Get your team excited this autumn and throw an office party that falls right in line with the mood of the season. Crisp fall days, warm colors and big flavors give you plenty of elements to work into the theme of the event. For your office décor, start with the color palette that includes traditional harvest hues. Next put together a collection of popular seasonal dishes. For a bigger impact, try incorporating some more novel concepts such as pumpkin punch bowls or homemade candy apples.

Office Party Decorations

The key to office party decorating is to find opportunities for small changes that make a big difference. Changing the lighting in the room could be the first task on your list. Using floor lamps, accent lighting and holiday lights in lieu of the usual overheads can help change the mood of the room and communicate a festive atmosphere. Disguise drab walls by adding texture with twisted sections of streamers. Use the power of scent to transform the space even further. Use jars of whole cinnamon, cardamom and clove to create a spice-infused ambience. Bring fall colors inside with autumn decor that features gourds, pumpkins and Indian corn.

Get creative with your invitations to get the party started, even before it starts. Send colorful paper or email versions that set the tone with a tempting peak at the menu and a pre-party activity, such as a clever trivia question with an answer that will be revealed at the party.

Party Food and Refreshments

From pumpkin pie to candy apples, everyone has a favorite autumn dessert. Host a competition and collect votes for the office fall favorite, then prepare it for the party. For the rest of the spread, choose items that won’t get hands too messy and mix in several healthy choices with indulgences. Autumnal infused hors d'oeuvres include apple cider donuts, pumpkin seeds, popcorn balls, cupcakes with maple syrup frosting and apples. Don't forget to include some protein options, such as finger sandwiches, spiced nuts and deviled eggs. Keep in mind that some of your guest may have allergy or health concerns that you may have to be mindful of when planning the menu. Ask the invitees to provide this information ahead of time so you can prepare other options, as needed.

At the drinks table, apple cider is a big favorite. Serve hot apple cider, which you can easily heat up in the microwave and add a cinnamon stick, star anise and a slice of lemon to spice things up. Homemade syrups like grenadine and ginger add excitement to any drink and are surprisingly easy to make in advance. For coffee lovers, transform the K-cup machine into a barista station with whipped cream, shaved chocolate, cinnamon and seasonal K-cup flavors such as Autumn Harvest and Pumpkin Spice coffee.

Party Activities

Plan a mix of casual and energetic party activities to appeal to all the guests. Try “Two Truths and a Lie” to warm things up. In this game one person makes three statements about themselves, and the other partner or the group has to guess which one of the three statements is not true.

Cater to the unique culture of your office. If you have competitive cooks in your workplace, ask them to prepare cupcakes for a cupcake tasting with delectable frosting. Award prizes for the top three favorite cupcakes.  If the office style leans toward arts and culture, get one of the music aficionados to create a play list. Invite your colleagues to guess the titles and artists, then award prizes to the most accurate.

Before the office party, put out a jar of candy corn and ask for guesses on how many are inside. Instead of giving away the candy corn to the closest guess, offer up gift cards or the best parking spot for a month.

The most memorable office parties celebrate the culture of the workplace while giving the staff a chance to relax and connect. Don't be afraid to ask colleagues for help preparing and encourage their enthusiasm by tailoring tasks to their interests. Remember to create a budget and set reasonable limits for food, decorations and activities. Most importantly, have a great time.