Get Inspired by PNW Beauty

Pacific Northwest Inspired Decor and Themes for Your Event

Last Updated: October 21, 2025

Evoke the spirit of the Northwest at your event.

The region is famous for its lush natural beauty, alternative culture, and rich history. Thinking about these elements when picking out decor and details can help you connect the event to the region, making it feel more grounded and memorable for visiting guests. You could even set the scene with local music. Read on for ideas to spark your creativity.

Go Natural
Nod to Pop Culture
Draw from Culture and History

Go Natural

Bring the Forest Into Your Event

Incorporate wood elements. Coasters, candles, signage, and reclaimed wood tables evoke the region's abundant forests and give your event a rustic feel.

Spruce up tabletops. Evergreen branches, such as pine and fir, could be used to make garlands, wreaths, or centerpieces to infuse the scent and look of the Pacific Northwest. Or, use moss and lichen-covered decor to mimic the lush undergrowth of the region. Pine cones are an inexpensive decor item that can be incorporated into table settings, bouquets, or name card holders.

Evoke the mountains. White and dark gray linens, brightened with splashes of color, evoke the wildflower meadows of the Cascades. You could also decorate with wildflowers such as Lupine, Aster, Jacob's Ladder, Mountain Heather, Subalpine Daisies, and Thistles, adding pops of blues, purples, and pinks. You could also name tables after local mountains using their traditional native names: Tahoma (Rainier), Pahto (Adams), Kulshan (Baker), DaKobed (Glacier), Sunh-a-do (the Olympic mountains).

Forest-Inspired Pinterest Board

Channel the Ocean and Beaches

The Washington coast has a serene, peaceful beauty. Further inland, we enjoy miles of shoreline along Puget Sound. It's like the ocean's calmer cousin.

Pay homage to the region's beaches and waterways by incorporating driftwood, seaglass, rounded stones, seashells, and muted shades of blue into your decor. Dried kelp bulbs make an unexpected and textural addition to floral centerpieces.

A Beach-Inspired Pinterest Board

Pay Homage to Local Wildlife

The region teems with wildlife—river otters, elk, black bears, coyotes, cougars, and beavers on land; crows, ravens, great horned owls, and bald eagles in the air; and orcas, harbor seals, sea otters, harbor porpoises, and salmon in the sea. Here are some ways to incorporate them into your event:

Theme tables around local animals. Each could have an informational sign, a cute plush, and colors inspired by that animal.

Incorporate activities. You could raffle off the plushes, or host a teambuilding game in which they serve as prizes. Or, place facts about the animals on cards at the table to spark conversation.

Support Real Wildlife: Use the event to raise awareness or money for a wildlife rescue organization such as SR3 Sealife Response + Rehabilitation + Research, a nonprofit in Des Moines, Washington, dedicated to improving marine wildlife health and welfare. You could place a card about the organization at each table, donate on behalf of all guests, or invite guests to donate.

A Wildlife-Inspired Pinterest Board

Decor Inspired by Urban Culture

Local landmarks such as the Space Needle and Pike Place Market may be our most well-known, but these aren't the region's only iconic images. The local ferry system was made famous by shows like Grey's Anatomy, and would make for unique decor inspiration. Put a unique spin on the nautical theme with a Washington State Ferry color palette (white with dark green). Name your tables after the ferries in the system, and give away an Orca card pre-loaded with the amount needed for a ferry trip as a prize for one of your attendees.

A Ferry-Themed Pinterest Board

Beyond Grey's Anatomy, many shows and movies take place in or were filmed in Seattle. You could tap into 90s nostalgia with a Frasier theme, with a coffee bar and a radio-themed photo booth for attendees to take fun pictures. Or, play up Twilight fandom with movie images, forest themes, and kitschy swag. Or, make the theme "Set in the Northwest" and represent a variety of shows and movies with posters and a pop culture trivia game.

A Twin Peaks-Inspired Pinterest Board

Draw From Local Culture and History

Our region has a rich, multicultural history that makes it a deep well for inspiration.

Celebrate the region's aviation history. The Seattle area has a rich history of air and space travel, from Boeing to newer space-driven companies. There are countless fun ways you could play up a plane theme, such as vintage travel posters or toy planes as decor. You could also host your event right at The Museum of Flight, which has numerous private event spaces. It's also home to the Red Barn, Boeing's first manufacturing facility! The museum has a large, well-curated gift shop as well, and sells its items online, so it's a great place to look for decor ideas.

Pictured: A private event at The Museum of Flight in Tukwila.

Incorporate native artwork. Coast Salish Formline Design is a beautiful, well-known local art form. However, it's important to remember that native peoples are not just a part of our history but of our living, breathing present. When incorporating native art elements into your decor, we recommend purchasing goods from a native artisan or vendor who is a local tribal member to avoid concerns over cultural appropriation. Need help making connections? Let us know, and we can point you in the right direction.

Highlight lesser-known history. Did you know that a fossil of a giant sloth was dug up during the building of SEA Airport? Or that the first alleged sighting of a UFO in the U.S. happened right in Seattle Southside? Read up on the region's fascinating history, and incorporate these fun facts with pictures and trivia. Or, host your event at the Highline Heritage Museum in Burien, which holds a replica of the giant sloth, and allow guests to soak in local history.

Pay homage to Nordic heritage. Many Nordic immigrants moved to the Seattle area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which you can learn about at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle. One popular Danish concept that's easy to incorporate into an event is hygge, a quality of coziness and warmth that makes people feel relaxed and welcome. Use soft blankets and pillows, chunky knits, comfortable seating areas, and low, warm lighting to create a homey atmosphere that will encourage your guests to get comfortable and get to know one another.

A Hygge-Inspired Pinterest Board

Get Free Expert Guidance When Hosting Your Next Event

No matter what decor or theme you go with, our event experts at Explore Seattle Southside can help connect you to local venues and vendors to help make your vision a reality. Reach out to find out how we can bring your event to life!

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Celebrate cultural histories. Of course, Scandinavians were just one of many groups who've made this region what it is today. Any culture can inspire food and decor. One good place to start is to look up the websites of museums such as the Wing Luke Museum, the Northwest African American Museum, Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, and the Sea Mar Museum of Chicano/a/Latino/a Culture. If you're interested in incorporating cultural elements into your event, we strongly recommend consulting with a group that identifies with that culture before doing so. We can likely help point you towards one!

Christy Maggio

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Christy Maggio

Content Wizard

Your trusty guide through the labyrinthine realms of nerdy wonders, gastronomic delights and adventures of epic or micro proportions.
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