Decorating for Halloween becomes a bigger deal every year. If you’re looking for something beyond a pumpkin carved with a toothy grin, we have some ideas to make your haunted house the envy of the ‘hood.
1. Think Black and White
Oranges and browns can be tough to pull off in an interior. If you’re not going the all-out kid route, but want to have a more sophisticated Halloween—and we know you Halloween-loving adults are out there—then think black.
Photos courtesy of Vintage Nest, Glen Town Center
2. Inflatables: Go Big or Go Home
If your kids are begging for an inflatable character, think about the size of your home before you purchase. Many homes on the North Shore are oversized, so match that with your inflatables. A tiny ghost in a globe is perfect for a small yard in front of a ranch or townhouse, but if you live in a Costco-size house, you need to upsize.
Great source to purchase inflatables online: Spirit of Halloween
3. Pumpkins That Do Some of the Work For You
Cinderella would be shocked! Pumpkins aren’t just round and orange any more. Ghostly white, warty bumps and witchy green are all from-nature-ready for the season. Stack or arrange on hay bales and you’ve got instant Halloween without any carving.
Best source? Your local farmers’ market, but don’t wait, most are only open for one or two more weeks.
4. Think Lights
Halloween is all about the dark, but you need some clever glow to punctuate the midnight black. Whether you go for cheery brights, a more sophisticated glow or some candlelight—these are all inexpensive options to add the ambiance.
5. Choose Your Theme and Stick to It
If you’re going for ghosts and ghouls, go all out. Add skeletons, gravestones, cobwebs, hands rising out of the lawn, etc. Then stop. You’re on theme and done. Too many homeowners ruin what could be a great display by mixing in a random smiling ghost or cornstalk and Indian corn. Choose spooky, natural fall, chic black and white, kid-friendly or scarecrow—whatever your inspiration, stick with it and don’t muddle it down!
