Autumn not only brings about a beautiful change of scenery, it also welcomes one of the country’s favorite holidays: Halloween. With horror as the major theme for most exterior décor, it can be hard to stand out from your neighbors. So, try something different this year by adding a subtle elegance to your home’s spooky Halloween exterior.
Photo by Free Flower via Flickr. CC BY 2.0
Embellished Pumpkins
Instead of carving a pumpkin, try wrapping your pumpkins in silky sheer fabrics to add an elegant and decorative touch to your front lawn. For example, a lace black and white fabric brings dimension to the decor, while a colorful sheer fabric adds a much needed touch of color to autumn’s otherwise earth-toned scenery.
However, if a carved pumpkin is something you do crave, why not opt for an unusual design? Do away with the usual Halloween grin and carve intricate scenes on your pumpkin instead. When lit, these scenes bring an interesting play of shadows to your front lawn.
Spooked-Out Lighting Fixtures
Make the most out of your home’s exterior fixtures when decorating your home. Lampposts and landscape lighting are great foundations for elegant Halloween décor. Wrap the top of lampposts with a sheer patterned fabric to mute the lighting and create spooky shadows. For the posts themselves, you wrap them with shredded fabric for a touch of ghostly texture. Keeping with the horror theme, you may even wrap the bulbs of your landscape lighting in red saran wrap to create an eerie glow.
Photo by chefranden via flickr. CC BY 2.0
Foliage
Take advantage of your front lawn’s foliage and existing landscape when prepping your home for Halloween. Tall trees make an amazing base for creepy décor elements such as mini-caskets or shrunken heads. Tone down the effect of these items and add a bit of sophistication by complementing them with a shower of dry, autumn leaves. Spruce up flower beds or bushes with cotton cobwebs in various colors. A mix of red, white, and orange is a great color combination for the season. Bringing color to your Halloween décor not only makes your home stand out from the rest, it also softens the spookiness factor when night falls, making your home the perfect stop for little kids out trick-or-treating with family and friends.
Give these décor suggestions a try when Halloween comes around and impress your guests with your unique play on the holiday’s horror-fest.
