When decorating for our Murder in the Naughty Nineties murder mystery game, turn your party space into an eye-catching display of neon and 90s memorabilia.
Maybe also include a few "manor house" ideas as the murder mystery is set in a 1990s manor house (Worthalot Manor).
Many of these ideas are taken from our test murder mystery party.
Essential items you will need:
Neon card - we bought a pack of 10 assorted colored A3 (Tabloid) sheets from The Art Box and also two packs of 20 assorted colored neon A4 (Letter size) sheets from UK Card Crafts.
Old records - we got a batch of single records (45rpm) and LPs from a charity shop and also from our local recycling center. *
1990s centerpiece for party table made out of neon card.
Top photo shows the words "Da Bomb" and a mobile made out of Singles records.
Bottom photo shows a DIY 90s cassette and Rubiks Cube.
Instead of the standard dinner table centerpiece of flowers, create a bright colorful 90s vibe.
1 For the main part of the centerpiece, create a large cardboard radio cassette player with the words "I Love 90s" over it.
2 Extend the centerpiece upwards: top this with a large Rubik's Cube made out of card. Place the Rubik's Cube at an angle to add visual interest.
Note: to create the radio cassette player, we took an oblong cardboard box and covered it in black paper card from left to right and then covered it again in black paper from top to bottom so that the paper join was at the bottom. Then we measured the height and width of the covered box and drafted a life-size design onto a piece of paper. We then used a mix of bright pink, yellow, green and orange card to create the outline of the front of the radio cassette player. We created a similar design on the back so that those at the other end of the table also had a good view!
Note: to create the Rubik's Cube, we covered an empty square box (we used an empty box for coffee pods) with black paper from left to right and then covered it again in black paper from top to bottom so that the paper join was at the bottom. We measured the height and width of each side of the box and then we took five different colors of neon card (one for each of the sides and one for the top) and cut 9 equal-sized squares out of each. The squares were sized so that a small amount of black card (approximately half a centimeter) would be visible between the squares when they were in position. We then cut off a small corner off each square and glued them on to the top and sides in a random order.
3 Add a few 90s decorations on top of the cassette player. (For copyright reasons, we are only able to show some of them in the photos above.)
4 Extend this centerpiece upwards still further: create a matching neon mobile. (This provides a striking centerpoint while allowing guests to see and chat to each other.)
Note: we bought a dozen single records from a charity shop and covered these with neon card, both front and back. We used a contrasting color of card for the record centers. We then used different lengths of white cotton to hang these from a ceiling lamp to create an eye-catching mobile over the cassette and Rubik's Cube.
Tip: we had a ceiling light with three separate arms; by hanging different records from different arms of the lamp, we created a 3D effect. If you don't have a similar three-armed ceiling lamp, then simply put pins into different places in the ceiling to achieve a similar effect. (Please take any necessary safety precautions.)
1.2 Mix 90s Party Table Decorations with a Black Tablecloth
As the mystery game is set in a 90s manor house, we opted for a classy black tablecloth and a lace table runner. We also used our best china and crystal wine glasses. Then we added a colorful Nineties vibe.
Table decorations for a 90s murder mystery game.
Neon card was used for table runner words, cassette player and Rubik's Cube.
5 Cut the 90s slang words out of different colors of neon card (one letter per A4 sheet of card) and overlay these on top of the lace table runner.
Note: We chose "Fly" and "Dope" as they are short words. Other slang of the decade you could use: Fly, Phat, Da Bomb, Talk to the Hand, Eat My Shorts, Whatever.
6 For coasters, cover single records (45rpm) with colored neon card. To make them extra-fly, add a circle of contrasting neon card for the center.
7 Use LPs as placemats.
Important: if your tabletop needs protecting from the heat, layer up these LPs with circles of cardboard until you have the right degree of heatproofing. Never put dishes straight from the oven onto these mats.
8 Print miniature menus on neon cards. Tuck these bright menus into a contrasting black napkin folded into a pocket fold.
9 Use the 90s place cards (part of the party game decoration kit) to finish off each place setting.
1.3 Other Neon and Glow-in-the-Dark Party Table Decorations
Bright pink tablecloth.
Coasters are made from the record centers in the game's decoration kit; these centers were glued onto contrasting circles of neon card.
Name tags were glued onto rectangles of bright card.
10 Choose a self-colored bright or fluorescent tablecloth.
11 Create coasters by using the record centers provided in the game's decoration kit. (These centers have 90s slang such as "Talk to the Hand" on a bright background.) Cut out the circles and then glue them onto circles of neon card. (See photo above.)
12 Cut out the name tags provided with the game. Glue them onto contrasting rectangles of neon card. (See photo above.) Optionally, fold the rectangles of neon card into place card shape and then glue on the name tags to create eye-catching place settings. (If you do not wish to do so, two sets of place cards are provided in the game's decoration pack.)
14 Buy a bright neon patterned tablecloth. Mix with bright self-colored neon party plates, cups and napkins. Alternatively, buy a bright self-colored neon tablecloth and mix with patterned neon party plates, cups and napkins.
15 Cover vases, cake stands and serving mats in fluorescent crepe or tissue paper. Wrap glow-in-the-dark neon streamers diagonally around the vases. Or glue on glow-in-the-dark shapes such as circles, triangles or stars. (Use a different color streamer.)
16 Cover table mats and coasters in neon tissue paper or wrapping paper. Use the same color or different colors as you choose. These will look stunning when placed on top of a self-colored tablecloth - or on top of a patterned 90s one.
Tip: to make your party space even more effective, cover large pieces of cardboard or cork noticeboards with the same colored tissue paper. Then add some of the printouts from the game's decoration pack. This will echo the colors of your dining table around your party space.
17 Use a glow-in-the-dark bracelet as a napkin ring for each person. Just before guests arrive, snap and shake them to activate and turn the lights off.
18 Create a mobile over the table with a series of glow-in-the-dark LED glasses, bracelets, balloons, watches, hats, finger lights or jelly rings etc. Activate each device before guests arrive and then turn the lights off for maximum effect.
19 Use neon party favor boxes to hold dry food such as bread rolls, popcorn or sweets.
Slang words (Phat and Da Bomb) spelt in neon card.
One sheet of card was used for each letter.
1.3 Neon Letters as Decorations
20 Create a banner of 1990s slang phrases. Use one sheet of A4 (Letter size) neon card per letter. Attach these words along a wall or door opening using your choice of Blu Tack or thread.
Note: We chose the words "Phat" and "Da Bomb" and attached the letters above the lounge entrance.
21 Turn these slang neon letters into a picture. Take a large piece of cardboard and arrange the letters on top of it and then hang it from a picture frame. Optionally, cover the cardboard with black card first to make the letters stand out.
1.4 Scene-Setter and Neon Decorations
"I love the 90s" is spelt out using different shades of bright card.
22 Create an "I Love the 90s Sign" out of cardboard and bright card.
Note: to make this sign, we covered a square piece of cardboard with black card to act as a frame. Then we cut out a smaller square of green card. Then we cut out the letter "I" from a sheet of yellow card, a heart shape from red card and "90s" from pink card and glued them in place.
23 Hang this sign from a picture hook. For added impact, place it on top of a scene setter or a colored sheet.
Note: the rad backdrop in the photo above is Amscan's wonderful Totally 80s room roll scene setter. We found this a wonderful way to cover the entire wall as guests walked into our dining room.
Radio cassette party decoration made out of cardboard.
The cardboard is covered with yellow paper and then green, orange and pink shapes were added to represent a cassette player.
24 Create a radio cassette player by cutting out the basic shape in thick cardboard and then covering it with yellow card. Use contrasting colors of neon squares, rectangles, and circles to give the illusion of the speakers and controls.
Tip: we drew an outline cassette player on a large sheet of paper and then sketched out where the different components should go. We used a tape measure and ruler to ensure that the left and right shapes of card were the same size.
1.5 Decorating the Main Party Space
A bookcase was covered in a purple sheet and then two bright shawls.
The word "Party" was created from different sheets of card and suspended with pink cotton thread from the bookcase top.
25 For the main party space, combine a scene setter with the word "PARTY" spelled in bright card.
For the party backdrop in our lounge (see image above), we bought a totally rad 7-foot by 5-foot 90s Hip Hop Party Background from Funnytree. We found this to be a superb, eye-catching and vibrant backdrop. As this did not reach from floor to ceiling, we put two bookcases in front of this and covered these with a funky purple sheet. Then we placed a groovy pink shawl over the top and added a Sparkly Sequin Table Runner from Hestya on top of this. Then we created the word "PARTY" out of five sheets of neon cards and used pink thread to hang the letters from the top of the bookcase so that the thread blended into the pink shawl. Finally, we used the bookcase to store the party booklets, clues, and award certificates.
Illustration shows how a movie poster and quotes coud look when framed on orange card and then on black card.
The wavy shapes and jaunty angle add an interesting visual element.
26 Frame posters of 1990s movies, movie stars, singers or pop bands on colored card.
27 Take short quotes from 90s films or songs and print them in large letters on bright card.
Tip: to create a large, totally rad visual, combine a framed poster with two quotes from the film or song. Glue these colored cards at a jaunty angle onto a large sheet of black card. See the illustration above. If you do not have black card, then you could create a similar effect by covering a large piece of cardboard or an old picture frame with a black sheet, black tissue paper or even black paper napkins.
Tip: to add a casual vibe to your party, print the quotes on colored card and then cut around these words with wavy lines to form abstract shapes.
28 Arrange neon or glow-in-the-dark balloons with neon streamers for an easy yet effective focal point. If safe to do so, consider adding glor-in-the-dark sticks or balloon lights into the balloons.
29 Hang a black sheet over a wall. Then arrange neon glow-in-the-dark streamers at edgy angles across this. (The 90s was a decade when geometric shapes dominated design.) Or use this as the backdrop for neon streamers or balloons.
30 Cover a coffee table or sideboard with a black sheet or tablecloth. Then add neon and glow-in-the-dark accessories to make a statement. This can be as simple as wrapping bright crepe streamers in diagonal lines across your coffee table. Or you can get more creative and create a series of geometric shapes.
31 Fill a glass cabinet with neon balloons.
32 Have black lighting to bring out the fluorescent colors.
2 Other Ideas for 90s Decorations
33 Hang a Hip Hop or decade-themed tablecloth on a wall for an immediate focal point. Frame with balloons.
34 Buy a 90s or Hip Hop scene-setter or backdrop room roll. Extend this vertically or sideways with balloons, streamers or foil curtains.
35 Glue the letters of a short slang word (for example "Fly" or "Dope") onto an OLD vase using small dabs of easy-to-remove paint. Spray paint with black paint and then remove the letters and carefully remove the glue. Add some glow sticks or fairy lights inside the vase.
36 Get some old cassettes from a charity shop or jumble sale or buy blank cassettes from Amazon; spray paint and use as a table centerpiece.
37 Buy some small items associated with 90s fads and use them as place settings for a rad table; alternatively, hang from central light fittings, use them as a table centerpiece, or add them together to create a memorabilia table. You can then give these to your guests as party favors afterward. Examples could be slap bracelets, butterfly clasps, scrunchies, Troll Dolls, Beanie Babies, Furbies, Glitter Magic Wands, or Tamagotchi. Or you could have packets of sweets that you remember from the 1990s.
38 Have a fashion corner - arrange garments from the decade such as bucket hats, choker necklaces, 90s wigs, hair scrunchies, butterfly hairclips, leggings. and halterneck crop tops.
Ashley covered a small box with black paper and then painted bright squares of color to create a homemade Rubik's Cube.
39 Create a Rubik's Cube with paper and paint. One of our customers used a couple of homemade cubes as a table centerpiece.
40 Think abstract shapes. The Nineties were cool with abstract shapes. Cover a sideboard with a self-colored sheet; alternatively, cover a large piece of cardboard or an unwanted picture or mirror. Then cut out shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, diamonds, rectangles and squiggles out of neon card, self-colored wrapping paper or crepe paper. Glue onto the sheet to make an eye-catching arrangement.
3 A Nod to Manor House Decor
Manor house corner
41 Create a "manor house corner" where you group together all things related to a manor house. (The game is set in Worthalot Manor.) Examples could be your best candlesticks or china, gold photo frames, lacy table runners, vases of flowers, starched linen napkins, a retro phone etc.
Note: in the photo above, we did this using a great "Bookshelf Tapestry Library" wall scene from UHUSE. We found this a great backdrop for our different decorations. We then framed different manor house printouts from the game's party pack: the Worthalot Worthy family crest, the picture of William Worthalot-Worthy and the Worthalot Manor Servants' Rules. We also added a candelabra and some wooden candlesticks and a retro phone.
42 Alternatively, add touches of the manor house to your 1990s decor. We did this by using a black linen tablecloth, ironed black linen napkins and a lacy table runner. Then we added bright neon table settings and table centerpiece as a rad contrast. (See photo in 1.2 above.)
4 Use the Game Kit Printouts
Your party pack contains both 90s and manor house printouts. Use by themselves, frame on card or paper to make them more visually eye-catching or place inside picture frames.
Scarlet Mopper mops! Behind her are the signs to the Servants' Quarters and the Kitchen.
43 Use the supplied room signs to add a fun touch to your evening.
In Nick's party, Scarlet can be seen mopping in front of the Servants' Quarters sign. (See photo above.)
The Servants' Rules are framed and placed in the kitchen.
44 Frame the Servants' Rules and place them prominently in the kitchen.
These ideas are provided for your inspiration only. Any recipes or recipe ideas should be tested before your party. Ideas for party recipes, decorations or costumes should be adapted as you wish. It is YOUR responsibility to follow any necessary safety precautions.
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