13 Cool Ideas for a Splashy Summer Pool Party or Luau

Get your summer on! Time to chillax with friends and family, soak up the sun and goof off in the pool. Swim on through this gallery and steal our top party planner tricks for creating a colorful backyard oasis. We're loving the breezy DIY balloon palm trees, cool blue tablescape ideas and tropical wearables like beachy hats and leis to get everyone chatting and having a blast. Piña coladas, anyone?

It’s amazing how simple and fun these are to make. All it takes is a handful of balloons, a balloon pump and some curling ribbon. Click for the easy Balloon Column Palm Tree How-To where we show you how to make the trunk by stacking trios of balloons in layers and tying them together with ribbon. Easy! Have a blast creating your own breezy tropical forest!

These DIY balloon rainbows intantly turn your pool or patio into a fun zone! Here's how we did it: Just inflate colorful latex balloons with helium, attach to balloon decorating strips, and secure them with a few balloon weights. Finish your look by adding grass garlands to the tables and filling the pool with colorful inflatable toys. You can do this idea on a smaller scale or go all out!

A tiki bar hut with a thatched roof is a sweet setting for party pics and a great place to cool off with tropical drinks in the shade! Have a few straw hats, fun sunglasses and colorful Hawaiian leis, and tell them to say aloha for the camera. Your tropical "staycation" party pics are bound to get likes! (Parasol available at your local Party City store.)

Put a healthy twist on a classic tropical cocktail by using fresh pineapple and coconut water! Fill 16 oz. glasses with ice, 6 oz. coconut water (nonfat, low in calories and loaded with electrolytes and potassium), 6 oz. fresh pineapple juice (anti-oxidant rich), and light rum to taste. Top off with blended coconut milk. You can also make these with a mixer for guests who like the classic version. For a unique garnish, bake pineapple slices (at 225° for 30 minutes per side) to create gorgeous edible “flowers.” They'll ♥ these!

If you're looking for a fast decorating idea, this one is a cinch – and has a big impact! Just string up a lei garland and dangle paper lanterns of different sizes and colors on it. To go all out, add lights and balloon topiaries. Paper lanterns are available in different designs and color schemes, so have a ball with it and let the lanterns inspire your whole party look!

Our fave DIY project yet! See our Jellyfish Lantern How-To for the deets on using curling ribbon, iridescent ribbon, streamers and strips of plastic tablecover to create the tentacles! All you do is pinch and pull the plastic with your fingertips to get the ruffled look. Hang them on clear fishing line to create a magical underwater world!

It isn't a luau without umbrella drinks! Create that staycation vibe with a vibrant paper parasol wreath, a fun way to add tons of tropical color to your summer party. Start with a foam craft wreath or vine wreath, and cover it with 40 to 50 small and jumbo-sized parasols. How easy is that?! Instant tropical paradise! (Special thanks to Family Chic by Camilla Fabbri for sharing her inspiration and photo.)

This cool blue color story is our new fave. Try bright kiwi plates as chargers and add kiwi bowls and napkins to extend the theme. Another budget-friendly idea: make each table pop with a balloon topiary. We tied a bouquet of helium-filled balloons onto a balloon weight, and wrapped pink crepe paper around the ribbons to create the look of a topiary tree. So pretty!

String up glowing palm trees, flip flops, starfish and shells to instantly light up your beach-themed bash! Choose indoor/outdoor lights and hang them on the tiki bar, in the windows or on a gate. When the sun goes down the party will still be sizzling hot!

Shake it up with a dance session of hula lessons! Everyone will feel like they're on island time when they dress up in breezy grass skirts and fluffy flower leis in gorgeous tropical colors. Hula on over to our 10 Totally Tiki Luau Party Ideas Gallery for a paradise of luau party ideas.

After all the swimming and snacking, let the kids dive into some toys. Fill dump trucks and beach pails with fun jump ropes, bubble sets and flying discs. Set up a colorful favor table with everything on display – the kids will be thrilled when they see your amazing toy buffet! (Sand dump truck available at your local Party City store.)

Kids really get a kick out of dressing up, so go all out. Have plenty of pint-sized leis and hair clips for them to play with. Tell them to get creative with the leis – they work as bracelets and belts too. Great for Twitterific pics, and after the party everyone can sail home with their favorites.

Inflatable toys are a must for summer pool parties. Pick up a menagerie of wet and wild animal friends like Mr. Monkey here. The little swimmers will have endless hours of fun during the party and can take them home as favors. Having these cute water toys around adds fun bursts of color to the party look, too!