Planning a murder mystery party set aboard a glamorous 1930s train? Good news: you don’t need to rob a vintage luggage car to pull it off. If you’re hosting a Murder on the Orient Express-style evening, the right decorations will transport your guests without derailing your budget.

1. Roll Out the Red Carpet (Or Something Like It)

Nothing says “exclusive train platform” like a red carpet entrance. Skip the velvet rope and pick up a roll of red wrapping paper or fabric from your local dollar store. Lay it down at your front door and let guests strut into the mystery in style. Bonus points if you station a “conductor” at the entrance to check tickets (printed from your mystery kit, of course).

2. Turn Your Living Room Into a Luxe Train Car

Rearrange furniture into narrow rows to mimic a train aisle. Add a few throws, gold-rimmed plates, and battery candles to create the feel of a first-class dining car. For a real ambiance boost, stream train sounds in the background—tracks, whistles, low rumbles. Your guests will be so immersed, they’ll start wondering if you have a sleeper car in the kitchen.

3. Use Luggage as Decor

Vintage suitcases make perfect props—and chances are, your grandma (or Facebook Marketplace) has one just waiting to make its mystery debut. Stack them at the entry or use one as a centerpiece. For extra flair, slap on faux travel stickers like “Paris,” “Cairo,” or “Murderville Station.”

4. Print Faux Train Tickets and Signage

Design simple “Boarding Passes,” “Dining Car Rules,” or “Conductor’s Log” signs in black-and-white using a typewriter-style font. These can hang on the walls or be placed on tables. Our printable kits make this even easier—just customize and print. In fact, our post on hosting a train mystery has a few templates you can adapt quickly.

Side Note: Our mystery comes with printable train tickets, so you don’t have to worry about creating them!

5. Serve Drinks from the “Trolley”

No bar cart? No problem. A rolling laundry hamper or small end table on wheels can easily become your makeshift drink trolley. Load it with teacups, thermoses, or sparkling cider and label it “Dining Car Service.” Throw on a lace doily if you’re feeling fancy. Everyone loves drinks with a side of drama.

6. Use Newspaper Clippings for That ‘Breaking Mystery’ Vibe

Print out fake 1930s newspaper headlines like “Victim Slain Aboard Luxury Train!” or “Criminal Strikes Again?” and tape them near the scene of the crime. Bonus: they double as conversation starters and photo backdrops. (Also great for guests who arrive early and need something to read while you hide the poisoned tea.)

7. Dim the Lights and Go Art Deco

Use low lighting to your advantage. Swap your regular bulbs for warm white ones (or just screw a couple out), then supplement with battery-powered candlesticks or lanterns. Cut geometric shapes from gold or silver paper and hang them around the room. Suddenly, you’ve got 1930s glam with a side of suspicion.

8. Set the Table Like a Dining Car

White tablecloths, mismatched silverware, and folded napkins go a long way. Add a centerpiece with grapes, flowers, or a small clock to give that train-in-motion feel. If you’re using printed menus from your kit, tuck them into napkin folds for a professional touch that screams, “I didn’t totally make this up 20 minutes before guests arrived.”

9. Costume Area or Photo Booth

Create a small “dressing room” with hats, scarves, and costume jewelry for guests to add last-minute flair. Add a sign: “Final Stop Before the Mystery Begins.” Or turn it into a photo booth—hang up a sparkly curtain and toss in a few props like magnifying glasses, fake mustaches, or tea cups with “poison?” written on the bottom.

10. Chalkboard It

Use a standing chalkboard or picture frame with black poster board to write out the “train schedule,” such as:

• 7:00 PM – Guests Board
• 7:15 PM – Light Refreshments in Dining Car
• 7:45 PM – Sudden Scream in the Night
• 8:00 PM – The Game Is Afoot

It adds structure and laughs. (And when your cousin shows up 40 minutes late? They’ll know exactly what they missed.)

Final Touch: Let the Mystery Do the Hard Work

Remember, your decorations don’t need to be historically perfect—just immersive enough to pull people in. Focus on mood, lighting, and layering a few vintage-style elements. The magic of a 1930s train mystery party isn’t in expensive props—it’s in the fun, the costumes, and the guests wondering if that teacup really was poisoned.

If you’re ready to bring it all to life, grab our full printable mystery game The Grand Gilded Express and let your guests step into a world of secrets, suspects, and steam-powered suspense.