5 AI Prompts for Creative New Year’s Eve Decor — or any holiday or event

Created by Laura Medley with ChatGPT4 and Dalle3

This is the last of four articles complete with prompts, real-life examples, and exact AI responses from ChatGPT4 (my favorite AI assistant) so you will know what to expect. With these simple AI prompts, you can get ideas on gift-giving, sending out holiday cards, cooking for the holidays, and this one for decorating for New Year’s Eve or any event you may be hosting. As always, feel free to modify the prompts to suit your unique event vision and themes.

At the end of the article, I include a few insights on creating custom instructions to make your ChatGPT assistant even more helpful, so make sure to jump to the end before you go.

Quick Prompt List (for those in a hurry)

I have included real-life examples and the actual ChatGPT4 responses along with the prompts in this article. This article also includes follow-up prompts where I felt they would be useful. For those who don’t want to go through all of the prompt details, here is a quick list of the five prompts with links to that prompt’s complete section.

1. New Year’s Eve/Party Theme Ideas Prompt: “I’m decorating my home for [specific holiday/other event] and would like ideas. I prefer [colors/styles] and have [space details]. What unique decoration themes do you suggest?”
2. Transforming Holiday decor to New Year’s Eve Party Decor Prompt: “I’m transitioning my home from [specific holiday/other event decor style] to a [party type or theme]. My current setup includes [decor style and/or items you are currently using]. I want to have a [mood or atmosphere of event] in my decor and prefer to [other things you find important for your event]. Can you suggest creative ways to repurpose these holiday decorations for a festive [party type or theme from above]? I’m open to [anything else you would like the AI to know for the event] and would appreciate tips on color schemes, and lighting while maintaining a [mood or atmosphere of event from above] atmosphere.”
3. Eco-Friendly Decorating Prompt: “I want to decorate my home in an eco-friendly way for [event or party type]. Can you suggest sustainable and eco-friendly holiday decoration ideas that align with [specific preferences or themes]?”
4. Holiday Lights Display Prompt: “I need help optimizing my holiday light display. The area I’m decorating is [size/description of area], and I’m looking for ideas on design and energy efficiency. What do you suggest?”
5. Customized DIY New Year’s Eve Decoration Ideas Prompt: “I’m planning to decorate for [Holiday/Event: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaaa, New Year’s Eve] and I need some creative [Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced] DIY [Area, e.g., living room, entrance, outdoor patio, entire house AND/OR Decoration type: wreaths, ornaments, table centerpieces, garlands, wall art] decoration ideas. I want these decorations to reflect my [Insert Style, e.g., rustic, modern, traditional, whimsical, eclectic] style and preferences.

Here are more details for you to tailor your suggestions:

Color Scheme: I am thinking of using a color scheme that includes [Insert Color(s), e.g., red and gold, blue and silver, multicolor, pastels].

Materials I Have: I have these materials available for creating decorations: [List Materials, e.g., fabric scraps, pinecones, glass jars, paper, ribbons].

Any Additional Preferences or Limitations: [Include any specific preferences (like eco-friendly materials) or limitations (like small space, time constraints)].

Based on these details, can you provide me with some DIY holiday decoration ideas that suit my style and needs?”

Decorating for the Holidays

When the holiday season rolls around, there’s a certain magic in the air that gets everyone in the mood to deck the halls. From twinkling lights to festive garlands, transforming our homes into winter wonderlands is a cherished tradition. But what do you do to transform that festive decor to something a little more New Year’s Eve’ish? Let’s face it, deciding how to decorate can sometimes feel as challenging as untangling last year’s string lights.

This is where a little AI magic comes in handy. Imagine having a digital decorator to suggest themes, color schemes, and even DIY decoration ideas — all tailored to your taste and the treasures you already have. Here are 5 AI prompts to help you light up your home with holiday spirit. Get ready to turn your home into the holiday haven you’ve always dreamed of, with a touch of AI to guide your sleigh!

Created by Laura Medley with ChatGPT4 and Dalle3

1. New Year’s Eve/Party Theme Ideas Prompt:

Looking for unique and personalized decoration ideas for your New Year’s Eve party? This prompt guides ChatGPT to suggest themes that fit your style and space specifics.

“I’m decorating my home for [specific holiday/other event] and would like ideas. I prefer [colors/styles] and have [space details]. What unique decoration themes do you suggest?”

Example Prompt:

“I’m decorating my home for New Year’s Eve and would like ideas. I prefer traditional styles and have a 10'x10' living room with a large front window. What unique decoration themes do you suggest?”

Example ChatGPT Response:

Decorating your living room for New Year’s Eve with a traditional twist sounds like a fun project! Given the dimensions and the large front window in your 10'x10' living room, here are some unique decoration themes that might inspire you:

1. Vintage Glamour: Embrace a classic, old-world charm with a vintage glamour theme. Use gold, silver, and black as your primary colors. Add vintage-style clocks, antique candelabras, and strings of pearls as decorations. For the window, consider hanging sheer curtains with gold accents or tassels.
2. Winter Wonderland: Transform your living room into a cozy winter wonderland. Use white and silver decorations, like faux fur throws, white twinkling lights, and silver ornaments. A frosted window film could add a magical touch to your large front window, creating the illusion of a snowy scene outside.
3. Roaring Twenties: Pay homage to the 1920s with a Gatsby-inspired theme. Think feathers, bead strings, and art deco designs. Use a color scheme of black, gold, and emerald green. You can drape strings of beads over the window and place art deco style candle holders around the room.
4. Rustic Elegance: Combine traditional and rustic elements for a warm, inviting atmosphere. Use natural materials like wood, burlap, and greenery. Add elegant touches like crystal vases or metallic accents. For the window, a handmade wooden sign with a New Year’s message or a garland of greenery could be beautiful.
5. Classic Hollywood: Get inspired by old Hollywood glam. Use red, black, and gold as your color scheme. Decorate with movie posters from classic films, gold star decorations, and a red carpet leading up to your window, which could be styled with velvet drapes.
6. Starry Night: Create a celestial theme with stars and moon decorations. Use lots of twinkling lights, star-shaped ornaments, and moon phase banners. A projector could cast a starry sky onto the ceiling, and the window could feature a beautiful moon decal.

For each theme, consider adding a focal point in your room, such as a beautifully decorated table with a thematic centerpiece or a photo booth area with props related to the theme. Remember, lighting plays a key role in setting the mood, so consider soft, warm lights to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

Also, since you have a large front window, make it a highlight. Whether it’s through thematic window stickers, a beautifully draped garland, or elegantly strung lights, this window can become a key feature in your decoration scheme.

Finally, given your interest in AI, you might enjoy integrating some smart home elements, like programmable LED lights or a smart speaker for music and a festive ambiance. Enjoy your decorating and Happy New Year!

Try This: You can add follow-up prompts asking it more details about any of these ideas as well as where you can find the materials and items for purchase or to make yourself.

Created by Laura Medley with ChatGPT4 and Dalle3

2. Transforming Holiday decor to New Year’s Eve Party Decor Prompt:

Transitioning your decor from Christmas to New Year’s Eve? This prompt helps you repurpose holiday decorations to fit the festive spirit of a New Year’s party.

“I’m transitioning my home from [specific holiday/other event decor style] to a [party type or theme]. My current setup includes [decor style and/or items you are currently using]. I want to have a [mood or atmosphere of event] in my decor and prefer to [other things you find important for your event]. Can you suggest creative ways to repurpose these holiday decorations for a festive [party type or theme from above]? I’m open to [anything else you would like the AI to know for the event] and would appreciate tips on color schemes, and lighting while maintaining a [mood or atmosphere of event from above] atmosphere.”

Example Prompt:

“I’m transitioning my home from traditional Christmas holiday decorations to a New Year’s Eve party theme. My current setup includes traditional holiday items like a Christmas tree, wreaths, red and green ornaments, string lights, and a collection of candles. I love a blend of elegance and fun in my decor and prefer to reuse as much as possible to be sustainable. Can you suggest creative ways to repurpose these holiday decorations for a festive New Year’s Eve party? I’m open to DIY ideas and would appreciate tips on color schemes, and lighting, adding a fresh twist while maintaining an elegant and fun atmosphere.”

Example ChatGPT Response:

Transitioning your home from Christmas to a New Year’s Eve theme using your existing holiday decorations is a fantastic and sustainable idea. Here are some creative ways to repurpose your holiday items:

1. Christmas Tree Makeover: Transform your Christmas tree into a New Year’s celebration tree. Replace red and green ornaments with gold, silver, and black ones. If you don’t have these, consider spray-painting some of your existing ornaments. Add some homemade 2024 numbers and hang glittery streamers or ribbons. Top it off with a star or a sparkly New Year’s Eve themed topper.
2. Wreaths as Centerpieces: Use your holiday wreaths as table centerpieces. Place them flat on the table and add a cluster of candles in the center. You can also weave in some silver or gold ribbon or tinsel to give them a more New Year’s Eve look.
3. String Lights for Ambiance: String lights can create a beautiful, soft lighting effect. Drape them around doorways, windows, or along the walls. For a fun twist, you could create a backdrop for a photo area by hanging the lights vertically along a wall.
4. Candle Arrangements: Group your candles together on tables or mantels. You can wrap the candle bases in gold or silver ribbon or set them atop mirrored coasters or tiles to create a glamorous look. Adding some crystal elements or glass beads around the candles can enhance the elegance.
5. Color Scheme: Shift the color scheme from red and green to more neutral and metallic colors like gold, silver, black, and white. These colors add a touch of sophistication and are perfect for New Year’s Eve.
6. DIY Countdown Clocks: Use cardboard, paint, and a bit of creativity to make large countdown clocks. These can be wall decorations or smaller table pieces.
7. Balloon Drop: Create a DIY balloon drop using a large plastic tablecloth and balloons in your new color scheme. This can be rigged to release at midnight for a fun surprise.
8. Repurposed Ornaments: Fill clear glass vases or bowls with your red and green ornaments, and add a layer of gold or silver spray paint or glitter for a festive look.
9. Champagne Glass Tower: If you have a collection of champagne glasses, create a decorative tower as a focal point on your dining or buffet table.
10. Memory Jar: As a personal touch, convert a large jar into a memory jar. Encourage guests to write down their favorite memory from the past year or a hope for the new year on a piece of paper and add it to the jar.

Remember, the key is to blend elements of your existing decor with a few new touches or adjustments to fit the New Year’s Eve theme. Have fun with the transformation and Happy New Year!

Try This: You can add follow-up prompts asking it more details about any of these ideas as well as where you can find the materials and items for purchase or asking for detailed steps to make it yourself.

Created by Laura Medley with ChatGPT4 and Dalle3

3. Eco-Friendly Decorating Prompt:

For an environmentally conscious celebration, this prompt will inspire eco-friendly decoration ideas.

“I want to decorate my home in an eco-friendly way for [event or party type]. Can you suggest sustainable and eco-friendly holiday decoration ideas that align with [specific preferences or themes]?”

Example Prompt:

“I want to decorate my home in an eco-friendly way for New Year’s Eve. Can you suggest 3 sustainable and eco-friendly holiday decoration ideas that align with a modern ringing in the new year theme?”

Example ChatGPT Response:

Absolutely, creating an eco-friendly and modern ambiance for New Year’s Eve is both stylish and sustainable. Here are three ideas that align with this theme:

Recycled Paper Decorations:

• Origami Garlands: Create garlands using recycled paper. You can fold origami shapes like stars, diamonds, or even abstract forms. Paint them in metallic shades like gold or silver using eco-friendly paint for a modern touch. These garlands can be strung across the room or used to decorate your New Year’s Eve table.
• DIY Countdown Wall Art: Use cardboard or scrap paper to create large numbers representing the upcoming year. Decorate these numbers with natural materials like leaves, dried flowers, or even repurposed fabric scraps. This wall art becomes a centerpiece for your celebration and can be recycled afterward.

Sustainable Lighting:

• LED String Lights: Reuse any LED string lights you might have. LED lights are energy-efficient and can be used to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Arrange them in creative patterns on walls or drape them around windows or furniture.
• Solar-Powered Lanterns: If you have an outdoor space, consider using solar-powered lanterns. These can be hung from trees or placed around the garden or balcony, providing a gentle, eco-friendly light source.

Natural and Reusable Decor:

• Potted Plants and Herbs: Instead of traditional cut flowers, decorate with potted plants, herbs, or small trees. These can be adorned with biodegradable glitter or small LED lights. Not only do they look beautiful, but they can also be used long after the party.
• Wooden and Stone Accents: Incorporate elements made of wood or stone. For example, wooden coasters, stone candle holders, or driftwood pieces can be used as table centerpieces. These materials are durable, natural, and add a modern, earthy feel to your decor.

Remember, the key to eco-friendly decorating is to use materials that are either biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable, minimizing waste and environmental impact. These ideas should help create a festive yet sustainable New Year’s Eve atmosphere in your home.

Created by Laura Medley with Imagine by Meta AI

4. Holiday Lights Display Prompt:

Enhance your holiday light display with this prompt, focusing on energy-efficient and visually stunning designs.

“I need help optimizing my holiday light display. The area I’m decorating is [size/description of area], and I’m looking for ideas on design and energy efficiency. What do you suggest?”

Example Prompt:

“I need help optimizing my holiday light display. The area I’m decorating is 15'x20' side deck overlooking a pond water feature, and I’m looking for ideas on design and energy efficiency. What do you suggest?”

Example ChatGPT Response:

Optimizing your holiday light display for a 15'x20' side deck overlooking a pond water feature can create a stunning visual while being energy-efficient. Here are some design and efficiency ideas:

LED Lighting:

• Use LED lights exclusively as they are more energy-efficient and longer-lasting than traditional bulbs. They also come in various colors and styles, such as icicle lights, fairy lights, or net lights.

Strategic Placement for Maximum Impact:

• Highlight key features of your deck and pond. Use string lights along the railing of your deck to outline the area.
• Submersible LED lights can be placed in the pond to create a glowing water effect.
• Illuminate pathways or steps for safety and aesthetics.

Solar-Powered Lights:

• Consider solar-powered lights, especially in areas that receive adequate sunlight during the day. This can significantly reduce your energy consumption.

Timers and Smart Controls:

• Implement timers to ensure lights are only on during peak viewing hours, like dusk to late evening.
• Smart plugs connected to a mobile app or home automation system can give you more control and help monitor energy use.

Reflective Decorations:

• Use reflective decorations like mirrored balls or shiny metallic ornaments. These decorations can amplify the light without the need for additional lights.

Focal Points and Themes:

• Create a focal point, like a lit-up Christmas tree or a large illuminated star, which can be the centerpiece of your display.
• Consider a theme that complements the natural setting, like a winter wonderland with white and blue lights, or a classic Christmas theme with red and green.

Minimize Light Pollution:

• Be mindful of your neighbors and local wildlife. Avoid overly bright lights or flashing effects that can be disruptive.

Energy-efficient Projectors:

• Use holiday-themed light projectors to cover a large area with festive images or patterns. They consume less energy than traditional string lights.

Layering Lights:

• Layer different types of lighting (ambient, task, and accent) to create depth. For example, ambient lighting for general illumination, accent lights to highlight the pond, and task lighting for areas like seating.

Sustainable Decorations:

• Complement your lights with eco-friendly decorations like wreaths, garlands, and fabric ribbons.

By focusing on energy efficiency and strategic placement, your holiday light display can be both breathtaking and environmentally friendly, enhancing the beauty of your deck and pond setting.

Created by Laura Medley with Bing and Dalle3

5. Customized DIY New Year’s Eve Decoration Ideas Prompt:

Dive into DIY for New Year’s Eve with this prompt, designed to extract creative and skill-level appropriate decoration ideas from ChatGPT.

“I’m planning to decorate for [Holiday/Event: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaaa, New Year’s Eve] and I need some creative [Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced] DIY [Area, e.g., living room, entrance, outdoor patio, entire house AND/OR Decoration type: wreaths, ornaments, table centerpieces, garlands, wall art] decoration ideas. I want these decorations to reflect my [Insert Style, e.g., rustic, modern, traditional, whimsical, eclectic] style and preferences.

Here are more details for you to tailor your suggestions:

Color Scheme: I am thinking of using a color scheme that includes [Insert Color(s), e.g., red and gold, blue and silver, multicolor, pastels].

Materials I Have: I have these materials available for creating decorations: [List Materials, e.g., fabric scraps, pinecones, glass jars, paper, ribbons].

Any Additional Preferences or Limitations: [Include any specific preferences (like eco-friendly materials) or limitations (like small space, time constraints)].

Based on these details, can you provide me with some DIY holiday decoration ideas that suit my style and needs?”

Note: You dont need to include all of these, but the more the more specific response you will get.

Example Prompt:

“I’m planning to decorate for New Year’s Eve and I need some creative Beginner DIY Dining Room table centerpiece decoration ideas. I want these decorations to reflect my whimsical style and preferences.

Here are more details for you to tailor your suggestions:

Color Scheme: I am thinking of using a color scheme that includes gold and rose.

Materials I Have: I have these materials available for creating decorations: glass jars, paper, ribbons, and roses.

Any Additional Preferences or Limitations: I prefer to use eco-friendly materials and have a small space.

Based on these details, can you provide me with some DIY holiday decoration ideas that suit my style and needs?”

Example ChatGPT Response:

Absolutely, your New Year’s Eve decoration plan sounds delightful! Based on your preference for a whimsical style, the gold and rose color scheme, and the materials you have, here are a few beginner-friendly DIY centerpiece ideas for your dining room table:

. Rose and Ribbon Fantasy Jar:

Materials: Glass jars, ribbons, roses.

How to Create:

Fill the glass jars with water and place the roses inside. If the roses are long-stemmed, trim them to fit comfortably.

Tie ribbons around the neck of the jars in bows, using gold and rose-colored ribbons.

For an added whimsical touch, you can hang small charms or beads from the ribbon.

Arrange these jars in a cluster at the center of your table.

. Eco-Friendly Paper Stars:

Materials: Paper, star template, scissors.

How to Create:

Cut the paper into star shapes using a template.

You can fold them to be 3D or keep them flat.

Paint them in gold, and once dried, arrange them on the table, or hang a few above the table using fishing line for a “starry” effect.

. Jar of Wishes:

Materials: Glass jar, paper, pens.

How to Create:

Cut the paper into small strips.

Invite your guests to write their wishes for the New Year on the strips and place them in the jar. This can be a great conversation starter and activity during the evening.

Decorate the jar with ribbons and place it centrally on the table.

Remember, the key to a whimsical style is to play with different heights and textures while keeping the overall look light and playful. With your preference for eco-friendly materials, these ideas can be easily adapted to ensure sustainability. Enjoy your crafting and have a wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration!

Note: You can then follow up with prompts asking for detailed step-by-step instructions for any of the decorations.

About These Prompts

To get the most use out of these prompts, you need to include detailed information. The more detailed, the more tailored and useful the suggestions will be.

I have personally tested each of these prompts as of this article’s writing in November 2023 and included follow-up prompts that will assist you in creating your holiday masterpieces. Since ChatGPT and other generative AI models are continually evolving and learning, you may need to tweak these prompts a bit, depending on when you use them, as the model may have changed.

At the time of writing this article, ChatGPT4 is currently limited to existing users, but Microsoft’s Bing, which uses the GPT4 model from OpenAI, is available for free use. You can also try some of the other generative AI assistants like Bard from Google Labs and Claude from Anthropic if you would like to see what they can do, but my favorite currently is ChatGPT4.

Create Your Own ChatGPT Custom Instructions

ChatGPT also allows you to create personalized “Custom Instructions” that tell it a bit about you and how you would like it to communicate with you. This is an addition to the standard ChatGPT model, offering a more specialized version that makes interacting with ChatGPT even easier and more productive.

To access Custom Instructions, click on your name at the bottom left corner of the ChatGPT interface. There, you will see an icon and a link that opens a window where you can answer two questions:

• 1. What would you like ChatGPT to know about you to provide better responses?
• 2. How would you like ChatGPT to respond?

You can use up to 1500 characters for your responses to these questions.

Some comments I included in the second question of my version of ChatGPT were designed to create a more dialogic and collaborative feel, which works best for how I interact with the model. Here are a few examples to give you an idea:

• “If you don’t have an exact answer or are unsure of an answer’s viability, please ask me for more information or clarification.”
• “Please respond with more questions if my request is not clear enough or if it seems ambiguous.”
• “If something more can be added to the response that is outside of what I specifically asked for, please suggest it.”

Learn more about Custom Instructions for ChatGPT.