Halloween Lighting and Decorating Guide

Halloween is my favorite holiday (with Thanksgiving coming in at a close second.) I truly love the fall season and all of the tradition and fun surrounding the Halloween holiday. Here are some great tips for helping you decorate for your Halloween event this year.

Spooky Party Decorations

Atmosphere is the key to a great Halloween party. This is the one night of the year that we expect creepy, mysterious decorations. Lighting plays a key part in the atmosphere created. Shadows can be created from cardboard cut outs of witches, bats, cats and spooky jack-o-lanterns placed in front of flameless LED candles. These lights create the illusion of real candle flames without the fire risks. These candles are also great to use inside carved pumpkins! Orange, purple and green LED lights can be used to line sidewalks or door frames, table tops, and other areas to illuminate those areas while allowing you to turn off brighter lights. This will create that dark, mysterious lighting enhancing the overall Halloween effect. Make sure to add cobwebs to the corners with little red-eyed spiders. Cover your furniture with white sheets to create the abandoned house look. Even add a little baby powder on the sheet to create a dust cloud as people sit down or move the sheet. Dry ice fog can also be used to establish a scary environment. Set up fake tombstones in your yard and create a grave yard, having the dry ice fog rolling through it. String lights behind the fake tombstones can add shadows. An old wrought iron fence can be placed around the grave yard giving it that old and scary feel. Don't forget the sound effects...nothing makes an area more creepy then mysterious noises. Placing ravens, sparrows or crows inside, on table tops, bathroom counters, etc will create goosebumps while your guests contemplate the ominous implications of seeing these grim birds indoors. Build a coffin out of wood and place it near the front door so all have to walk by it. Build a dummy by stuffing clothes with leaves or newspaper to place inside the coffin. A balloon with a scary mask over it makes a great head. Use green string lights to illuminate the inside. Consider closing the lid partially, with the inside illuminated, welcoming guests to come take a closer look. Use red and white and gold string lights to create the illusion of fire under a cauldron. Green lights inside the cauldron add mystery to the witch's brew being cooked.

Festive Party Decorations

Want to create a festive, yet fun, environment for trick-or-treaters? Use the orange, purple and green Led lights in trees and on porch railings to brighten up the night. This creates a more welcoming and safer atmosphere for the kids (and their parents). Line walkways and other areas with the string lights to keep trick-or-treaters only in designated areas. Use the flameless LED candles to illuminate jack-o-lanterns. Place scarecrows, uncarved pumpkins and bales of hay near your porch and use orange lights to show off your Fall spirit. Create ghosts from pieces of white fabric and brooms and put them through out the yard.