How to throw the best at-home birthday bash

From DIY Cuban cocktails to cameo guest speakers, there are still ways to celebrate your birthday in style this lockdown

Birthday girl dancing in confetti with a black backdrop

by Emily Farquhar |
Updated on

Is your birthday coming up? Any idea how you'll celebrate it? Whether it’s your sweet 16th, 21st, or your ‘dirty thirty’, lockdown shouldn’t stop you from throwing that ‘rager’. You might be thinking, “Emily, how on earth are we meant to ‘throw a rager’ in lockdown?” A very good question and one I might be able to help you with.

Firstly, ditch any idea of having a quiet one on the sofa with some sneaky Uber Eats and a pick-me-up movie. I mean, do it if you want and there will be zero judgement coming from me. But, for those who want to get some plans in order, legal of course, you’ve come to the right place.

Rule number one; get yourself some decent speakers. Wait for it: “Ah, but my neighbours will complain about the noise”. Your neighbours will be fine with you and your housemates letting your hair down for one night. Luckily, we've an article about the best Bluetooth speakers. Rule number two; roughly decide on what kind of party you’re after. If you’re by yourself, then jump on a Zoom call with your family and friends. The first 40 minutes is free, and then I would recommend paying the £11.99. If you want to celebrate it with a few groups of people but know the ‘vibe’ won’t be right hosting one big call, then download Houseparty and interchange between the ‘rooms.’

If you have some housemates and are willing to try something different, why not organise a surprise virtual appearance by a famous guest speaker? Check out Cameo: it’s super easy and somewhat affordable. From actors to comedians and reality TV, the world is your oyster.

Now it comes to the fun part – food, booze and ways you can set the mood. Below I’ve selected the best online deals going now and options so you can pick and choose the right essentials for you.

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Recommended house decorations:

HusDow 70pcs Rose Gold Birthday Party Decorations1 of 5

HusDow 70pcs Rose Gold Birthday Party Decorations

Amazon's number one bestseller in party balloons is these HusDow classy ones in rose gold. This lovely set includes 40 12-inch latex balloons, 10 confetti balloons, 13 16-inch happy birthday letter balloons (with a pipe), two 16-inch star foil balloons, two 16-inch heart balloons and three rolls of balloon ribbon. Being high quality, they will certainly last the entire party. Both the foil and latex balloons can be filled with helium or air, while the happy birthday letter balloons can only be filled with air using a balloon pump. If you want a safe, super-easy-to-decorate option, these balloons are versatile in the sense that they can hang on the ceiling, be mounted on any wall or window and used as a special centrepiece.

Wei Hongyu 36 inch Round Transparent Colorful Confetti Balloon2 of 5

Wei Hongyu 36 inch Round Transparent Colorful Confetti Balloon

These confetti balloons by Wei Hongyu are a great option for anyone wanting something a little bit different. Being 36-inches round, the transparent balloons will add the perfect splash of colour to any room. High quality, durable and extremely lightweight, there are eight balloons that come in the set .

Champagne Bottle and Confetti Birthday Balloon Arch for Birthday3 of 5

Champagne Bottle and Confetti Birthday Balloon Arch for Birthday

If you're after a birthday statement piece, this champagne bottle with fizzy balloons will certainly provide that wow factor. You have the flexibility to either style the bottle from the ground upwards, angle it on a wall or place it around any chosen. Taking only one hour to assemble, the set includes one massive 40-inch champagne bottle balloon, a 40-inch wine glass balloon, 55 12-inch balloons (in four colours), 20 five-inch balloons (in two colours) and all the fixtures needed to keep the assemble together. It's fun, quirky and could just add a smile to that dial during lockdown.

LED Curtain and New-USB Fairy Lights4 of 5

LED Curtain and New-USB Fairy Lights

If balloons and you don't mix, and you want to create more of an intimate setting, these waterproof LED fairy lights in a warm white tone used as a curtain or placed by a window could be your solution. Being 3M X 3M, these lights come with eight different modes. With more than 926 raving reviews, they are completely remote controlled and great no matter the location (garden or gazebo).

Fansteck Professional Bubble Machine5 of 5

Fansteck Professional Bubble Machine

If you want to create a fun mood for the kids (both indoors and outdoors), why not invest in an affordable long-lasting bubble machine? This professional one by Fansteck is made of durable metal and upgraded with a quiet motor and portable handle for any occasion. Great for parties, discos, weddings or stages, the machine has been made with a high bubble output (yes, it's 18-22 RPM rotation generates quite literally thousands of bubbles per minute by one touch). All you need is a power source (its fuse protected) and a love for bubbles. It also does mention to be careful with the concentration of the bubble solution – too strong and the machine will struggle to make bubbles. You also need to buy the bubble solution separately as it doesn't come with the machine.

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Recommended party accessories:

Talking Tables It's My Birthday Headband1 of 3

Talking Tables It's My Birthday Headband

It's fair to say that every birthday girl or boy, whether you are turning 15 or 25, deserves a piece of power, honour and glory for the day. After all, you have just blessed the world with another year of your company. This Talking Tables unisex headband is sold at John Lewis and could be yours for just £9.

Rhinestone Crystal Tiara Crown2 of 3

Rhinestone Crystal Tiara Crown

If you want to make the birthday girl or boy feel special for the day or, better yet, make yourself feel like royalty, this Frcolour rhinestone crystal tiara crown could yours. It comes in a two-pack, one with a comb pin and the other without a comb pin, so your housemates can also get involved. Exquisite and elegant, these tiaras are made of durable hard alloy and rhinestone (L/H – 12.8cm / 5.03cm), adding the perfect amount of sparkle for the day. They are highly regarded for being lightweight (less likely to bring on a headache), and for their sturdiness.

Glitter Tattoos3 of 3

Glitter Tattoos

Since we're in lockdown and need that extra bit of spice, these glitter tattoos could be a fun activity to do on your birthday with easily achievable results. With it being Amazon's choice for 'glitter tattoos', the brand FabLab has received more than 3700 raving reviews. This glitter tattoo kit contains 27 unique tattoo stencils and four different colours (purple, green, red, yellow) to choose from. Whether it's a statement piece you're going for or maybe even something a bit smaller and sentimental, these tattoos can last for up to seven days.

Best booze deals

As we all know, one of the key ingredients to a birthday’s success is booze. And, there are a few ways you can incorporate it into your festivities. If you are after a ‘chill’ birthday, a couple of beers and some champagne for a toast, here are some recommendations:

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Birthday booze

Beery Gift Hamper Selection Box by Beer Hawk1 of 2

Beery Gift Hamper Selection Box by Beer Hawk

Beer Hawk are currently offering a Beer Hamper Selection with five craft IPA beer cans (five percent by volume), a stylish Beer Hawk Aviero tasting glass and a delicious Pitta Chip snack (flavour can vary). Being Amazon's number one bestseller with a five-star rating, this is certainly a tempting option for any beer lover eager to broaden their portfolio and craft beer experience. Handpicked by Beer Hawk's in-house Sommelier team, these IPA's include, Pale Ale, Lager, Session IPA and India Pale Ale, and really are some of the best.

Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d'Or Vintage Brut Champagne, 75cl2 of 2

Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d'Or Vintage Brut Champagne, 75cl

If you're after something a little more on the fancy side, there is a deal at John Lewis for a Nicholas Feuillattes Palmes d'Or Vintage Brut Champagne. Reduced from £130 to just £91, this 75cl could be a perfect little touch on your special day. Being described by Vintage (2002) as among the top one percent of all wines in the world, this French Champagne is definitely one to try.

For the spontaneous party goers, could I tempt you with a night of lavish cocktail-making? The Mixology Brothers are offering virtual mixology masterclasses during lockdown. With a few different package options, you and your housemates, or any virtual group of your choosing, could hop on a call with a skilled mixologist and party the night away. Conducted on Zoom, you can either get a tuition-only class, tuition and ingredient gift box class or a cocktail kit and ingredient gift box class.

If a personal bartender doesn’t appeal to you, there are other ways to whip together some tasty DIY cocktails. Borough Box offers a range of DIY cocktail kits delivered to your door. From Negroni Kits to Cosmopolitan Kits, I’m sure you could find the right kit for you.

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Cocktail kits

The Ultimate Cuban Cocktail Kit1 of 4

The Ultimate Cuban Cocktail Kit

Drink Supermarket has a fabulous deal going on now for 'The Ultimate Cuban Cocktail Kit' by Black Tears. From £150 reduced to £99.99, this cocktail kit contains 700ml of pure bliss. With a booklet and video tutorials included, this kit teaches you how to make eight different cocktails, such as, the Cuban Mai Tai, The Old Fashioned LP and the Daiquiri Progresiva. A super fun activity for any adult birthday setting, this set has been tailored to the progressive craft spirits drinker and is full of a diverse range of Cuban spices brought to you by Black Tears. It doesn't, however, come with any mixing materials, so I've selected what I would use below.

Blusmart 5pcs 700ML Cocktail Shaker Set with Rotation Recipe Guide2 of 4

Blusmart 5pcs 700ML Cocktail Shaker Set with Rotation Recipe Guide

This cocktail-making set by Blusmart brings to you five essential tools in order to make the perfect cocktail. Not only does the set include a 700ml 24-ounce stainless-steel cocktail shaker, but this shaker contains a built-in rotation recipe guide great for someone starting out behind the bar. This means eight different cocktail preparation formulas to ensure we get those complex drinks out to our housemates quickly and efficiently. It's durable, anti-rust and scratch-resistant, retaining odours or staining. It can also be cleaned in the dishwasher. This product has been named Amazon's choice for all 'cocktail mixers' and the set includes a built-in strainer, a stainless-steel spoon, the shaker and a 1.5 oz jigger.

Utopia Hawaii Tiki Cocktail Glasses 18.3oz3 of 4

Utopia Hawaii Tiki Cocktail Glasses 18.3oz

If cocktail-making is on the agenda, then presentation is a must. With more than 426 raving reviews, the set of six is made from glass and can be washed in the dishwasher. High quality and very affordable, the minimalistic and sophisticated design makes the set suitable for any tropical styled cocktail and special occasion.

Personalised Drink Skewer4 of 4

Personalised Drink Skewer

Your beautiful Hawaii Cocktail Glasses can also be accompanied with these personalised drink skewers by Sophia Victoria Joy on Not On The High Street. Approximately 13.5cm high and £3.95 (minus delivery), these skewers could be a great way to ensure you don't mix up your drinks with other members of the house and a perfect accessory to any drink! Being made out of food safe premium quality case acrylic, this could be the personal touch you are looking for.

Recommended food essentials and birthday delights:

When there’s booze, there’s always yummy food. If you're against ordering in takeaway on your birthday during lockdown but need some direction and cooking ideas for your special day, our sister site Yours has lots of recipes to choose from. Clever apps such as SuperCook and BigOven provide that much-needed food inspiration and recipes. All you need to do is choose a few key ingredients and flavours you want to experience on your birthday, and they will do the rest of it for you (apart from cooking it of course).

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Birthday food

Happy birthday biscuit tin1 of 5

Happy birthday biscuit tin

Biscuiteers has thought of a genius idea of creating the 'birthday biscuit tin'; all of our favourite birthday traditions ready to eat in one collection. For £35, you will receive nine chocolate-flavoured biscuits presented in Biscuiteers' famous square-edged keepsake tin. If I were to describe the flavour of these beauties it would be somewhere in between the snap of a gingerbread and the crumble of a shortbread. Cooked with rich cocoa powder, these biscuits make a great luxurious snack you can share with your house members.

Cutter and Squidge Chocolate Squidge Cake2 of 5

Cutter and Squidge Chocolate Squidge Cake

Even though I would like to include all these birthday Cutter and Squidge cakes, for the purpose of this article and just to help you narrow down the choices, I would recommend this Chocolate Squidge Cake. Handmade in London, you could get this delivered to your door for just £34.50 (and a 15% discount on your first order). Just to give you an idea, the first layer is a soft chocolate sponge with choc buttercream and choc custard. This is then filled with all the treats which include brownie chunks, crunch pie, Dream Bar, lashings of salted caramel sauce, digestive crumb and white chocolate crispy pearls. Cutter and Squidge then finish this off with chocolate sauce, more digestive and chocolate goodies.

LUTER Metallic Birthday Candles in Holders Multi Color3 of 5

LUTER Metallic Birthday Candles in Holders Multi Color

When there's a cake, there's candles. For something with a bit more shine, you can get your hands on these LUTER multi-coloured and metallic birthday candles. With 24 pieces included in the set, they are non-toxic, eco-friendly and biodegradable. They burn for a long time and never drop the wax! Game-changer. These candles come with an eye-catching design and a detachable holder. With its steady flame and easy insertion, these candles really do add that special touch for that special person. Their size is also changeable (cut to any length you want) but come in 5.5-inch in length with a 1.2-inch holder.

Top It Cake Shield4 of 5

Top It Cake Shield

For anyone living in a big, shared house or with some high-risk members, one doctor has invented Top It cake shields: 'a party solution for the new normal'. This is to minimize the spreading of germs while blowing out candles, and the spreading by 1400% during this essential party activity. It's thoughtful transparent design and decor makes it not only aesthetically beautiful but Insta-worthy. Coming in three different sizes, rectangular (£14.99), round (£14.99) and slice (£4.99), it's the perfect fit for every party cake.

Amscan Monkey Pinata5 of 5

Amscan Monkey Pinata

Perhaps with your birthday cake and biscuits, a Amscan Pinata Monkey could be exactly what your house needs. Being Amazon's choice for 'pinata', this party accessory not only gives you a chance to smash out some of that lockdown steam but also contains a whole heap of goodies. Weighing 236g, Amazon customer Sarah says, "My daughter was thrilled to bits with it. Well made, looks amazing and faired really well being hit by 40 kids! They had at least one go each!"

Extra activities if your friends can't top the entertainment factor:

Now that you’ve got all the main party elements sorted, if you think your housemates or family members need an activity to get them partying all through the night or even some more birthday spirit, why not organise a games night birthday bash? There are plenty of board games options in our article about the best family board games. However, if you’re living on your own, then why not check out online game sites such as Escape Rooms Durham, Red Herring Games and My Mystery Party for some virtual murder mystery game inspiration.

And last but not least, how to document the big day:

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Birthday bash part 4

Kodak Single Use FunSaver Camera1 of 1

Kodak Single Use FunSaver Camera

Since this is hopefully going to be your only lockdown birthday (touch wood), it is vital we document it for old times' sake. You can buy this great little Kodak disposable camera and get 27 exposures and 12 extras for free. It's also Amazon's number one bestseller for single-use film cameras and might I say, creates cracking images.

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