I think what I truly love about Halloween is that it's one of the easiest themed parties to pull off. Read below for our top 10 easy Halloween decorating shortcuts.
#1 Don't dust: This is the one time you can get away from not dusting before having company over. Now by dust I'm not talking grime, just dust on the shelves type of thing.
#2 Turn off the lights. Other than where its needed I cut off all the overheads and lamps. A few strategically placed lamps have black lights or a red bulb to help set a mood.
#3 Candles: Lot's of candles, little votives to pillars and tapers. Since you have turned off all the lights in step #2, you have to add back just the right amount of light with candles.
#4 Spread out the eats: Don't concentrate the food in the kitchen or just on one table, spread it out into mini-stations in different parts or even different rooms. It encourages mingling which is a must for a good Halloween party.
#5 Make as much of your party self-serve as possible. Think about how guests will come into the party space, plan on where they may leave personal effects (coats) and what they may want first, a beverage or a sample of your party finger food or snacks. This pre-planning helps select where you may want to add a touch of decor.
#6 - Decorate as early as you can get away with it. If you can begin decorating a few weeks or days before your event you will have time to make adjustments when something isn't working. I like to spread out my empty party dishes and trays, placing a piece of paper listing what is going to go in each dish.
#7 - Put on some mood music while you're getting ready (both during decorating, pre-party and during the party) it helps make things fun. I like a subscription service like Napster (around Halloween they have specific Halloween Radio Channels and Halloween collections that will give you enough choice in setting your Halloween party mood). Don't just play movie themes, spice it up with a good selection to keep the party moving.
#8 - Decorate the entryways. Having a display to welcome your guests is a must. Anything from a bunch of pumpkins, a more classical display of fall flowers and fall items or, even a scary display with a mummy or headless horseman depending on your party's theme. If you can have music playing outside the door as guests approach even better. Concentrate on setting the mood at the door which will help to carry your theme throughout the whole house.
#9 - Add a few white tablecloths, drape flat white sheets over chairs and couches and add a black strip light for instant pop and creating a Halloween mood. A few candles placed around the room and a table lamp with a green light bulb finish setting up the mood.
#10 - Add fake/party labels to your liquor or soda bottles. One sample set I have used in the past had assorted labels, one said: "Arsenic", one "Embalming Fluid" and another "Dragon's Blood" They simply stick over your existing bottle labels and give an instant party setting to your beverage bar. You can also make your own labels pretty easily.
More Details
Halloween has quickly outpaced a number of
holidays with the choice of decorations available to express your
fancy. We have a 200 square foot area just to store our collection
of Halloween
decorations. Last year, I didn't even get them all out in time. Join with us
at Halloween at Home for great ideas on decorating for your next
Halloween party.
Planning a Halloween Party can be as much fun
as the event itself. The keyword here is 'planning'. You can't
expect to have a good party without getting a good start on the
holiday by formulating a party plan. I'm talking about months, not
weeks!
Click here for a guide to planning YOUR
next Halloween party.
What is Halloween without candy? Well for
one, the kids would be really confused. How do you incorporate
healthy eating habits during Halloween?
Visit our recipes section for
treats AND meals that will please mom and her little spooks.
Halloween safety is very important. See our
top 25 tips for keeping your little ones safe on Halloween.
Click here for our tips.
