December has arrived, so it's high time to begin thinking about how to ring in the New Year properly. The holiday menu, presents, and outfit choices are wonderful, of course, but the most important thing is capturing plenty of vivid photos from the celebration! That's when professional studios come in handy, tempting clients with winter-themed photo sessions. But don't rush to spend money just yet! In today's GoSeekNest magazine, I'll be sharing:
How to set up a New Year's photo corner by yourself
You won't need a big budget either. Just a bit of time, some patience, creativity, and everyday materials — that's all it takes to get gorgeous photos on the most magical night of the year!
1. Tinsel and metallic streamers
photo: Pinterest, Pinterest
This is one of the simplest methods for designing a New Year's photo corner. Start by clearing a corner of your room or choosing a suitable section of wall. You can also drape tinsel tightly across a window, then enhance it with ornaments, baubles, chiffon fabric, or paper snowflakes.
photo: Pinterest
Scatter balloons or metallic streamers along the floor, and add numbers representing the upcoming year to the setup. Tinsel can also be layered, and you can trim it with scissors so all the colors you've chosen are visible. Honestly, your imagination is the only limit!
2. Paper and foil garlands
photo: Pinterest
Back in the day, you and your folks probably made DIY garlands together for New Year's. You can cut them from white or colored paper, cardstock, and foil, and have fun experimenting with shapes and hues. Circles, snowflakes, stars…
photo: Pinterest
Golden foil medallions in various sizes look especially stunning. Glue the cutout shapes onto long strings, hang them around the room, and voilà — your garlands are ready for pictures! This kind of foil can be picked up at decoration shops or online for around 180 rubles per roll.
photo: Pinterest
If you've got the time and patience, you can even craft an entire wall panel from shiny foil! Cover the wall with thick paper or cardboard, then stick the cutout circles onto it (double-sided tape works great). It's a bit of work, sure, but the final result is absolutely gorgeous!
3. Cotton ball garlands
photo: Pinterest, Pinterest
Naturally, the New Year brings snow to mind for most of us. So why not lean into that theme when designing your photo corner? Roll up cotton balls in various sizes, thread them onto a string, and don't forget to glue them in place. To amplify the snowy effect, mix in larger snowflakes crafted from foam or plastic.
4. Snowflake garlands
photo: Pinterest
Come on, who among you hasn't folded and cut paper snowflakes as a kid, then stuck them on the window? Time to dust off those skills and use them to dress up your New Year's photo corner! The web is packed with templates for crafting the most delicate and elegant designs. They can be made in various sizes and colors, then strung along a long thread.
photo: Pinterest, Pinterest
By the way, you could line the wall with crepe paper in blue, silver, or any color you like beforehand, so the garland pops against the backdrop. Alternate the snowflakes with stars and other shapes if you wish. Let your imagination run wild!
5. Holiday ornaments
photo: Pinterest, Pinterest
They're not just for the Christmas tree — they work beautifully in a photo corner too. Got a wide panoramic window? String the baubles across it using threads of varying lengths and ornaments in different sizes. Solid-colored ornaments or matching baubles tied onto an elegant coordinating curtain also look amazing. Play around with it — your photos are guaranteed to come out stunning!
6. Balloons
photo: Pinterest, Pinterest
Balloons instantly bring a celebratory feel to any room, so it's no surprise they make a fantastic New Year's photo corner. Regular ones can float from the ceiling or be scattered across the floor, while helium-filled ones can be positioned at different heights. That graceful "cloud" will serve as a wonderful photo backdrop, particularly if the wall behind is draped in garlands or tinsel.
photo: Pinterest
You can also use themed balloons, which are easy to order specifically for the occasion. A floating champagne bottle sets the perfect festive mood, and white balloons printed with clock faces will remind everyone that the current year is winding down and a fresh one is about to begin. Loads of options!
7. Gift wrap
photo: Pinterest
One of the most straightforward approaches is grabbing a few rolls of New Year's-themed wrapping paper. They come in various shades: white, red, blue, or green. The snowflakes, Christmas trees, gifts, Santas, and other festive designs printed on them blend perfectly into a holiday photo setup.
photo: Pinterest
Even plain wrapping paper can serve as a lovely backdrop on its own, since you can always jazz it up with balloons, ornaments, streamers, or garlands. Pick what appeals to you and craft that holiday vibe yourself!
8. Bows
photo: Pinterest
Since we're on the topic of wrapping paper, those chic gift bows shouldn't go to waste either. Use them to decorate a wall, picking a few shades that complement each other. This kind of photo setup feels just as festive and unique.
9. Ribbons
photo: Pinterest
Another option: decorate the wall with broad ribbons. Pick them in holiday colors so they coordinate with one another. Pairings like red and white, red and green, red and gold, green and gold, red and silver, or silver and green will look particularly striking. Stretch the ribbons snugly across the wall and you're all set!
10. Oversized snowflakes
photo: Pinterest
A brilliant idea is to embellish the photo area with large paper snowflakes, which the whole family or group of friends can cut together from sturdy Whatman paper. Position them over a layer of crepe or gift wrap paper.
photo: Pinterest
You can even suspend a few snowflakes from the ceiling to give the New Year's photo corner extra depth and visual interest. Toss in some confetti and party poppers, and your holiday photos will be bursting with energy!
11. String lights
photo: Pinterest
So simple yet so effective! String lights are a staple in most households. All you need to do is arrange them along the wall, secure them, and switch them on! Cover the wallpaper with crepe paper or gift wrap, and you've got yourself a chic photo corner!
photo: blogspot.com
If you have a lovely chiffon curtain at the window, you can work with that too. Place the lights behind it and turn them on. The result is super elegant! You could also drape the tulle along the wall — the effect is just as nice.
Bonus: a photo frame prop
photo: Pinterest
To make your shots even more memorable, you can craft a festive frame at home from basic supplies. Cover it with gift wrap, then adorn it with bows and small ornaments. Your loved ones will absolutely love posing with this fun addition to the photo corner!
