How to Decorate For a Murder Mystery Family Game Night

How to turn any gathering into an immersive experience that no guest is likely to forget? Games, a DJ, or a magician might come to mind. However, if you don’t want a DJ or magician, you’d go for games, but what kind of games can keep a party of adults and teenagers entertained?

The answer is murder mystery games. Transport your guests into a gripping mystery taking place in a world of suspicious alibis, secrets, and lies. But, just selecting the game isn’t enough; you need to set the scene, too!

For the best murder mystery game night, you need to create an atmosphere so immersive that it convinces people. So, if you want them to forget they are in your living room, read this guide on decorating your home for a mystery game night.

Decorating Your Home for a Murder Mystery Game Night

Start at the Door

Before you serve the first drink or the first accusation is made, your guests need to gather evidence. Every suspicious shadow, creaky floorboard, and flickering light adds to the case.

The Opening Scene – Your Entryway

Let’s say you’re hosting a mystery game that takes place at an office Christmas party. Don’t let your guests just waltz in. Arrest their attention at the entrance. Set up a fake Christmas tree (even if it’s only September), rope off the hallways, or cover doors with police tape. For the best effect, put up motivational posters commonly seen in offices.

If you want to set the mood even more, hide a Bluetooth speaker behind a plant. Play distant chatter–this adds an immediate chill! Flickering party lights also make your guests wary about what they’re stepping into.

Decor at the entryway isn’t just decor…it’s foreshadowing!

Employ the Right Lighting

Lighting is the unsung hero when it comes to arranging a mystery party. It sets the tone!

• For a dramatic scene, swap the usual bulbs for eerie green or moody red.
• Dim lights and candles to create shadows for mystery. Make sure they obscure the scene, but not too much.
• Place a diary on a desk or a glove peeking under a cushion for suspense. To make this more suspenseful, use backlights.
• Place tiny lights behind curtains or under furniture to cast long shadows. Aim a flashlight at a fogged-up window or a mirror for instant spooky vibes.
• Even if you’re playing the murder mystery game online, the right lighting makes people squint, suspect, and speculate.

Layer Your Decor

It might be morbid, but you need to consider your party area like a crime scene. You need guests to take it in, just like a great mystery!

• A Smoking Gun (aka the centerpiece): A centerpiece is important for people to gather around and investigate. So, arrange a “Case Files” desk with scribbled notes, suspect photos, and a red string. Or it could be a whiteboard surrounded by supplies and case notes. Just make it theme-specific, bold, and photo-worthy. The best family gathering games need some drama!
• Setting Details: Set the means and motives with environmental clues. Drape fabric to hide regular furniture. Switch family picture frames with eerie family portraits or mysterious photos. Try to make your living room look like the actual setting of the mystery as much as possible. You can even have guests standing or sitting in the same places that their characters were during critical times of the mystery.
• Small Additions: You don’t need a full-on set design or a fog machine to impress your guests. Sometimes, it’s the cleverly themed, tiniest, and creepiest touches that set the scene and steal the show.

• Rim your cocktail glasses with dyed corn syrup or red sugar. It’s both gorgeous and gruesome that your guests will take photos of!
• Fold paper napkins to look like corsets or tuxedo shirts for a high-society or gala theme.

These aren’t clues, but they are immersive and creative details that pull guests deeper into the mystery.

Ask Guests to Dress Up Like Their Character

Costumes instantly set the mood and help players step into their roles, creating a fully immersive experience. Whether it’s as simple as a hat or accessory, or a full outfit, dressing up adds excitement and sparks great conversation. Let your guests know that creativity is welcome, but it doesn’t have to be expensive—thrift stores and DIY options work perfectly. The more your group gets into character, the more engaging and entertaining the evening will be for everyone!

The best games for family game nights need to feel like interactive theater. The mystery game isn’t just a game to play; it’s to fully experience it! Get working on the decor as soon as you purchase a game. Companies like Mystery Enterprises have several themes, which can help you set the scene.

So, gather your crew and grab a game. Happy sleuthing!