Modern Baby Shower Themes

When was the last time you attended a baby shower?

If it’s been a while, you may be surprised to find out that they’re more chic than ever. Gone are the days when powder-pink and baby-blue paper honeycomb decorations would suffice. Modern baby showers have personality! Here are five of the most popular themes today:

Circus

The bright colors, geometric patterns, and whimsical nature of a circus or carnival theme puts a smile on everyone’s face. Create this theme by decorating with colorful feathers, harlequin patterns, red-and-white stripes, and adhesive rhinestones from the scrapbooking isle of the craft store. And you can spray-paint ceramic animals from the home-decor department in your color palette.

Vintage Toys

Everything old is new again when you incorporate vintage props into your baby shower. Classic toys from childhood make tabletop centerpieces, red wagons can hold shower gifts, and small wooden blocks can spell out the guest of honor’s name and special words like “baby.” Search your own attic or local thrift store for wooden toys, stuffed bears, sock monkeys, Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and plenty other possible accents.

Wonderland Baby

Quirky Alice in Wonderland–inspired tea parties are very popular now, and they also make a fantastic theme for a baby shower. Ladylike tea sandwiches and flavored teas get a modern twist when you add whimsical colors, patterns, and iconic phrases from the story. Decorate a plate of cookies with a sign that says “Eat Me,” and tie a “Drink Me” tag to each teacup. Place clocks, keys, and playing cards along the table, and use the guest of honor’s name as the central character: “Sarah in Wonderland,” say.

Parisian Chic

Our love affair with Paris will never end, and for a baby shower this theme is perfect for the stylish mom-to-be. You can take a modern approach with iconic symbols like the Eiffel Tower and Picasso, or more of a “traveling” theme, with vintage suitcases and maps and globes all pointing to Paris.

Nesting

Perhaps the most traditional theme is this one, a great play on the “nesting” behavior that mothers-to-be go through during their pregnancy. The décor can play on all bird-related details: nests, eggs, birdhouses and birdcages. You can even decorate with artfully placed branches, with little toy birds perched at various points.

What are your baby shower ideas? I would love to hear them!