How to spook up your house for Halloween
Set the scene for Halloween with pimped up pumpkins and haunting homeware, says Sam WylieHarris
With ‘ Halloween at home’ falling on a Saturday, and our own personal sanctuaries setting the stage for the spookiest night of the year – will a full moon in the offing – the idea of creating a little house of horrors has never been so bewitching.
Want to set the scene for Halloween? Here’s how to spin a web of intrigue and get to grips with ghoulish goodies…
Stringing beastly balloons together with black ribbon is a wicked way to dress up the entrance hall for trickortreaters, especially when they’re filled with confetti disguised as creepycrawlies, bats and bugs.
Devilishly good dining ideas, such as dressing the table with a little skulduggery, keeps adults entertained, as well as the kids. Themed treats, nibbles, skullshaped snacks and hot dogs topped with gory ketchup will look so much better on a spooky black plate ( not to mention wicked wines and shots served in black stemware).
Not just a onenight wonder, pumpkins are a firm favourite on autumnal menus, all season long. For rusticstyle table settings and those devilishly delicious pumpkin soups, curries and stews, nothing beats an eyecatching pumpkin cocotte ( with black matte enamelled interior) taking centre stage. Suitable for hobs as well as the oven, it’s also ideal for rustling up a sauce for your pumpkin gnocchi.
When you want to cup your hands around a warming hot chocolate or mulled pear and cranberry punch, only a generously sized mug – that can cope with a topping of frothy cream and cinnamon – will do. These creepy cups are ideal for Halloween hunkering on the sofa.
Alternatively, this flickering trio made from real wax can be styled with berries, greenery and moss, or placed in the window to project shadows and illuminate your spinechilling decos.
Don’t trust your cakecarving skills to whip up a beastly bake? Then these skullshaped cake pans will do the job. Conjure up a red velvet skull and after it’s cooled, serve the cream cheese icing on the side, with gooey, chocolate eyeballs.
Come witching hour, when things start to go bump in the night, your Halloween costume party doesn’t have to end. Treat the bed to some spooky dressing up too.
For some grownup black magic, you can up your squash game by spraypainting baby pumpkins black then hand lettering them in gold. Styled with a decadent candle, scented with bergamot, juniper, heady jasmine and hint of earthy patchouli, chances are you’ll be enchanted.
It may be a little unnerving
for onlookers, but when darkness falls, this wicked window display will certainly set the scene. To create this haunting, misty scene, position the stencil on the window, spray over with a can of Snow Spray, peel off and wait for the squeals.