Halloween is just a few weeks away, so we dug out our old creepy raven and other spooky props from last year. Besides picking up candy for neighborhood trick-or-treaters (and some candy corn for ourselves) we spent almost nothing. We also grabbed a few $4 carnations to paint for a gloomy touch. Here’s the console table all dressed up:
It’s simple and casual: a piece of burlap used as a runner, a stack of eerily titled books, some feathers from last year, and my little white ceramic frog. The display also includes the raven, a faux-antler candlestick, and a black votive we picked up last Halloween.
Above you can see a close-up of Mr. Frog’s area. Last year John made skull images in Photoshop and we loved them so much we brought them back. Those hollow, cavernous eyes are perfectly spooky.
I also tucked something under a glass cloche for a little mystery.
Last year I framed a black silhouette of Burger under the dome, but this year I painted the carnations black and arranged them beneath the glass for a moody, dramatic effect.
Now the challenge is to resist the Three Musketeers and York Peppermint Patties until the 31st — though that’s probably wishful thinking.
On the coffee table we grouped faux pumpkins, round votive holders that echo the pumpkins’ shapes, and two vases filled with dried grasses to add texture and height for a fall feel.
Beyond the coffee table you can see the dining table, where I displayed more candy corn (the guilty pleasure), my spray-painted faux gourds, and Lumiere — a yellow spray-painted candlestick we rescued from Goodwill for a Beauty & The Beast vibe.
We also added three thrifted votive cups with battery-operated flickering candles and a manzanita branch to give the arrangement extra height and an organic, slightly eerie silhouette.
The color theme for this arrangement ended up being bold lemon yellow — seen in the candlestick, the two-toned metal cups, and, less tastefully, the candy corn.
All told, we added a touch of creepy to the living room without much spending — just the edible treats and the inexpensive carnations we painted.
Here’s one more shot of the vignette to show how the elements work together to create a subtle, seasonal mood.
What are you doing to get your home ready for Halloween? Are you team “candy corn is evil,” or do you have to buy two rounds of candy because the first batch disappears long before the 31st?