Baby showers are some of the most fun parties to plan. Everyone is so excited about the pending bundle of joy, you can really pick a fun idea and run with it. But with so many baby shower themes to choose from, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed—or get carried away.
Enter these 25 chic baby shower theme ideas that skirt both tired themes and cheesiness. Whether the parent-of-the-hour is expecting a girl, boy, or surprise baby, the sweet details of these baby showers will have their guests swooning. Here are some of our favorite baby shower themes that are cute—not corny (aka there’s nary a stork in sight)!
Psst! If you're the one with a baby on the way, don't forget to check out the Happiest Baby Registry, which allows expecting parents to register for SNOO, select group-gifting for big-ticket items, and add gifts from your other favorite stores!
Little Honey Bee Baby Shower Theme
Photo:@angelashevchuk
The only thing sweeter than honey? The arrival of a new baby! This gender-neutral baby shower idea is just bee-autiful and pretty simple to recreate. Tiny honey pots or beeswax lip balms make buzz-worthy baby shower favors. Yellow, white, black, and honey-gold balloons with pops of flowers are easy to build into a fun table like this one, and a honeycomb cake rounds out the darling decor for your queen- or king-bee-to-be.
Beauty & the Baby Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Living Lesh
Disney themed baby showers don’t have to be overly cartoonish. This couple poured their love of Beauty and the Beast into a precious, girly baby shower theme that’s heavy on the royal details and light on the pink froth. An over-the-top cake, simple color palette, and rosebuds everywhere got the theme across without making guests think they were walking into a theme park.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Our Life in Rose Gold
The little star of the day might not be here yet, but their light is already shining! A gold or silver palette, plus star-studded details, an understated little cake, and whimsical balloons create a simple and sweet “Twinkle Twinkle” shower or sprinkle that will have the mama-to-be positively starry-eyed!
Into the Woods Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Etsy/LFRustics
Rustic baby shower theme ideas are a popular choice for both boys and girls—take it a step further with woodland details like tree-trunk cake stands and an assortment of brown-and-white desserts. Effortlessly styled pine cones, bunches of branches, and an “it’s a boy” banner help this forest baby shower tower over other baby shower themes.
Le Petit Prince Baby Shower Theme
Photo: 100 Layer Cake
The Little Prince is one of those children’s books that will never go out of style—just like this timeless baby shower theme. Simple blue, white, and gold details with little stars, plus a crown cake-topper tie together this book-themed baby shower idea.
The Velveteen Rabbit Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Buffy Dekmar Photography
Here’s another gender-neutral baby shower idea with a literary twist! The Velveteen Rabbit is really the love story of Child and Toy. This absolutely stunning book-themed baby shower idea comes to life with rabbit cookies, lots of pretty veggies, and even an excerpt from the story scrawled on the table runner.
Rainbow Baby Shower Theme
Photo: @dessertinc_
Showering a rainbow baby-mama is a truly special way to celebrate one of life’s biggest blessings. A rainbow-themed baby shower should burst with color and joy. Play up the cute baby shower theme with balloons, treats, and toppers but avoid overdoing large details like the tablecloths (here we love the way the colors pop against the stark white table). A classic rainbow is gender-neutral, but a baby boy’s rainbow shower might use a chic grayscale color scheme.
Peter Pan in Neverland Baby Shower Theme
Photo: @chicfully_kreations
“Never grow up” is a phrase we mamas constantly chant in our heads as we watch our babies get older. With that forever-young sentiment in mind, draw some inspo from this Lost Boys baby shower theme. Add greenery, little gold leaves, and a silhouette of Peter Pan (or Tinkerbell!) for a Peter Pan baby shower theme that will have guests feeling like they can fly.
Baby in Bloom Baby Shower Theme
Photo: MJKreations
There are so many ways to create an elegant floral baby shower theme! This one bursts with blushes, bolder pinks, and whites. In lieu of games at a flower shower, consider making DIY floral crowns or another flowery craft that can double as the guests’ favors. Another fun activity would be planting some seeds in the babe-to-be’s honor.
All White Everything Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Mimmo & Co
A monochromatic baby shower is the definition of class. Decorate the space in various shades of white and cream for a dreamy day that makes Mama feel extra special. White wrapping paper will come in handy, and a sea of white balloons as far as the eye can see will make the space feel fun, even in the absence of color.
French Market Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Me & Mr Jones
This blogger took her love of all things French and celebrated the bebe-to-be with Francophile flair. Mini baguettes, macarons, croissants, and other French-market-inspired foods, as well as boulangerie-esque paper wrapping and chic white flowers, push the baby shower theme without taking it to a cheesy place (well, Brie notwithstanding…)
Boho Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Style Me Pretty
Bring on the browns, creams, and touches of peach or sage. A bohemian-inspired baby shower can be small-scale or super grand. Outdoor pillow seating, rustic tablescapes, and dried foliage are all exquisite touches. To achieve a similar vibe to the shower pictured here with less effort with these colors, a “naked” cake plus a simple scene of plumes and lace will do the trick.
Nautical Baby Shower Theme
Photo: @salma.decocake
If they’re a boating or preppy family, the parents-to-be will be touched with the color scheme of a nautical themed shower. Make it feel more traditionally boyish by sticking with white and blue; add pink touches to give it a girly feel; or bring in metallics to make it formal. Just don’t go “overboard” with the anchors, and this theme can definitely be done in a tasteful way!
Peace Love & Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Catch My Party
A ‘70s baby shower theme is so groovy. Peace signs, vintage tapestries and art, low-key food, and Polaroid pics as favors drive it home. If the expecting parents love all things ‘70s, you can’t top a peace-and-love baby shower for the little one on the way. (And gifting a rainbow tie-dyed Sleepea Swaddle could not be more on-theme!)
Cute Dinosaur Baby ShowerTheme
Photo: @thefamilycakes
Who knew dinos could be done in a way that’s cute, not corny? The key to making any “character” party for pint-sized-paleontologists (and their parents, too!) more contemporary and not tacky is to pick a pretty color palette. In this case, pastels or monochrome black-and-white do the trick.
Fairytale Baby Shower Theme
Photo: @flourishpaperworks
Celebrate a little prince or princess on the way with an elegant take on a fairytale shower. Vintage linens, heavy florals, and other whimsical touches will carry out your theme in a tasteful way. Think ribbon and fine china rather than crown decals.
Great Gatsby Baby Shower Theme
Photo: @emc_creatives
Embrace the roaring ‘20s with a Great Gatsby baby shower theme. This spread features elegant black-white-and-gold desserts, a tuxedo-inspired cake, and even a gilded phone. Floating candles, lots of shine, and a 1920’s-inspired backdrop instantly transform any space into an art-deco dream. We think the details are the bees knees (that’s 1920s speak for the coolest ever!).
The Adventure Begins Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Parties 365
A travel-themed baby shower is super cute for boys or girls. This couple was so inspired by their own love of flight that they threw their little one’s party in actual airplane hangar! That might not be an option for most, but you can still add touches that will transport your guests. Consider miniature globes, maps as table runners or backdrops, and vintage suitcases stacked up as centerpieces. The travel-theme diaper cake decked out with a passport is just too cute… and don’t forget to sprinkle some “in-flight snacks” throughout the space!
Ready to Pop Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Everyday Reading
In reality being “ready-to-pop” can feel...not so cute. But in baby shower form? Totally adorable. Fill the room with things that go pop (think: balloons, popcorn, champagne bottles… the list goes on) in the parent-to-be’s favorite colors. Other nice touches? A pop-music soundtrack playing in the background and a pop art-inspired cake table like the one shown here.
Tiny Dancer Baby Shower Theme
Photo: @gloevents
A ballerina-themed baby shower is an on-point idea for the girly mama to be. Tulle everywhere is a great place to start; crystals and pink roses don’t hurt either. Keep the music soft and classical, and consider serving treats like tuxedo-inspired chocolate covered strawberries, champagne and sparkling grape juice, and a generous crudité and cheese platter. It’s a theme as polished and elegant as a prima ballerina!
Noah’s Ark Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Kelly Nan
This cute Noah’s Ark theme baby shower actually was for twins—a nod to everything coming in pairs! But even expectingparents of singletons can borrow from this artfully crafted baby shower. In order to keep any animal-themed shower from erring on the side of cheesy, stick to a blank canvas backdrop of white, black, or another neutral. Gummy bears, Goldfish, and similar animal-theme snacks will look adorable yet understated served up in sleek vessels as shown here.
Succulent Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Baketini Bake Shop on Etsy
These days you can’t leave the house without stumbling over someone’s preciously pruned succulent decor. But succulents don’t just look great perched on a windowsill—they lend themselves to a unique gender-neutral baby shower theme. Deck out cookies in succulent-green frosting—or try your hand at a flowering succulent cake! Look for the rest of the baby shower decor in the dollar section of your local Target. Easy and trendy!
Tea with the Parent-to-Be Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Momo Party
Why letkiddos have all the fun?Grownups love tea parties, too, and this cute theme does not disappoint. Deck out the space in pretty pastels or pops of floral print. Break out your best mix-matched china or opt for upscale paper goods from Coterie and pass the crumpets, macarons, and finger sandwiches with glee.
You Donut Know How Much You’re Loved!
Photo: Tickled Pink
A donut theme is super sweet for a baby shower or sprinkle, and you can make it work for boys and girls. This party featured piles of tempting donuts throughout, and lots of pink and white, icing-inspired details. You can also DIY a photo or cake table backdrop by simply buying a plain white tablecloth and taping little sprinkle-like pieces of colored paper to it. Oh, and “donut” forget to serve coffee at this breakfast-y shower, no matter the time of day.
Lumberjack Baby Shower Theme
Photo: Sugar Fetish Cakery
Buffalo-plaid baby showers can seem like a dime a dozen in thebaby shower world, so set your celebrationapart with careful attention to detail and extra-special cake. Baby boots, buffalo plaid table cloths, and a hot cocoa bar are cozy touches.
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About Jenny Studenroth Gerson
Jenny Studenroth Gerson is an Atlanta-based lifestyle journalist and novelist (Let Me Let You Go, 2020). Her work can be seen in publications including HuffPost, Cosmo, and WSJ, among many others. Jenny has researched thousands of baby names, combed through hundreds of nursery designs, and curated dozens of baby shower guides, making her absolutely the mom—and writer—you want to talk to when planning for Baby. When not meeting deadlines, she is chasing toddlers or chugging coffee—or both! Find her on Instagram @ourlifeinrosegold for mom hacks and more.
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