Whenever I throw a murder mystery party, I like to ensure that I create the right atmosphere. Decorations can create just the right ambience to help your guests become fully immersed into the game. More immersion leads to better acting, and a lot more fun.
Decorations should match the theme of your murder mystery. You’re essentially trying to create the same mood that you would expect in that particular time period or situation. It could be eerie or luxurious. These decorations can also be used to hide clues for your guests, or add some red herrings to trick them. In fact, an entire murder mystery could be created using posters, scattered pages and notebooks. The right decorations will stimulate your friends senses and ignite their imagination. This will make your night memorable regardless of how the rest of the party turns out.
It doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg either. Dim lighting, posters and music can be enough when used the right way. They can create a mysterious and suspenseful atmosphere that will make players feel like they are participants in a movie. This is level of immersion you should try to bring to every murder mystery.
Using Props and Clues as Decor
You should try add game props and clues to your party decorations to make things more immersive. Instead of simply saying you’ve found a clue at a specific time, you could have your friends search for that clue. You could hide something in a bookshelf using a fake bookspine, tuck clues between pages of a related novel, etc. You could also add cryptic hints to posters displayed on your walls. It will give the most observant players a nice surprise, and you can always direct them to it within the game later on – if it isn’t noticed.
If you want to go the extra mile, you could try out some hardcore ways to blend props into the environment. You could hide a (non-flammable) clue inside a hollowed out candle. This clue will only become available once the candle has burned down the right amount. You’ll have to make multiple candles to work out the right timing, but it’s a fun way to hide clues. Another one I like is using invisible ink to hide message. You can use the old trick of writing a message out in lemon juice and heating it on a lamp to make it visible. These days you can also simply purchase invisible ink online. For a more high tech option, you could write messages in a special ink that is only visible using UV light. These UV light devices are very inexpensive and are small enough to be attached to keyrings.
Table Settings and Themed Serveware
You can use themed tablecloths, napkins, and plates as an easy way to completely change the atmosphere in your home. If you were running a 1920s murder mystery party, then a black and gold tablecloth would fit nicely. You could thrown in some vintage-looking plates and some artsy napkins to emulate that glamorous look. For a more horror-vibe, there are range of blood-stained paper plates and cups that you could use. Even something as simple as changing the color scheme – such as making everything black, could have a huge impact on the atmosphere.
Depending on the theme you’re focusing on, you could use your fanciest cocktail glasses or invest in some goblets for a medieval look. You can use vintage china for your serving dish or use a simple wooden board. Another fun thing you can do is create little signs and put them in front of every dish. You can give your food dishes funny names that could relate back to mystery. One of my favorite things to do is to customize my wine labels to match the theme of my party. You can make your wine look vintage or add information about your party to them. Here are the customizable wine templates I use.
Immersive Audio Elements
Music is one of the most important parts of any movie. It enhances the immersion effect and film companies spend a lot of time and money making sure that the right music is sourced. So if you want an easy way to create atmosphere at your murder mystery party, then you should find music to fit your theme. For the 1920s, I’d use some jazz and swing music. For most other murder mysteries, I’d go with classical music or haunting gothic themes at a low volume.
Sound effects can also be used strategically to heighten the drama. You could add in some thunder effects to your audio, or the sound of creaking doors. There are also a lot of options online that come with rain or thunder added to the music already. You just need to find the right type of background music to match your theme.
When it comes to sourcing theme-appropriate audio, there are several resources available. I like using streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music as they have a wide selection of playlists for different genres and eras. This makes it a bit easier to find music that fits my party’s theme. You can also find playlist on YouTube, but make sure that there aren’t any ads midway through. Websites like FreeSound also have lots of sound effects that you can download and use to enhance the ambiance.
Balancing Theme with Comfort
Don’t go too overboard with decorations and neglect your guests comfort. Making the place look amazing is always a good idea, but you still want everyone to feel comfortable, and you want your home to be functional for the murder mystery. Take a bit of time to arrange your party area on paper. You should make sure that you have lots of places to sit that are cushioned and comfy for long periods of time. You’ll also want to think about the flow of movement in your house. Most guests will be walking around to chat to others, so you don’t want to make your space too cramped. It should be easy for guests to find places to interact with one or multiple people.
Your decorations should also be placed in a way that doesn’t get in the way of activities. Don’t put props where someone might step on it and injure themselves. With props on the buffet table – never add them onto the plate or serving dishes as that’s a clear choking hazard. And when it comes to dim lighting, makes sure that the main areas still have sufficient lighting to be navigated safely. This balance of aesthetics and comfort is super important.
Decorating Tips for an Immersive Murder Mystery Atmosphere
Small changes can have a huge effect on the atmosphere of your party. Just a few simple props and some background music can take the whole experience to a new level. You don’t need to use every decorating tip at your party. Try a few different ones each time and see what works best for you. For me – posters, customized wine bottle labels, and themed music are my staples. I like to throw in something new each time, but those are my main focus. For you, it might be all about the props. Your guests will be quick to tell your their favorite bits at the end of the night. Good luck!
