One of the things I miss most about being a kid is dressing up for Halloween and going around the neighborhood trick or treating. Get to dress up in your favorite costume AND free candy?! As adults, the next best thing is to have a Halloween get-together! It doesn't have to be big. Every year, I invite some friends over, ask (ahem, force) them to dress up, and we take turns handing out candy to the kids who come by.
But I'm not a big fan of all the scary decorations like skulls and cobwebs (I refuse to go on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World), and spiders freak me out. So I want to share with you my preferred way of decorating for Halloween which although is much more subdued, still creates a great atmosphere.
1. Don't forget to decorate the front door
Credit: Jimmy Conover
I think a house should look inviting to encourage kids to come to your place to trick or treat. Pumpkins are a must, and having a few around the front door in different shapes and colors really sets the tone. Plus, having some strings of orange and yellow lights all twinkling in the dark will be super pretty.
If you are able to get your hands on some bales of hay (try your local farm market), they'll be awesome for placing your pumpkins on. Even after Halloween is over, you may want to keep them to give that autumny feel!
2. Try some other color besides orange
Credit: Paige Cody
I will always have a special place in my heart for smiley and toothy orange jack-o'-lanterns, but to switch things up, you can try decorating your entertaining area with white pumpkins and strings of clear lights instead. If real white pumpkins are hard to find, you can always head to your local craft store and see if you can find white craft pumpkins there.
Try putting a few white pumpkins in varying sizes on the coffee table with some strings of clear lights loosely wrapped around them. If you have a fluffy white rug to put them on, even better. Dim the lights a bit and the effect will be pretty spectacular.
3. Offer fancy candy apples
Credit: Henry Becerra
Simply having some candy in a bowl may seem a tad ordinary. Why not offer your guests fancy candy apples? The ones smothered in caramel and dipped in nuts, or rolled in crushed chocolate bits (plus tons of other options). There's lots of DIY recipes out there, but you can also buy them as well if you don't want to bother. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has an absolutely amazing selection and I would gawk at them every time I pass by a location.
Make sure to have small plates available and plenty of napkins. Trust me, it can get pretty messy eating one. Don't get fooled just because it's on a stick!
4. Serve red food on black plates
Credit: Neven Krcmarek
I don't like scary things, but Halloween wouldn't be Halloween without some creepiness! A great idea is to have a red and black theme in your dining room. Have a black or dark red tablecloth and serve dinner on black plates. And of course, serve red wine!
If you have some red food ideas, the effect would be even greater. Roasted red beets would make a great side. For dessert, try vanilla ice cream with strawberry sauce or red velvet cake. If you and your friends all love your steak medium rare, have that and it'll feel positively vampiry!
5. Decorate with some red roses in a black vase
Credit: Roksolana Zasiadko
For an eerily beautiful table setting, add a black vase full of deep red roses to the center of your dining table. Remember Twilight? That's how I imagine Edward Cullen and Bella Swan's date night at home to be!
Lighted candles would be beautiful as well. I'm such a klutz though, I never use the tall ones in case I knock them over, but I'll totally be comfortable having a few tea lights in glass jars around the table.
So what will you be dressing up as this year? I have my Harry Potter costume ready. I just have to figure out how to attach my owl plushie to my shoulder and then I'll be all set!
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