New Year's Eve party ideas at home

Pick a theme and a dress code

A theme gives guests something to look forward to. Roaring twenties, masquerade, disco or black tie all work well with champagne at midnight.

Turn dinner into the main event

Plan a few courses spread over the evening. It gives the night a rhythm and keeps everyone at the table until the countdown.

Play a murder mystery

A murder mystery dinner fits New Year's Eve perfectly: the story unfolds over the courses and the reveal lands just before midnight. With Murder MyStory every guest gets their own character on their phone and the host plays too.

Games before midnight

• Write predictions for next year and open them next December.
• A quick quiz about the year that's ending.
• Hand out silly awards for the best costume or the best liar.

A countdown ritual

Agree on one thing everyone does at midnight, a toast, twelve grapes, or a kiss for whoever solved the murder.