Who says you have to go to an abandoned warehouse, dive bar, underground club, or anywhere else to enjoy the energy and freedom of a great rave? Not us! In fact, you can host a stellar rave at your very own home, provided you prepare beforehand and invite everyone after putting together a plan.
Good news – you can figure out that plan by reading below. We’ll break down how you can host a rave at home step-by-step.
Decorate the Space for the Rave
Of course, you should start by decorating your home so it’s rave ready. You should:
- Get rid of any fragile or sensitive objects on shelves or kitchen countertops. Who knows what can happen during the freedom and fun of a great rave?
- Put up music posters and mirrors for extra cool aesthetics
- Post some laser light projectors, especially around the dance floor. Star Shower Ultra 9 reviews show that this laser projector is the best bet for the money, so buy a few of them to post in corners around your home
- Invest in a smoke or dry ice machine to add some extra atmospheric awesomeness to the party!
The sky’s the limit when it comes to decorating your home for a rave, so get creative and do what feels fun to you!
Pick Rockin’ Music
No rave is complete without absolutely phenomenal music. With that in mind, you need to pick some great jams for your upcoming bash. Go through all of your records, CDs, and digital music and choose tunes that will get people dancing and partying like never before.
If you don’t already have the right music for a rave, reach out to likely party attendees and ask them to donate music. Combined with a few key purchases online, you’ll be able to put together a rockin’ list of music for people to enjoy during the rave.
As a side note, don’t forget to prep your house so you can blast the music loudly all throughout the space. Put up plenty of wireless speakers that connect to your primary stereo so you can control the tunes, but everyone can enjoy the music.
Don’t Forget Party Favors
Party favors, like glowsticks, glowing necklaces, and other rave-appropriate gear are must-haves for any home-based rave. Fortunately, you can find most of these party favors at party stores or even retailers like Target or Walmart.
Once you purchase your party favors, put them in a bowl or box by the door so your rave guests can pick them up and wear them right off the bat. It’s a great way to get in the mood for energizing, fist-pumping rave dancing!
Have Rave Clothes Ready for Guests
You should tell most of your guests to show up ready to rave from the get-go. But odds are at least a few of your guests will forget rave-appropriate clothing, or they won’t have the right accessories on hand when they get to your home.
You can throw an excellent rave party and earn a reputation as a top-tier host by stashing some extra rave clothes in your closet or in a trunk. Rave chaps, torn shorts and jeans, and rave shirts are excellent articles to stock up on before your rave date arrives. That way, even party attendees who don’t have the right clothes can still enjoy themselves and dance with everyone!
Designate a Dance Floor
When you host a rave at home, you need to have a designated dance floor where your guests can get down and funky with each other. Depending on the size of your home, some good rooms might be:
- The dining room, at least if you move the dining table
- The backyard, especially if you have lots of space on the grass or on your patio
- The living room, though you’ll need to move the TV and other major furniture
When in doubt, plan to host your rave outside. Outside rave dance floors let you dance under the stars, plus minimize the possibility of major messes you have to clean up later.
Prep the Backyard Pool for Fun
Have a backyard pool? It’s only natural that your at-home rave will spill out into that backyard sooner or later! Grab some pool floats and inflatables ahead of time so your guests can float around while listening to music or indulging in some alcoholic beverages on the water.
It’s also a good idea to prep some chairs and tables outside for guests who get a bit overwhelmed by the music and dancing inside. If you host the rave mostly outdoors, make sure to clean your pool and get rid of tripping hazards along the edge – the last thing you want is someone spilling their cocktail or beer into your pool water!
Whip Up Snacks and Beverages
As your guests dance the night away, they’ll probably work up an appetite. Plus, every rave is more fun if there are alcoholic beverages on hand. So don’t be afraid to whip up some snacks and tasty beverages before your guests arrive. Some great ideas include:
- Pretzels
- Candy
- Chips and dip
- Spiked punch with the liquor of your choice
- Canned beer
- Boxed wine
- Hard liquor (though be sure to have someone monitor your liquor stores so people don’t overindulge)
If you plan to serve alcohol, make sure everyone turns in their car keys to a designated key master before they start partying.
Consider Hiring a DJ
Lastly, consider hiring a DJ to oversee the music choices and sequences for your rave. Raves are defined by how well the music flows and shifts with the mood of the guests, and a dedicated DJ can keep an eye on this much better than you can while you attend to your hosts. Odds are you can find a quality DJ to hire for a few hundred bucks for one night. Alternatively, maybe you can convince one of your friends to