Halloween House Decorations
Winter holidays such as Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa may get their fair share of attention when it comes to home decor, but many spend nearly the same amount of time and money getting their homes ready for Halloween. All Hallows Eve, commercially known to kids and candy makers as Halloween, traditionally marks the beginning of the harvest season before the onset of winter. For those that celebrate every Oct. 31, however, the holiday can mean more. Does this Spark an idea?
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Indoor Ideas
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Many who live in apartments or neighborhoods where Halloween decorations may not be suitable can choose to celebrate and liven up their living spaces on a smaller scale. Tablecloths and generally non-threatening adornments are used to decorate tables, windows and mantelpieces. These types of decor can be bought at many upscale gift shops and craft stores. Smiling ceramic or plastic Jack O' Lanterns, sheeted ghost figurines and non-scary monsters can be used to observe the holiday and greet trick-or-treaters.
Kids Parties
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Age has to be taken into consideration when decorating for a kids Halloween party. Generally, the older the children the more sinister the decorations can look. Fake spider webs, Styrofoam tombstones, rubber monster hands and vampire bats and, of course, typical party fare such as Halloween-themed plates and napkins can be used. Plastic or ceramic Jack O' Lanterns can be used in lieu of real pumpkins, as the candles burning inside the pumpkins may prove to be a safety hazard.
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Adult Parties
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For adults, the scare factor can be increased to your personal preference. Mannequins can be dressed in grotesque costumes limited only by the imagination. Gory party decorations such as severed limbs with fake blood and colored lights (red, blue or purple) can lend some atmosphere, as well as including lots of black in the color scheme: black tablecloths and walls draped in black sheets all add to the ambiance.
Outdoor Ideas
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Many people like to decorate their porches, decks and lawns with fake tombstones or place a masked mannequin near the front door to greet visitors. Windows can be decorated with Halloween-themed window clings, and sinister looking haunted house signs can hang in the yard to serve as a "warning." Real pumpkin Jack O' Lanterns are preferred but shouldn't be lit until Halloween night at dusk.
Haunted Houses
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Do-it-yourself haunted houses can provide plenty of decorating fun to make the house look as ominous as possible, although some discretion should be practiced. Gory severed heads may not be a welcome sight in the neighborhood. Colored or strobe lighting can be used to great effect, as well as fog machines that create a dense low lying fog that covers the yard. Entire graveyards can be built, complete with numerous tombstones, small sections of distressed fencing and fake open caskets.
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