Rumor has it that life begins at 40. Let’s brainstorm and highlight the best 40 year old birthday party ideas and trends, so you can make that special someone in your life feel so ALIVE! Without further ado, let’s dive into those stellar birthday party decorations, themes, and ideas that will help give you a line of sight for how you want to celebrate your favorite 40-year-old.
This post is all about 40 year old birthday party ideas. It contains affiliate links, meaning I might receive a small commission, but at no cost to you.
With any birthday party comes birthday decorations. Experts say the most popular color to showcase for age 40, is burgundy. This is the perfect shade to go with when honoring that special woman in your life who is moving out of her 30s.
A great color to pair burgundy with is rose gold. Check out this mood board staged with 40th birthday party decorations to get a feel for how you might want to layer in those rose, wine, and coral shades.
40th Birthday Party Decorations for Her
- 40th Birthday Candles- https://amzn.to/3Cxlldo
- Women’s 40th Birthday Tee- https://amzn.to/3jQGdWh
- Rose Gold Glitter Happy Birthday Sign-https://amzn.to/3ieoeJf
- 40th Birthday Paper Plates, Napkins, and Cups Combo- https://amzn.to/3vK9Ye9
- #40 Balloons- https://amzn.to/3GOt8WQ
- Kissing My 30’s Goodbye Balloons- https://amzn.to/3GoSaKq
- Rose Gold Dotted Tablecloth- https://amzn.to/3Ztwhma
- Eucalyptus Garland- https://amzn.to/3vIszHt
- Crown and Sash- https://amzn.to/3GqxGkw
- Streamers- https://amzn.to/3WUskFd
40th Birthday Party Decorations for Him
For guys, the color scheme is a little more standard and stays in line with the simple shades. For this mood board, I went with black, gold, and silver colors. Check out these decorations and use them as inspiration, or a starting point, for brainstorming for your party.
- Tableware Set- https://amzn.to/3QkWHCa
- Straight Outa My 30s Shirt- https://amzn.to/3GLNgIO
- Disposable 40th Tablecloth- https://amzn.to/3QjY6ZZ
- #40 Candles- https://amzn.to/3VTduNV
- Gold #40 Balloons- https://amzn.to/3XuvNuj
- Happy Birthday Banner- https://amzn.to/3ZfOJOR
- 40th Birthday Hat- https://amzn.to/3vHPItE
- Outdoor String Lights- https://amzn.to/3GMxuNZ
- Silver, Black, and Gold Backdrop Streamers- https://amzn.to/3X3Ht6W
40th Birthday Party Games
Scavenger Hunt for the Adults
Have you ever gone on a scavenger hunt when you were little? Weren’t they so fun? Think about having an adult version where everyone at the party joins in. The hunt can be staged around the house, or you can create a fun printable checklist for your guests and hit the streets for your hunting. Click here for more scavenger hunt ideas.
The Hilarious, This or That Game
Have you ever played the This or That Game? Also known as the “Would You Rather” game. It’s where you ask fun and thought-provoking questions, and your guests answer them by moving to one side of the room or the other. Questions such as, “Would you rather have 10 dogs or 10 cats?” It’s a perfect icebreaker when getting the party started! Click here for more This or That questions you can ask your guests.
Card Games that Entertain
Don’t underestimate the fun you can have with simple card games. Break out the Uno, Go Fish, or Yahtzee cards and have a ball. You can wrap the game around the special birthday guest and let him/her deal the cards or be the first one up to “bat.”
40th Piñata Funsies
Amazon has the cutest #40 piñatas that would be the perfect addition of fun, laughs, and goodies to your birthday party. You can stuff in adult items such as money, scratch-offs, and funny “getting-old” GAG products like prune juice, Bengay, and Ace Bandages. Click here for piñata ideas.
White Elephant Birthday Gift Exchange
You can have a white elephant gift exchange any time of year, not just at Christmas. Why not have it as one of your 40th birthday party games and make a specific request for the gifts to be funny with a “getting-old” theme? Make this one hilarious!
40th Party Themes and Ideas
Turn it into a Surprise Party
If you want to make the 40th celebration a surprise, make sure your guest of honor enjoys being surprised. You certainly don’t want the Leslie Gore song, “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to” playing in their mind for the entire gathering. LOL!
Costume Party
Have your guests dress up in superhero costumes that were popular way back in the day when your favorite 40- year-old was a kid. Or any other fun costume theme you can think of would be wonderful, too.
Cookie Baking/Decorating Party
Does the birthday boy/girl love to bake? Transform this party into a cookie-baking theme and frost the sweet treats after they cool. Have a contest on who can be the most creative with their design! Maybe they can win a special party favor that night. Click here for our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Favorite Pinterest Recipe Potluck
Pinterest is such a popular website for gleaning recipes and so much more. Have your guests bring their favorite Pinterest dish to share and make the dinner party a potluck gathering. Everyone will love trying out the new flavors as well as showing off their cooking talents.
Take a Group Cooking Class
Does he/she love to cook? Take their group of friends and family to a cooking class at your local Sur La Table (or community venue that provides cooking services) and have a blast making new and fresh masterpieces everyone will love.
Make it a Day at the Beach
If it’s hot outside, why not bring the party to the beach and enjoy swimming, squirt gun wars, beach volleyball, and a fabulous BBQ?
Go Ice Skating or Roller Skating
If your guest-of-honor loves to move with wheels under their feet, take him/her roller skating. If it’s wintertime, go ice skating and bring some of their favorite friends along. Many times, if you have a large enough group, you can rent the space out so it’s just your group skating.
Host a Fancy Dinner
Your birthday guest will feel so loved when sitting at the head of a beautifully staged table dressed in his/her honor. Rise a glass and give a toast to the birthday king/queen. To keep the conversation rolling through dinner, have everyone share a special memory about their celebrated friend.
Hit the Hills and Go Skiing or Sledding
Depending on if there is snow when you are celebrating that special 40-year-old, will determine if skiing or sledding is an option for enjoyment. If you have a group of adventurous people in his/her circle of friends, why not invite everyone to meet up at the local hill and have a blast celebrating while bundled up in the great outdoors?
Put on Your Dancing Shoes and Go Square-Dancing
If your favorite 40-year-old loves to dance, you can rent a room for your group at a local square-dancing venue or create your own dance floor in your home or backyard, and boogie until their dancing shoes fall off.
Make it a Food Themed Party
My dear friend Barb has a special 40th birthday celebration coming up for her son. He requests that she make Grandma’s famous pasta with stuffed meatballs. Another fun 40th birthday party idea is to wrap the celebration around a food theme.
In light of this special Italian recipe, Barb could make the entire party all about Italian food, and have the decorations give off the look and feel of Olive Garden.
Have a Bon Fire Party with S’mores
Hosting a bonfire and roasting s’mores is a hot and trending 40th birthday party idea you can host, any time of year. I remember as a little girl when we would go up north snowmobiling, how we would always have bonfires in the snow and roast marshmallows. We would get bundled up in our snow gear and enjoy the warmth of the bonfire while eating our gooey sweet treats.
Or, if you prefer the great indoors during the winter season, Amazon has the cutest tabletop s’mores fire pit options (click here for some fun tabletop fire pit options) where you and your special guests can stay toasty warm inside and roast their marshmallows while gathering around the kitchen table.
If you want to knock your firepit hosting, s’mores roasting, 40th birthday party outa’ the park, place all of your sweet marshmallow treats and sidekicks on a charcuterie board. Click here for tips on how to create one.
Candy Land Goodness
This one is referring to, not the Candy Land game, but the staging of your 40 year old’s favorite candy treats. You can layer in, buffet style, cute bowls or beautiful glass jars with lids, depending on which you prefer.
Other Fun Posts You Might Want to Check Out
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5 Super Easy and Super Colorful Party Ideas
Simple and Moist Chocolate Cake Recipe
Thank you for joining me as we looked at some fun and trendy 40-year-old birthday party ideas. I hope you were inspired and able to glean ideas for how you want to celebrate your special birthday friend.
P.S. Note of Encouragement
Embrace the moment! When birthday parties come around, I’m reminded of the value of life and time. There is no price take you can put on either. Enjoy the moments today brings and savor every minute.
When we live in the present, we are allowing ourselves to fully embrace the moment. It’s great to have dreams and visions for tomorrow but LIVE your life IN today. When you do this will have no regrets when you lay your head on the pillow at night.
Barb Petrowske says
Thank you Danette for all the amazing ideas. I just placed an order on Amazon for a few things for my son’s 40th birthday!
danimardesigns says
My pleasure, sweet friend! So happy you were inspired with ideas. May your party go seamlessly well. Happy birthday!
Lydia C. says
These are fantastic ideas for decorating and games at any birthday party. I’m so excited for the next party to implement them.
danimardesigns says
Yay! That makes my heart so happy! 😊
Arin Rentz says
Super fun ideas! I’ll use them for our upcoming celebration – thank you!
danimardesigns says
So happy to hear! May your upcoming gatherings be the best, yet! 😊