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I have a confession to make... I'm a novice when it comes to getting the house ready for Halloween. Perhaps that's because I've never really grew up celebrating it, but now that I own a home of my own, I'm all up for pumpkins and trick or treaters.
So, I've spent a bit of time thinking about what I might do to 'dress' my home for Halloween. From hanging foam bats to bin bag spider webs, to simply foraging for autumnal foliage in the great outdoors, here are 5 ridiculously easy Halloween decoration ideas I'm going to try. (And trust me, they need to be easy... I'm not much good with a glue gun!).
Hanging Foam Bats
- Fold a piece of A4 paper in half and draw an outline of bat (but just one half of the bat, if you know what I mean).
- Then cut it out, open it up, and you’ll have a perfectly symmetrical outline to use.
- Trace around the outline onto pieces of black card or black craft foam.
- Cut out the shapes, using a hole punch to pop a hole in the bottom.
- Loop some thread through this hole and hang the bats onto branches in the same way you’d hang a Christmas bauble on a tree.
Cute n' Creepy Mice
This Halloween decoration is a craft idea I found on Martha Stewart. All you need to do is use this template, tracing each little mouse onto a piece of black card. Then, cut out the black card and fix some double sided sticky tape to the back. Stick the little mice around the house, arranging them on staircases and positioning them on skirting frames and in doorways… They’re cute but also a little bit frightening – especially for guests who aren’t expecting to see them!
Photo credit: with permission from @cowboykate_ via Instagram. Not a Halloween-related image, but I love her bold black walls and taste that lots of people would be 'scared' of. What do you think?
Bin Bag Spider Webs
I saw this DIY craft online, and although I haven’t tried it myself, it doesn’t look too tricky does it!? It’s an awful lot cheaper than buying decorations, and so long as you have a marker pen, a roll of bin liners and and a pair of scissors, you’re good to go. Blu-tac would be a good idea so you can fix them to the window or ceiling.
Forage for Autumnal Treasures
If you have time on blustery weekend afternoon, take a walk out the woods and gather as much in the way of ‘natural decorations’ as possible. Personally, I think some twigs, acorns, spiky conker shells and dry leaves will look fabulous strewn across a mantle piece with candles or (perhaps a safer option) fairy lights… and if any creepy crawlies make their way into your house too? Well, consider it a bonus – it’s Halloween after all! (That said, if spiders aren’t your thing, you might want to read about how to keep them out of your house here).
Swap One Or Two Bulbs
Another super easy Halloween decoration idea is to just switch some of your bulbs for coloured ones. If you have any (or have time to order some), pop red bulbs or green bulbs in your usual lamps… you’ll give you rooms a spooky atmosphere, and there’s something about a hot bath lit with green glow that really makes it feel like there ought to be a witch’s cauldron bubbling in the corner!
Photo credit: with permission from @patirobins via Instagram. Again, not a Halloween-related image, but I love her badass style and admire the fact she does things in her home that many people would be too frightened to try. What do you think?
Carve a Satsuma
This will be my first year carving a pumpkin (I know!), but I'm told that it’s perfectly possible to carve a Satsuma too. If that sounds too fiddly, simply cut the top off the Satsuma, scoop out the fruit (using a teaspoon) and then pop a tea light inside. They make great candle holders, smell amazing, and only get better for being left as the skin dries out and firms up over time.
What About Non-Crafty Halloween Ideas?
Of course, arts and crafts aren't for everyone. So, there are ways you can celebrate Halloween on a small scale without so much as a glue gun in sight. Swing by next week to see five non-decorative ideas for Halloween (subscribe here if you think you might forget), all of which I will definitely be doing in my home...I actually like these ideas even more than the crafty ones above!
In the meantime, tell me: what are your favourite tried and tested halloween decoration ideas? I'd love to know - and try out your best ideas!
p.s would you ever paint your house dark?
p.p.s Medina has some awesome Halloween decorations if you're a bit craftier - try making Micki's witch legs!
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