Tropical Island Paradise: 5 Must-Have Balcony Accessories

Whether you’re creating a one-time tropical island paradise for a birthday party, or want it year-round to enjoy as an apartment retreat, you’re bound to have fun with this decorating theme. With a few accessories that you can make yourself, or buy at a party supplies store, you can have a paradise that neighbors may enjoy viewing as well. There are few must-have balcony accessories to make the theme look authentic:

1 – Beach Towels

These are great to hang over the balcony rails facing inward for you and other guests to view. The beach towel should have a tropical island paradise theme, such as:

• Hibiscus flowers
• Pink flamingos
• Flip flops
• Surfboards

You can also lay them on chairs on the balcony, as substitutes for throw blankets.

2 – Flower Leis

Depending on the occasion, you can have a stack of flower leis on a table near the entrance to the balcony and encourage guests to grab one and wear them. You can also hang them over the balcony, or decorate the doorway with them. Nailing each leis is the best way to secure them, but you don’t want to run into problems with the landlord because you’ve created holes all over the place. Sturdy tape might work well, depending on the weight of the flower leis. Choose bright colors to accentuate the tropical island paradise theme.

3 – Tropical Beads

If you like to make your own crafts, or enjoy beading, then you should make your own tropical beads. You can also buy them if you’re not so inclined, or don’t have the time. You can use the beads in many ways:

• String them from the balcony rails like the flower leis
• Create coasters by gluing beads to coasters you already have
• Use them to decorate a balcony table
• Hang them off the corners of balcony chairs

You can find tropical beads made out of dried fruit, plastic or glass materials. It’s not a good idea to use them at all if you live with small children, because they will try to eat those beads, which area a choking hazard.

4 – Raffia Table Skirt

Your table is bound to be the center of conversation if you dress it with a raffia table skirt. The material is made of branches and leaves woven together, which gives both a a natural and authentic look to a tropical island paradise theme. As you can imagine, a raffia table skirt is probably not compatible with a pet that has access to the balcony. It will soon become your pet’s mission to destroy it. Either keep your pet off the balcony, or skip this balcony accessory. Use table mats with a tropical theme instead.

5 – Tropical Floor Mat

Tropical floor mats are functional and decorative at the same time. Use a welcome floor mat on the balcony, next to the door so that guests can wipe their feet, or even have a spot for their shoes. Popular themes for floor mats include:

• Palm trees
• Parrots
• Pineapples
• Beach umbrellas

You can also lay floor mats in other areas on the balcony to build on the theme and to act as focal points.

Visit your local party supplies stores to see whether they carry any of these tropical island paradise items. There are also online stores that specialize in this decorating style.