It’s Halloween season and the excitement of spooky costumes, sweet treats and scary stories fill the crisp, autumn air. All though a good portion of the anticipated chatter comes from young children, some older, more grown-up ‘children’ still cling onto this ghostly time. Yes I’m talking to you adult-who-gets-all-giddy-when-the-stores-bring-out-the-orange-and-black-merchandise, Halloween is a fun opportunity to temporarily turn your home into a spooky paradise. Decorating can always be done in a stylish and put-together way to allow the child in you to come out and play, but won’t leave you embarrassed and ashamed when people come to visit your haunted mansion bungalow. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of all the crazy decorations, but here are a few easy tips to keep your house looking like a responsible adult planned it:
Halloween Decoration Tips for 2024
Pick a Colour Scheme and Stick to it
Consistency is key here, a recurring colour idea can tie everything together and make choosing decorations simple. You don’t have to stop at just 2 colours, but try not to use the whole colour wheel or you will lose the consistency you’re trying to achieve. Carry on the scheme throughout your house, even if the decorations vary from room to room. Black, orange, and purple are great traditional colours but try throwing in some metallic to change things up. Don’t be afraid to use your own style – from Gothic elegance, to creepy chic and of course the playful traditional way.
Rethink Pumpkins
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to gouge out the insides of a pumpkin and carve a face into it’s flesh to properly decorate for Halloween, pumpkins can be used to decorate in many ways. Yes, put the knife down my friends and pick up that paint brush. Tying into the previous tip, paint pumpkins to match your colour scheme. Use simple patterns, solid colours, spooky designs – anything your heart desires. You can even add rhinestones, sparkles and gems to spice things up. Not feeling very artistic? That’s fine. Use pumpkins in the raw and don’t stop there. Find different sized squash and gourd-related fruits at your local grocery store or pumpkin patch – the bumpier the better. Arrange these ugly beauties to your liking and call it a day. Even though these are fun jack-o-lantern alternatives, I do recommend doing at least one the traditional way, so you can roast those seeds for munching!
Lighting
Lighting is everything when it comes to creating a spooky atmosphere, and can add so much to your decorating. Step one is candles – everywhere. They don’t even have to be lit! Just get yourself a haul of those drippy classic candles that frequent in old, creepy mansions in all those classic horror movies you have already binge-watched. Stick them on old wine bottles, in themed candle holders, on skulls, candles are an obvious addition to your decoration collection. Still want that eery flicker of a single flame licking the walls of your home? Use battery-powered fake candles, no fire hazard included. So you’ve got the candle situation covered, whats next? Coloured lights. Stick tinted lights behind furniture near a wall to cast a coloured glow. Depending on the ambiance you’re going for, these can really tie a room together.
