Minimalist decor

Lucite chairs, candles, and sleek white linens dressed the 150-foot tables at the Joffrey Ballet gala in Chicago in 2010.

For his September show in New York at Spring Studios entitled “Beauty,” Jason Wu went simple and stark with the all-white venue. Produced by Bureau Betak, the space featured simple white bench seating and a floor-to-ceiling backdrop that mimicked a deconstructed boudoir mirror—with detached molding that created a mirage-like effect.

The 2006 Screen Actors Guild awards gala in Los Angeles had a striking but simple look from event designer Stanlee Gatti, with bunches of upside-down calla lillies hanging overhead. White furnishings were arranged in lounge-like formations.

At this year's Dining by Design, the annual fund-raising event hosted by Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, Smartwater's space aimed to reflect the brand's natural water purification process, which is mirrored after rain clouds. The fluffy fixtures lit up like a storm above the simple table setting. The event took place at New York's Pier 92 in March.

A joint event between Variety and British Airways in 2013 took place at a Los Angeles mansion, and black-and-white decor took on a residential feel. To celebrate the heritage of British Airways, the Union Jack appeared on black-and-white pillows at a seating group that surrounded a modern fire pit.

At a Saucony-hosted event in Boston in 2011, an art exhibit around the perimeter of the space incorporated the brand's sneakers and minimalist art.

In 2012, Yahoo marked the relaunch of Genome, a brand previously known as Interclick, with a minimalist affair in New York. To create a modern aesthetic inside a SoHo townhouse, the producers employed a mix of clean lines and white furnishings. For entertainment, the organizers brought in synchronized swimmers dressed to look like aliens.

At a 2013 brunch for L'Oréal, designer and producer Joe Moller added subtle branding to the setup on the Viceroy Miami's outdoor terrace, adding L'Oréal lettering to the backs of chairs and using shallow gold vases filled with products as tabletop centerpieces.

The Women's Wear Daily Beauty Summit in 2013 had a sleek, all-white design from Shiraz Events. Guests sat in clear Miro chairs at communal tables topped with white linens and simple birch vases holding cobble moss balls.

To cap off New York Fashion Week in 2010, Calvin Klein hosted a party with seating vignettes of minimalist, low-slung white sofas and ottomans around fireplaces.

At a product launch for watch brand Q&Q in New York, guests were encouraged to take photos against a modern backdrop. Guests who posed for snaps received a coin that would allow them to receive a free watch from a giant gumball machine.

To launch its newest A8 model at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2010, Audi created a 45,000-square-foot temporary structure. EventStar worked with Audi, German architecture firm the Design Company, and Miami event management firm Siinc Agency to design the pavilion.

At a dinner to mark new gallery openings at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2011, Heffernan Morgan bathed webbed scrims in golden light to cast spiderweblike patterns throughout the modern dinner space.

At a benefit for New York's High Line in 2011, fresh vegetables provided by Bite were displayed on a simple buffet spread.

Inspired by the open construction of Mayan hammocks, the Acapulco chair was a hit in the 1950s and '60s (as was its namesake tropical destination), and its pear-shaped frame still works well as an outdoor seating option. A version (pictured), $50, from Yeah Rentals comes in black, teal, white, and green and is available throughout Northern and Southern California.

Mid-century modern furniture formed lounge areas for the Whitney Museum of American Art's Art Party at Highline Stages in May 2014. Designer Ron Wendt sourced the items from a collector, aspiring to match event sponsor Max Mara's aesthetic.

The curved open structure of Designer 8 Event Furniture Rental's Marco coffee table, $120, works with retro or modern decor and is available in Southern and Northern California, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.

Blueprint Studios' Lolland sofa features pale gray fabric outlined in white piping, along with tufted cushions and roll pillows. The seating is available nationwide; pricing is available on request.

In celebration of the space shuttle Endeavour, the theme of the California Science Center's Discovery Ball in March 2013 was “Space Exploration: Past, Present, Future.” The 1960s—the height of America's fascination with space travel—inspired the cocktail reception area's out-of-sight lounge furniture.

Yeah Rentals' Modernica daybed, $400 ($450 with ottoman), in a muted green fabric sticks to minimal mid-century design and is available throughout Northern and Southern California.

Designer 8 Event Furniture Rental's Eames chair, $110, looks like it came straight off the set of The Brady Bunch. The seating, which is covered in an eclectic patchwork fabric, is available in Southern and Northern California, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.

The mid-century-inspired Draper Collection from Cort Event Furnishings showcases iconic silhouettes and a simple aesthetic for a complete lounge look. Available nationwide, prices for items are available on request.

The Stockholm chair, pricing on request, from Blueprint Studios sports rounded lines, dark walnut legs, and one of the period's favorite shades—chartreuse. The seating is available nationwide.

The Moroccan pouf, $35, from Yeah Rentals adds a bohemian touch to a casual event; it comes in a mix of bright and natural leather shades and is available throughout Northern and Southern California.

Guests can grab their old-fashioneds and Pink Ladys at the six-foot textured wood Lloyd bar, $495, from Designer 8 Event Furniture Rental. The bar is available in Southern and Northern California, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.

In late January 2013, Jodi Moraru of Evoke designed and planned a Mad Men-inspired corporate event at the National Building Museum in Washington. Futuristic red stools dotted the space, while a lighting projection on the floor displayed the image of a falling man from the show's opening credits.

A white sofa and sleek tulip tables allowed the mesmerizing black-and-white backdrop, which was inspired by Roger Sterling's office on the show, to pop at the 2013 corporate party in Washington.

Gray, red, black, and white furnishings, along with patterned accent pillows, mimicked the show's logo design.

Vintage-inspired patterned wallpaper walls, $140, from Designer 8 Event Furniture Rental offer a decorative way to divide up a large space for seating areas. The partitions are available in Southern and Northern California, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.

Reminiscent of office furniture, the vivid red Pori lounge chair from Blueprint Studios is designed more for pleasure than business. The chair is available for rent nationwide; pricing is available on request.