Leanne Bayley
Having a birthday in lockdown? We've got all the ideas for what you'll need to have a fun birthday at home. From birthday cakes, balloons, bunting, banners, drinking games ideas and funny birthday cards.
As the UK's third national lockdown begins to ease, birthday celebrates continue to look a little different. However, we're now allowed to celebrate outdoors in groups of six, which includes our own private gardens.
So while sitting inside a restaurant or jetting off abroad isn't on the cards for 2021 just yet, things are looking up. Here is a list of things you can buy to make a lockdown birthday all the more special…
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A funny quarantine birthday card
If you don't laugh, you'll cry. Send a lols-quarantine birthday card to your pal who's celebrating turning another year older in lockdown. You can send it in the post or there's also an e-card version.
Personalised birthday card, £3.29, Moonpig
Large birthday card, £4.99, Moonpig
A Spotify playlist birthday card
Spotify birthday cards, from £3.29, thortful
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Thortful has come up with the genius idea of including a Spotify code inside a birthday card, which when scanned using a smartphone will open a playlist in the app. Who wouldn't want to receive their own party playlist?
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Balloons
No birthday is complete without birthday balloons and hey, a little bit of confetti will give you something else to do (yes, we're factoring in clear-up time into our day).
A 34-piece decorating set, £14.99, Amazon
Pink balloons 79-piece set, £13.99, Amazon
Ginger Ray Ombre Pink Balloon Wall Party Decoration Pack, £24.99, Notonthehightstreet.com
Champagne balloon, £14.99, Amazon
LED light-up balloons, from £3.99, eBay
Confetti balloons, £11.34, Amazon
Fringe curtain
Fringe curtains are a quick and easy way to create maximum impact for little cost.
Foil curtain, £8.99, Amazon
Birthday face mask
Shopping for a birthday outfit might be a little different this year. Can we interest you in a birthday face mask?
Birthday face mask sticker, £2.69, Spreadshirt
Birthday girl face mask, £3.58, Etsy
Friends-inspired face mask, £5.49, Etsy
Birthday banners
A banner will cheer up a lockdown birthday for sure.
Lockdown birthday banner set of two, £4.99, Amazon
Pink banner, £5.99, eBay
Quarantine birthday banner, £9.99, Amazon
Lockdown birthday banner, £12.90, Amazon
Blue Birthday Bunting, £8.99, Notonthehighstreet.com
Silver Balloon Banner, £5.99, Amazon
Ginger Ray Rose Gold Happy Birthday Balloon Bunting, £7.85, Amazon
End of Lockdown Party Banner, £7.50, eBay
A birthday backdrop
A unicorn backdrop will make the perfect photo opportunity...
Unicorn backdrop, £16.99, Amazon
Game on backdrop, £11.99, Amazon
Gold Heart Backdrop, £8.99, Party Pieces
Pastel gold streamer & balloon backdrop, £22.99, Party Pieces
Birthday cake or snacks
Well, this is a given. Everyone loves cake. You can either make one yourself or order in.
Rainbow cake (with candles!), £30, Marks & Spencer
Large Chocolate Cake, £8.50, Tesco (order at least a week in advance)
Happy Birthday Biscuit Tin, £35, Biscuiteers
Happy Birthday Surprise chocolates, cake and prosecco hamper, £30, Marks & Spencer
Birthday cake shield
Top It is a doctor-invented cake shield created to protect party goers from spreading germs over cakes when blowing out the candles – genius! Plus, it's clear so you'll still be able to see your cake's Insta-worthy decor.
Cake shield, from $14.99, TopItCakeShield.com
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Birthday candles and toppers
Just because you're not leaving the house, doesn't mean your cake can't be beautifully decorated!
Quarantine birthday topper, £4.59, Etsy
But whatever you do, don't forget the candles and you'll need matches or a lighter (don't forget!).
24 metallic pink candles, £6.99, Amazon
Gold Curly Candles (x12), £3.49, Party Pieces
Champion candles, £6, Selfridges
A crown or a party hat and maybe even a tiara
Ok, this is more for the birthday extroverts. If there's a birthday Zoom, be sure the birthday girl or boy is wearing a crown.
Birthday Girl tiara, £15, Monsoon
Tiara for the Birthday princess, £10.19, Amazon
It's My Birthday headband, £9, John Lewis
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Party hats, £13, Notonthehightstreet.com
Happy Birthday Hat, £7.99, Amazon
Wrapping paper
You can buy your usual wrapping paper or you could do something a little more special - personalised gift wrap.
Wrapping paper, £4.99, Getting Personal
A funny lockdown T-shirt
At least, for now, it looks like a lot of 2021 will be spent at home, so there's no reason for a ballgown really, is there?
The One Where I Was In Lockdown FRIENDS T-shirt, £15.99, Amazon
Lockdown rainbow tee, £9.99, Amazon
Cocktail props
How fab are these personalised straws?!
Drink skewer, £3.95, Notonthehighstreet
Tableware
Celebrate a birthday and lockdown lifting with this fun tableware and decorations party kit.
End of Lockdown Party Kit, £11.99, Amazon
Party lighting for home
Hey, if you're going to get the party started at home, you'll need some snazzy lighting.
Lights curtain, £11.99, Amazon
Disco light with remote control, £14.99, Amazon
Disco ball, £11.99, Amazon
A lockdown birthday mug
Make that morning cuppa a little different...
Lockdown birthday mug, £11.99, Amazon
Something a little extra extra?
Because lockdown isn't going to stop the celebrations - with your fellow quarantine pals of course. A birthday in 2021 can still be extremely extra...
Kinder Piñata Birthday Kit, £30.19, Amazon
Tiki garden party, £18.99, Amazon
Rainbow numbers, from £20, Paper Dreams
Pastel garland, £18, Paper Dreams
Murder Mystery Game
Nothing brings people together like a game, and this digital murder mystery, which you can easily buy online, is a winner. You can download a ready-to-play party, upgrade by booking in an actor/performer to join you, or go the whole hog and buy a bespoke soiree. There's a variety of murder mystery themes to choose from, including 1920s Paris and Vintage Circus.
Murder Mystery Game, from £69, The Digital Murder Mystery Co.
Lockdown karaoke
Oh, go on, how fun! If you think the house could do with a boogie, how about buying your own at-home karaoke kit.
Daewoo Bluetooth Portable Karaoke Machine, £134.99, Amazon
Food and drink and at-home experiences
Forget slaving away in the kitchen, go for something a little different for a celebration...
The Pan-n-Ice Ultimate Kit, £79.95, Pan-n-Ice
Make your own ice-cream rolls at home - the at home kits guarantee the same great experience and taste without having to leave the house.
Zizzi pizzas that cook from frozen, £4, Sainsbury's
You can't go wrong with pizza!
Isolation Sensation Chocolate Truffle Kit and Online Workshop, £31, Virgin Experience Days
Indulge your sweet tooth and beat any isolation blues with a live chocolate making masterclass from the team at MyChocolate.
The Easter Hamper, £100, Fortnum & Mason
Brownie Eyed Boi brownies, from £12, Brownie Eyed Boi
Chocolate Gift Hamper, £27.50, Hotel Chocolat
Alcohol
Ok, this is an adults-only birthday party requirement, but plenty of booze is required for a lockdown birthday.
Monthly wine subscriptions, from £39, thewinelist.net
Party fizz - case of six, £60, Marks & Spencer
Gordon's pink gin and tonic, £1.99 each or savings in bulk, drinksupermarket.com
Cocktails, £7.50, Liberation Cocktails
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Drinking games
Let's get the party started!
Trunk of Drunk Drinking Games, £12, Amazon
Prosecco Drinking Games: Pick a Game, Pour Some Bubbles, and Get the Party Started, £7.99, Waterstones
Monopoly FRIENDS Edition, £23.99, Amazon
The best drinking games to play over Zoom
Never Have I Ever
Cards Against Humanity
Truth Or Dare
Bingo
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Music
If you're taking advantage of the new rules and hosting a little gathering outside, some good music always gets the party going. The Sonos One SL has incredible sound quality and it's voice command-controlled, so you can easily skip to your favourite songs.
Sonos One (Gen 2), £179, Amazon
If you prefer your music player to come in pink, the Wonderboom also offers a big, bassy sound. Plus, it's waterproof, dustproof and drop-proof, so you won't spend all day worrying about it.
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, £69.99, John Lewis
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Garden accessories
From lanterns to fire pits, and of course, outdoor bars. Adding extras to your garden will create the perfect party space.
Lucena Cream Tassel Solar Lanterns, £34.99, Lights4Fun
The Little Lily Garden Bar, from £229, Etsy
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Jabanda Metal Firepit, £189, MADE
Bali Garden Parasol, £250, Urban Outfitters
Habitat Beach Bar Gazebo with Stools, £350, Argos
Murphy Farmhouse Bar, £160, Amazon
Garden Bar Party Hut, £739, Amazon
MORE GARDEN PARTY IDEAS:
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