Boo! It’s Halloween Again
Once in a while you get to design a spooky event nowhere near Halloween… and it’s absolutely magical.
Picture this- there’s a crisp chill in the air, you bundle into a cozy jacket, your favorite pair of riding boots, a blanket scarf, and a pair of leather gloves. In your hand you clutch a steaming hot paper cup of spiced apple cider, notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice drift up to your nose carried on the steam from your cup. On every doorstep you pass are mums in shades of burnt sienna and burgundy, plump orange pumpkins carved with ghoulish jack-o-lantern faces, bails of hay piled high and wreaths of dried corn and plaid ribbon. Autumn has arrived in New England, and there is nothing quite like it.
I have always loved Halloween with a passion, ever since I was a child. My birthday is in mid-September, and my parents threw me a truly amazing Halloween-themed birthday party when I was in elementary school. To this day it is the most incredible birthday I have ever had.
While there is something so nostalgically perfect about the classic combination of black and orange in Halloween decor, these days I love experimenting with combinations of colors that feel modern, fresh, and unexpected. When picking a festive Halloween palette to play with I start by pulling inspiration from the spooky roots of the holiday itself. Think acidic poison green, inky bat wing black, Witch’s brew purple, cauldron smoke charcoal, or a ghostly pearl grey. The options are truly endless, and Halloween is a great opportunity to flex your creative muscles and think outside of the box! As an added bonus, a moody Halloween-inspired palette can truly be translated to events outside of the 31 days of October.
Clockwise from top left: Love Potion, Magic Spell, Enchanting Eggplant, Anonymous, Hopscotch & Black Flame. All PPG.
Halloween is a great opportunity to incorporate bold, Beetlejuice-esque black and white stripes. Try pairing a mod stripe with a weightier, textured linen such as sequins or velvet. The contrast will create just enough of a “friendly clash” to be interesting.
Imagine a nefarious queen wandering deep into a dark, enchanted forest in the middle of the night… that’s what I was channeling with this linen selection. The lush, layered blooms atop a richly dark background bring to mind dense, dark forests while there is something eye-catching and perhaps darkly royal in the colors and patterns of the other linen. Together, they truly sing and make a statement.
This may be my favorite linen combination of all time. There is something so unique and threatening looking about the two tones, one a scorching poison green and the other a two-toned rich purple that resembles layered cobwebs. Paired together they bring out the best that Halloween has to offer- spookiness, intrigue, and mystery. Don’t be afraid to experiment by pairing together unexpected colors, textures, and patterns. Sometimes the most unexpected pairings end up being a showstopper!
Centerpieces and table decor for any spooky party, big or small, can be inexpensive and DIY. For my Halloween themed event last January I purchased holographic tarot cards, lacy black and purple masquerade masks, and assorted glow sticks from Amazon. Using mismatched votives I already had, and decorative mad scientist beakers, I then created my own labels such as “Witch’s Brew” and “Love Potion” for the beakers, filling them with the glow sticks to give off an interesting neon illuminated effect.
Brushed gold or bronze, paired with black candlesticks, gives a vintage haunted house effect. I like to use more sizable focal pieces, such as candelabras or lanterns, to anchor larger tables or food stations. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different shapes and sizes- variety, with a touch of moderation, is key!
What is more Halloween than tons of ultra-sugary candy in those brightly colored, crinkly wrappers? Just the look of bite-size Halloween candy brings me right back to childhood, when my brother and I would race home from trick-or-treating just to dump our loot out on the floor and see what we got. Filling vintage-style lidded glass apothecary jars with fun-sized Halloween candy is a great way to create a dessert station that also functions as decor.
To cut back on expenses for my recent Halloween event, I opted for non-floral centerpieces. However, there are so many great options out there to create moody floral arrangements with. The key is to break up darker floral with pops of cream or ivory, which will make the burgundy and purple blooms really shine. Some favorite options of mine, which are available in darker varietals, are anemones, calla lilies, and dahlias. Make smaller arrangements go a long way by using flowers in a variety of textures and heights- it will make the arrangements appear more filled out than they may be. I love being able to save money for my clients, and this is a great way to do so!
In closing, just remember that no matter the season you can tap into your spooky, noir self and pull inspiration from the look and feel of Halloween to create drama at your next event or get together! A dark color palette works just as well on a grand scale as it does for a small dinner party, so let your imagination run wild with whatever you may be planning and wherever you may be!
