Baby Shower Decorations: Themes, Dessert Table and Easy DIY Ideas

A washing line strung above the sofa, hung with tiny white onesies. Jars of sugared almonds, paper flowers on the table, an armchair piled with cushions for the queen of the day. Baby shower decorations do not need a wedding budget to make an impact: a well-chosen theme and a few homemade touches are enough to transform a living room.

Here are themes that work, what you can make yourself, how to style the dessert table and the photo corner, and the precautions that keep the mum-to-be at the heart of the party. Planning, games, the buffet and the gender reveal are covered in our guide to baby showers in Morocco.

Where to start with the decor?

Start with the theme, then the palette, then the areas. In that order, everything falls into place.

1. The theme tells the story: a little cloud, a garden, the moon and stars.
2. The palette sticks to two or three colours, plus a metallic touch. That is what makes decorations look polished.
3. The areas: the dessert table, the photo corner and the mum-to-be's corner. Focus your efforts on these three spots and keep the rest of the room simple.

Quietly ask the mum-to-be about her tastes, or ask her best friend. A baby shower is usually organised by close friends in the third trimester, as the Moroccan mothers' website mamanmaroc.ma points out: it is a party for her, and it should reflect who she is.

8 easy baby shower themes

Beldi chic (beldi means traditional, "from the country" in Darija) suits a party that blends a baby shower with tradition. In 2021, La Vie éco noted that some mums-to-be add a hennaya to their baby shower, to keep the tradition of the seventh-month henna. A nekacha (henna artist) seated on a pouf, copper trays and embroidered cushions are all you need to create this corner.

Girl, boy or surprise: which colours?

Pink for a girl, blue for a boy: the rule still stands, but nothing says you have to follow it. Neutral tones such as sage green, pale yellow, beige, or white and gold suit every baby, and are the obvious choice when the sex is a surprise. If you are revealing the sex during the party, keep the decorations neutral and let the colour burst out when the cake is cut. When an ultrasound can show the sex is explained in our article boy or girl: when can you find out.

A tip for personalising without giving away a name: spell out "Coming soon", "Welcome baby" or "Marhba bik" (welcome, in Darija) in paper or wooden letters.

DIY baby shower decorations

Most of a beautiful set-up can be made in an evening or two, with friends.

• The onesie garland. A thin cord, small wooden clothes pegs and a row of onesies, booties and hats. After the party, everything goes into the baby's hospital bag.
• Paper flowers. Crepe or tissue paper folded like an accordion, tied in the middle, then fanned out. Big ones behind the table, small ones on the glasses.
• Jars. Empty jam jars filled with sugared almonds, petals or fairy lights, with a label matching the theme.
• The name or a message. In cardboard or wooden letters, on a shelf or hung up.
• Pompoms and garlands. In wool, paper or fabric, hung up high. A ready-made garland saves time.
• The guest book. A pretty notebook where each guest writes a piece of advice or a wish for the baby.

To finish, a few decorative accessories or nursery decor pieces bought for the occasion will get a second life in the baby's room.

The dessert table: the set-piece that makes the party

The dessert table has become the signature of baby showers. In 2021, La Vie éco described tables laden with chocolates, sweets, cupcakes and American-style cakes, often joined by Moroccan pastries for the mums and grandmothers. To show it off:

• play with height: tiered stands, cake stands, wooden crates turned upside down under the tablecloth;
• put the cake in the centre, raised up, with small bites on either side;
• repeat the theme colours in the sweets, labels and napkins;
• add a Moroccan touch: gazelle horns (kaab el ghzal), ghriba, chebakia, stuffed dates, in small portions;
• set up a separate drinks table, with water, fresh juices and tea.

Think of the guest of honour. Manger Bouger, France's public health nutrition programme, advises pregnant women in particular to avoid raw or undercooked eggs, which rules out homemade chocolate mousse or tiramisu made with raw eggs, and raw-milk cheeses. Label the desserts concerned and make sure there are others for her. The full list is in our article on eating well during pregnancy.

The baby shower photo corner

The photo corner is often the most-shared part of the party. All you need is a clear wall, near a window for the light, and a simple backdrop: a sheer curtain, a stretched piece of fabric, a flower arch or a big garland. Add a comfortable armchair for the mum-to-be, a few props (a "Mum-to-be" chalkboard, a tiny bootie, a framed scan) and let guests take turns having their picture taken.

On the planning side, one friend can be in charge of photos all afternoon: the mum-to-be will have memories without having to ask for them.

The mum-to-be comes first: heat, tiredness and safety

Good decorations never forget who they are for. In the third trimester, tiredness returns: the UK's NHS notes that carrying the weight of the bump is tiring and sleep gets harder, and advises resting, sitting with your feet up and accepting offers of help. In practice:

• a comfortable armchair with cushions and a footstool, in the shade and away from the speakers;
• cool water within reach, especially in summer;
• a well-ventilated room: sheer curtains, balloons and lights should not block the windows;
• a nearby toilet, with a clear path to it, no stepping over decorations;
• a short party, two or three hours, with an announced end time.

On the safety side, if children are coming:

• latex balloons stay out of reach: the American Academy of Pediatrics advises keeping them away from children until around age 8, and Quebec's INSPQ points out that pieces of burst balloons can choke them;
• small decorative items, sugared almonds, beads and confetti stay on the tables, away from the edge;
• candles go up high, in holders, away from sheer curtains and dried flowers;
• smoke bombs and firecrackers have no place here: the risks are explained in our guide to baby showers in Morocco.

And when the party is over, keep the onesie garland and the guest book: one day they will tell your baby how eagerly they were awaited. For gifts to give the new mum afterwards, our gift ideas that genuinely help new mums take over from here.