Fall Decorating Ideas - Halloween
Cheap and Scary Decorations for the Most Frightful Time of Year
Sep 3, 2009
It's easy to get caught up in the fun of decorating for Halloween but it can become expensive. Check out some of these ideas for cheap and cheerful Halloween decorations.
When it comes to decorating for a holiday, Halloween is second only to Christmas. And just like Christmas decorations, Halloween fare can be expensive (especially when you add costumes into the mix). But don’t fret. There are a ton of simple and budget-friendly ideas for Halloween decorating that anyone can make use of without breaking the bank. So check out a few of these tips and suggestions and set the mood for this oh-so-creepy holiday without emptying your pocketbook.
Outdoor Halloween Decorations
- Jack-o-Lanterns - The terms 'Halloween' and 'Pumpkin' are almost synonymous with each other, and Halloween decorating simply wouldn’t be the same without a jack-o-lantern. Give visitors to your home a scare with a particularly scary carved pumpkin. Remove the top, scoop out the insides and then get creative. Try using stencils to carve a frighteningly fun face, and then place a lit candle inside to increase the spook factor. And don’t just stop at one. Use them to line the driveway, outside steps, or anywhere else you dare!
- Coffins - Use your imagination. Build a simple coffin with half a dozen pieces of wood and place a homemade dummy inside. The more rickety the better! Or consider having it closed and place a fake limb, like an arm or leg coming out of it. Add some fake blood to the side for a downright gruesome affect.
- Tombstones - Nothing says creepy like a tombstone with the inscription R.I.P. on it (reminiscent of old-time graveyards). Tombstones can be found in the holiday section of most craft stores around Halloween, or to save money, go the homemade route. Simply take a large piece of cardboard and cut out tombstone shapes. With the help of paint, give them the typical gray color and use a black marker to write some ghoulish sayings on them.
Indoor Halloween Decorations
- Candles - Use candles in carved pumpkins, but don’t just stop there. Put some candles in creepy candleholders around the snack table, fireplace mantel, or anywhere else you can think of, for a gothic touch. Remember to use caution with open flames and make sure no costumes will come near them.
- Crepe Paper - It’s cheap and it’s effective. What’s a party without a little crepe paper? Use traditional orange and black to make garlands and add Halloween colors all over the house. Use these Halloween decorations along the beams in the ceiling or hang them on the inside of the door.
- Spider Webs - Spider webs have long been associated with ghosts, witches, scary houses, and the like. So, what better way to decorate the house for Halloween than with artificial spider webs? Buying fake spider webs is one of the most cost-effective decorations. They're cheap and can be found at local discount stores. They can easily be made with cotton batting found in the crafts department. Tear (don’t cut) the cotton batting into parts and hang them from light fixtures, ceiling fans, photo frames, etc. And of course, what's a spider web without spiders? Pick up some creepy fake spiders at a craft or dollar store to add to the webs.
- White Sheets - Cover the furniture with white sheets to simulate a deserted old haunted house. Scatter talcum powder or baby powder over the sheets to create a dust cloud when guests sit down. Don’t forget to drape a few spider webs over them for maximum effect.
- Sound Effects - Make sure to appeal to all the senses. Sinister-sounding music is readily available and it will enhance the creep factor immensely. Scary sounds like screams, howling, creaking doors and the like will give visitors to your home a fright. Use these outside or in an entryway for a scary greeting.
- Shadows and Lighting - Cut out small spooky shapes such as bats, ghosts or witches in some heavy black construction paper. Tape them to flashlights and place them in strategic positions to make your guests look twice. Also, use special lighting to compliment your sounds. Dim lighting is always preferable to set a spooky mood and a strobe light works well to simulate lightening. A black light sets an ominous atmosphere and can be found in most party supply stores. Consider replacing regular bulbs with colored light bulbs to set the mood.
- Fog Machine - There's nothing like swirling fog to send chills up the spine. Fog machines are easier to find these days around Halloween and aren't nearly as expensive as they used to be. Most fog machines are water based and are quite simple to use.
With these frightfully frugal Halloween decorating ideas, everyone can enjoy a spooky October 31st without being scared of the cost.
The copyright of the article Fall Decorating Ideas - Halloween in Holiday Entertaining is owned by Lauren Flanagan. Permission to republish Fall Decorating Ideas - Halloween in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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