5 Halloween Party Decorating Ideas to Die For
Whether you're flipping pages in a horror novel or jumping at the latest scary movie, one thing's always clear; the atmosphere is everything. From eerie lighting and spine-chilling soundtracks to unsettling settings, every detail works together to set the mood.
Halloween parties are no different. The way you decorate defines the experience for your guests. Whether you're aiming for blood-curdling terror with macabre props or a more playful, Addams Family-style creep factor, you'll need the right décor to bring your vision to life.
To help you plan a party that leaves your guests howling (with delight), the Halloween experts at American Carnival Mart have conjured up five fiendishly fabulous decorating ideas. These tricks (and treats) will ensure your bash lingers in their memories long after the jack-o’-lanterns flicker out.
Less is More: Start with a Color Palette
The first thing you need to decide is what color themes you want for your Halloween party décor. On the one zombified hand, you could choose a classic orange and black theme if you’re aiming for a more fun than spooky atmosphere. American Carnival Mart offers table covers, tableware, and even cups in Halloween-themed colors that will delight your guests.
But on the other severed appendage, if you want to really crank up the terror factor, choosing deep, soft reds and accenting with black can give your party a more diabolical feel. You can also use deeper contrasts, such as black and white hues, to create a feeling of encroaching darkness or to highlight certain elements of your design.
Whatever you choose, the rest of your decorations should ideally fit within the theme so that everything complements each other.
Set the Tone with Lighting
Another major element of horror is the lighting. There’s a reason the cliché exists that a lot of scary stories start with “It was a dark and stormy night…” Since Halloween is meant to be a little spooky, it goes without saying you’ll want to dim the lights a little. After all, darkness and shadows are a major horror motif. But simply turning down (or off) the lights isn’t enough. You need to fill your space with other small sources of light to draw attention to specific decorations, like placing a glowing set of eyes on a dark background.
Jack-o-lanterns are a popular staple of Halloween festivities, and ensuring they have a great light source allows them to shine (pun intended). American Carnival Mart has flickering LED candle lights which are perfect for this application. But you’re probably going to want to go beyond just filling the room with lit pumpkins. For that, we recommend themed LED string lights.
Create Table Toppers & Themed Vignettes
Even if you’re planning a lot of dancing or activities that will keep your guests on their feet during your party, at some point, they’re going to want to sit down. One small touch that divides good Halloween parties from great Halloween parties is themed table toppers. Do you have a bit of cardboard and some cotton swabs? With a little gray paint, some artistic touches with a black marker, and some creative stretchy applications of cotton, you now have yourself a stylized tombstone centerpiece for your table.
Of course, you can make your centerpieces as simple as a bucket of candy for the table to share, or as complex as an entire decorated miniature haunted mansion. Whatever you choose to do, table toppers are just one way to go that extra mile to make your party stand out.
Set Up a Jack-O-Lantern Creation Station
As we mentioned earlier, jack-o-lanterns are a mainstay of Halloween festivities. Rather than adding a few here and there to liven up the party yourself, why not allow your guests to create them and show them off? Dedicate a space to pumpkin carving and decorating. All you need to do is provide pumpkins, carving tools, and decoration supplies. American Carnival Mart is a great place to shop for pumpkin carving supplies in bulk. We offer carving toolkits and stickers designed to go on pumpkins, and even glow-in-the-dark pumpkin teeth.
This particular decoration idea stands out because it allows your guests to take part in creating the atmosphere of the party. Have your guests place their creations around the party for everyone to admire. For a bit of extra fun, you can even host a pumpkin carving contest and announce winners at the end of the night.
Put Together a Phantasmal Photo Booth
One of the best ways to make sure people remember your party is to give them a little memento they can take home. Photo booths are great additions to parties for a variety of occasions, but they are especially suited for Halloween. There’s a good chance your guests will already be in costume, so why not set up a selfie station?
Designate a space somewhere in the party venue as a photo station. Set up one or two spooky backdrops guests can use to take photos. Make sure you provide a few props or other costume items to mix it up a bit.
Set the Scene with Terrifyingly Good Halloween Party Décor from American Carnival Mart
Ready to turn your party into a haunted masterpiece? From creepy classics to kid-friendly favorites, American Carnival Mart has all the decorations you need to bring your Halloween vision to life. Whether you're going spine-chilling or silly, our team is here to help you find the perfect supplies to match your theme.
Contact us today to start planning a legendary Halloween party.