Scare tactics

SAM WYLIE-HARRIS the shows us how to set scene for a spooky Halloween with pimped up pumpkins and truly haunting homewares

WITH 2020’s ‘Halloween at home’ falling on a Saturday, and our own personal sanctuaries setting the stage for the spookiest night of the year, the idea of creating a little house of horrors has never been so utterly bewitching.

But if you’re looking for more than just a few plastic bats and a sad looking pumpkin, where do you start?

Here’s are our top tips on how to make your house look absolutely frightful...

1 The Halloween window stencil pack (42cm x 42cm), £9.99 (was £20), Snow Windows

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 (£3), peel off and wait for the squeals.

2

Pack of five Halloween confetti balloons, £6.95, Graham & Green Stringing beastly balloons together with black ribbon is a wicked way to dress up the entrance hall for trick-or-treaters, especially when they’re filled with confetti disguised as creepy-crawlies, bats and bugs.

3 George Home Multi Halloween dogs reversible duvet set, from £10, Direct.asda.com

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.

4 Devilishly good dining ideas, such as dressing the table with a little skulduggery, keeps adults entertained, as well as the kids. Themed treats, nibbles, skull-shaped 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).

8

Nordic Ware haunted skull cake pan, £40.80, and skull cakelet pan, £40, left, (other items part of room set), Hartsofstur.com

Don’t trust your cake-carving skills to whip up a beastly bake? Then these skull-shaped 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.

7

This flickering trio made from real wax can be styled with berries, greenery and moss, or placed in the window to project shadows. 6

When it comes to glamourous, ghostly ‘shelfies’ and tablescaping, a pumpkin with pizzazz makes a super stylish addition. This one’s made from extra fine glass and will proffer a shimmery, moonlit glow. 5

Move over Zoom backgrounds... if you want to capture the chilling mood of Halloween virtual parties, a wallpaper mural is where it’s at. Made-to-measure, the jack-o’lanterns in a spine-chilling graveyard are a real scream!

Emma Bridgewater Halloween themed cobwebs and midnight spiders ½ pint mugs, £19.95 each, Emma Bridgewater 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 a cosy Halloween hunkering down on the sofa.

11

Staub 24cm pumpkin cast iron cocotte, cinnamon, £259 (other items from a selection or part of room set), Zwilling

Not just a one-night wonder, pumpkins are a firm favourite on autumnal menus.

Above: Sainsbury’s Home Halloween Collection: Skull paper plates, £1 for pack of 8; skeleton arm shot holder, £5; skull beer stein, £2; black ombre plastic wine glass, £2; skeleton platter, £2 (other items from a selection or part of room set), larger Sainsbury’s stores

Wallsource 70614579 Wallpaper Mural, from £29 per square metre, Wallsource. com

Gold Mercury LED glass pumpkin, £29.99, Lights4Fun

TruGlow pumpkin LED autumn candle trio, £19.99, Lights4Fun

Johnson & White London 2 wick candle, from £53, Johnson & White Aromas For some grown-up black magic, you can up your squash game by spray-painting baby pumpkins black then hand lettering them in gold. Styled with a decadent candle, scented with bergamot, juniper, jasmine and hint of earthy patchouli, you’ll be enchanted.