions, and more. Learning event decoration allows you to start an exciting career or decorate for your own events. With some key principles, you can become skilled at event decoration.

Gather Inspiration for Decorating Events

The first step is finding inspiration. Search places like Pinterest, Instagram, magazines, and books to discover events with decor you admire. Analyze what specifically you like about the decor and make note of ideas you’d like to try. Great event decorators continually find new inspiration.

Learn Decorating Principles

Every space and event has unique needs when it comes to decor. However, some key principles apply to decorating any event:

Set the mood – The decor should match the tone and purpose of the event, whether that’s whimsical, elegant, rustic, modern, etc.
Highlight key areas – Draw attention to important spaces like the head table at a wedding reception or stage at a corporate event.
STRATEGIZES where guests will be – Decorate to guide guests through the event space efficiently.
Blend styles cohesively – Your inspiration will draw from diverse sources but try to blend it cohesively around a central style or theme.
Allow enough budget – Event decor is a significant investment. Determine costs for rentals, floral, lighting, etc. and set a realistic budget.

Learn Decorating Skills

Event decorating utilizes diverse creative mediums. Build skills with each:

Work with Event Designers

Shadow experienced designers to learn directly from the best.
Connect with planners and venues to be added to their list of freelance decorators.
Research floral, lighting, linen, furniture rental vendors used for events in your area.

Master Floral Design

Take beginner floral design classes and progress to advanced techniques.
Study how to choose seasonal flowers and create arrangements matching events.
Practice floral installation for varied surfaces like tables, walls, suspended pieces.

Use Fabrics Creatively

Learn textile terminology like types of linen.
Study ways to artfully drape, gather, and hang fabrics.
Rent samples to test different textiles’ appearance and durability.

Craft with Various Materials

Experiment working with diverse materials from feathers to streamers.
Learn techniques like Ombre painting and applying appliques and decals.
Take prop and DIY classes to expand your style library.

Style Event Furniture

Seek secondhand pieces and repurpose furniture from different eras.
Arrange seating, bars, food displays, etc. for both form and function.
Learn what styles and shapes best fit each event type.

Use Lighting Dramatically

Study how color, intensity, placement alters lighting’s impact.
Learn electrical skills for installing fixtures safely.
Follow venue rules so lighting rigs cause no damage.

Develop a Distinct Decorating Style

As you gain knowledge and experience, define your personal decorating style. Determine:

Your preferred color scheme
The textures you use most
If you excel more with subtle or bold statements
Your strengths between elegant, whimsical, rustic aesthetics
What types of events suit your style best

This gives clients expectations for your work and allows you to improve a defined direction rather than endlessly changing approaches. But still evolve your style gradually by taking calculated creative risks.

Create an Event Decorating Business

You can monetize your decor skills by starting an event decor business. Critical steps when building your business include:

Construct a business plan – Outline your operations, identify target markets and analyze competitors to strategize how you’ll gain event clients.
Name and brand your business – Choose a memorable business name and design a logo matching your style. Create branded templates, business cards, packaging, labels and decor item tags.
Set up a legal structure – Will you operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC or corporation? Consult professionals to determine what business structure fits your situation best.
Register for taxes – Apply for an EIN from the IRS and research if you’ll need to charge sales tax in your state. Keep detailed financial records from the start.
Build a web presence – Create a portfolio website displaying your decorated events. Ensure your site appears professional and mobile-friendly.
Market skillfully – Promote to sources like local wedding vendors, event planners, and corporate meeting managers. Utilize social media and optimally target potential clients.
Price profitably – Calculate what pricing sufficiently covers your own and any employee labor, material expenses, operating costs, taxes, and profit goals. Consider offering package deals.

With imagination and some fundamental knowledge, you can decorate for incredible events. Define your style. Strengthen key abilities. Treat clients excellently. Adopt smart business practices. Learning event decoration can set you on a rewarding career path doing what you enjoy.

Key Takeaways

Find inspiration and study core decorating principles
Build expertise with various creative skills like floral design
Define your personal aesthetic so clients know what to expect
Construct an organized plan when starting your own business
Market yourself effectively to connect with clients planning events

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I learn flower types and color knowledge for decorating?
Study important meanings and messaging behind different flowers and color schemes. Take floristry courses to gain direct experience choosing and arranging flowers. Practice seasonality of colors and types of flowers. An effective way to learn is also reading flower arrangements at events while analyzing specific selections and choices made by florists.
How much do I need to experiment before offering my decor services to others?
Build an extensive portfolio of sample tablescapes, vignettes, displays, centerpieces, and photo galleries before you pursue customers. Invest significant time testing out decor approaches at home or by volunteering your services to community events before charging for decorating abilities. Becoming proficient requires persistent practice of your decorative skills and knowledge.
How should I price my event decor packages as a beginner?
When first starting event decorating, have more moderate pricing compared to highly experienced decorators in your area while still valuing your time appropriately. As you complete successful events and establish your personal style, you can raise prices gradually. Ensure pricing aligns with the number of services you provide, such as floral arranging only or also decor installation, lighting, coordination. Offer some starter packages with key elements included before full custom planning.
Where should I promote my event decorating services?
Strengthening relationships with wedding and event planners and tableware rental vendors leads to frequent referrals. Advertise in local wedding magazines and connect with complementary vendors like bakers and photographers. Post online portfolios showcasing your work on directories for local businesses. Social media outreach is critical, especially photo-centric channels like Instagram showing your style in action.
What’s the difference between event planning and event decorating?
An event planner handles the client, scheduling, budgeting, renting spaces, selecting vendors, and other logistical elements of the event. Decorators only handle the decorative part after a space is secured, but often offer advice during the planning process on the venue, rentals, layout, etc. Some provide both planning and decor services or help clients in one area, but not the other. Clarify with clients the specific role you’ll perform.
Should I aim to have a niche or be an all-purpose event decorator?
Early on, specializing in one or two event types like birthdays or corporate galas helps you build a reputation but can limit opportunities. As you progress, expanding to other events grows your clientele although some pros focus solely on one specialty like weddings. Analyze if you connect better decorating certain events versus others as that awareness can inform what you promote yourself to do.
How can I expand my knowledge of decorating terminology?
Immerse yourself in reading sources aimed at event planners like magazines, blogs, and books describing decor techniques and styles. Follow influencers on sites like Instagram and YouTube to learn the precise language around floral varieties, types of event furniture rentals, lighting placement principles. Building vocabulary makes communicating with clients and vendors smoother.
What’s an example routine to prepare decorating for a multi-day conference?
For conferences with speakers and breakout sessions across consecutive days, map out room turnover schedules noting when new linen, centerpieces, signage is needed daily. Schedule flower refresh times. Designate areas to store previous day decor elements to reuse or repurpose if possible. Check lighting cues for adjusting atmosphere based on session types and plan ample time to reset lighting appropriately.
Should I provide decor sample boards to clients?
Boards with fabric swatches, photos of floral types being considered, paint strips showing potential color schemes help clients visualize your recommendations before implementation. Some clients cannot interpret your ideas well from verbal descriptions alone so boards provide clearer visual concepts. They also allow you to think through combinations in more tangible ways during the design process before debuting decor.
What skills related to decorating are useful to strengthen?
Practice all varieties of arts and crafts through classes or personal projects to widen your toolbox of decor techniques from calligraphy to wreath making. Study graphic design to create branded event materials that align aesthetically like invitations, signage, and programs. Social media, blogging, and photography skills showcase your talents digitally to a broader audience. Consider learning basic carpentry skills to construct custom decor pieces.
Should I complete a formal education program in event decor specifically?
Some community colleges and trade schools now offer event decorating certificates and degrees. But most working pros have learned through informal apprenticeships and intensive self-development combining studying plus hands-on decorating attempts, mimicking a DIY ethic. Determine your best learning style – formal or experiential – and customize an educational path utilizing those techniques rather than assuming a rigid academic program is the only option.
What are useful tactics to source unique vintage items for decorating events?
Scour secondhand stores, flea markets, estate sales, and online auctions for potential vintage pieces. Visit antique shops while traveling to obtain one-of-a-kind items. Avoid obvious event rental items by repurposing interesting objects you discover like old luggage, mismatched china patterns, or steamer trunks which can serve as charming cake/gift tables. When using antiques, take care to not damage, especially if allowing food or drink.
How can I problem solve limited decor budgets from clients?
Get creative seeking used items from thrift stores or your own home to keep costs reasonable. Suggest clients provide their own candles, vases, trays rather than needing everything specially purchased or rented. For state tax savings, utilize client’s owned assets as “gifts in kind” on invoices versus them buying goods. Recommend mixing a few splurge linen or floral pieces among more budget tableware and bud vase florals. Guide clients honestly on where investing more significantly boosts ambiance versus barely shows a difference.
What should I include in my vendor contract for clients?
Outline your exact services like “design and install event floral” noting if installation and dismantling help is an add-on fee. Require client to provide an event layout and order final headcount before you purchase needed supplies. State what substitutes you may use if a floral variety specified is not in season. Clarify what happens if a contracted event is cancelled with adequate notice, reimbursement wise. Require signing a non-compete clause so couples don’t hire you for design advice then copy all your ideas themselves which protects your proprietary concepts.

Conclusion

Event decorating provides immense latitude to infuse events with beauty and style. Master fundamentals like color schemes, texture contrasts, tying elements into an integrated vision. Grow abilities designing mood-matching floral, using lighting and fabrics creatively. Establish an organized plan when launching your own decor firm. Pursue a personally rewarding venture combining business savvy with your artistic talents. With dedication, you can learn event decor skills to impress any client plus build an exciting career.