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The temperature has dropped, the leaves are changing color, and ghost and goblin costumes fill the store aisles. All signs that Halloween is fast approaching. You want to decorate your home to reflect the spirit of this haunted holiday, but a trip to store and a tour of the price tags has already got you spooked. Never fear! Decorating your house for Halloween doesn’t have to be scary. Just heed some of the suggestions below.
1. Shop Discount Stores
Many large discount stores or wholesale clubs offer inexpensive items for Halloween, and always put Halloween candy on sale. They also offer the opportunity to buy items in large quantity, which is almost always cheaper per unit. The local supermarket can also be a surprisingly inexpensive option, as they label these items as “seasonal”, and price the items to sell quickly.
2. Shop Craft Stores
Many craft stores offer reasonably priced Halloween decorations, as well as craft materials so that you can make your own. Often, you can purchase materials to almost duplicate a ready-made item. This saves a bundle of money and allows you to give decorations a more personal touch. Look for Halloween-theme, large, die-cut wooden shapes that can be painted, sealed and used as lawn signs. For indoor embellishments, experiment with paper of different textures. Fold paper in wide accordion sections and cut pumpkin shapes in paper doll fashion, to create a long banner or festoon.
3. Shop Fabric Stores
Fabric and ribbon remnants come in handy for making decorations, whether they are sewn or glued, and are generally inexpensive. If you’re a whiz on the sewing machine, stitch up an outdoor flag and decorate it with black cats, witches and ghosts. Look for novelty fabric printed with Halloween icons that can be transformed into throw pillows, small tablecloths, liners for trick-or-treat baskets, and many other uses.
4. Shop Garden Shops
Summer lawn and garden shops put on a new look for the season, and become a wonderful resource for Halloween props. Hang colorful Indian corn on your front door and tie tall corn stalks on the light post. Set carved pumpkins, shapely gourds and bales of hay on the porch. Stuff an old shirt and pants with hay to make a scarecrow and complete the look.
5. Shop For Next Year
A great way to make decorating a little less bewitching is to shop for surplus items after the holiday ends. Most stores mark down the leftovers at least 50%. And, since Halloween doesn’t change from year to year, these items can be stored and used the following season.
6. Make Them Yourself
Not only can you save money by creating homemade decorations, they have great sentimental value. A pumpkin made from construction paper with a little glitter becomes a family heirloom and a record of your child’s accomplishments. Cover a vegetable can with orange tissue and rhinestones, and add a votive candle inside for a pretty indoor lantern. Fabric remnants can be glued to a large piece of felt to create a festive Halloween banner, or paint scary faces on inexpensive mini pumpkins or gourds.
If you have the time and you’re somewhat resourceful, you can try all of these suggestions. What will result are beautiful and unique Halloween decorations without the ghastly expense.
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