Halloween decorating ideas can make your space spooky, yet elegant, this Halloween.

As anyone who has participated in a Halloween pub crawl knows, Halloween isn’t just for kids. Adults like to celebrate Halloween too by having cocktails parties, decorating their homes, throwing bonfire get-togethers, and maybe even with a costumed pub crawl–or two.

One thing we have noticed though is that it is easy to find gory Halloween decorating ideas and ideas for kids, but it’s more difficult to find tasteful Halloween decorating ideas suitable for adults. You know those ideas that are just a little more sophisticated or design-orientated than your average cutesy or gory decorations? That’s why we have put together this list of Halloween decorating ideas for adults who like to celebrate the season, but whose taste runs towards the sophisticatedly macabre end of the spectrum.

Grownup Halloween Decorating Ideas For Space

1. Black and White Mantle

If you have a mantlepiece, decorate it with a mixture of black and white Halloween tchotchkes. Some ideas include: white mini-pumpkins, painted black vase with white roses, white candles decorated with black lace or paper doilies, black paper garland and more. Your creativity is your only limit.

2. Old Portraits

Source estate and thrift sales for 19th-century portraits and daguerreotypes and use them to add a spooky atmosphere to your home. Hang them from doorways, a chandelier, hang them in the window, and place them in black frames all over your home.

3. Inspired by Poe

It doesn’t get more macabre than referencing the master himself–Edgar Allen Poe. Create silhouettes of Poe, “The Raven,” and “Annabel Lee” (the title of another famous poem by Poe). Other ideas include: writing the text of “The Raven” on a chalkboard, using pages from old books to make a front door wreath, and placing a fake raven in a birdcage.

4. Spooky Wine Bottle Candles

Repurpose wine bottles by painting them with matte white paint and place red taper candles in them. Light them at your next Halloween party and the red wax running down the bottles with add some spooky ambiance.

5. Faux Natural History Cloche Jars

One way to decorate for Halloween is with fake spiders and other creepy crawlies, but you can make the look a little more sophisticated by displaying them in glass cloche jars (apothecary bell jars).

6. Macabre Dried Flower and Leaf Garland

Paint dried flowers and dried leaves with black spray paint. Once dry, make a macabre decoration by stringing them into a garland with needle and thread. Wrap the garland with red floral ribbon for a little spooky color.

7. Gauzy Shredded Curtains

Source thrift stores for sheer white curtains. Using scissors and a box cutter (be careful though) to shred them to look like they are decaying. Place white electric candles on the windowsill, or hang white string lights from the curtain rod.

Related on EcoSalon

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25 Wicked Halloween Mantles

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Image: Halloween Fireplace via Shutterstock

The post 7 Sophisticatedly Macabre Halloween Decorating Ideas For Grownups appeared first on EcoSalon.

Yikes, it’s already time to get out the holiday décor. Question is, are you going to buy this year or DIY?

Turns out, Halloween is one of the most popular holidays to celebrate and decorate, second only to Christmas. Basically, it’s a good excuse to party and eat seasonally designated M&Ms. Store bought Halloween décor can get pretty pricey so why not set the mood with some DIY candles and save some dough.

You can buy some at Olive and Cocoa, $74.00 for two or……

…you can make your own for the price of the candle and some supplies you probably already have.

Supplies

• Candles –  5″ and 10″ tall pillars that are off white
• Tissue Paper – white, used for wrapping presents
• Spray Glue
• Printer
• Hair Dryer
• Spooky Clip Art

Step 1. Pick out some Halloween graphics and size them to fit your candles on your computer.

Step 2. Lightly spray glue the tissue paper to some printer paper and trim it out. The goal is to get the graphics printed onto tissue paper. I tried taping the tissue on the paper but my printer just spit it out all crumpled. If you have a rubber stamp image you would like to use, you can just stamp directly onto the tissue and skip the printer.

Step 3. Print out your graphics onto your tissue/printer paper.

Step 4.  Peel the tissue from the paper and trim it out as closely as possible to the images. FYI, I tried trimming before removing the tissue from the paper and the tissue tore very easily.

Step 5. Since the tissue is already a bit tacky, stick your image onto the candle. Turn your hairdryer on hot and hold it close to the image. It takes a few minutes for the candle wax to heat and when it does, your image will melt into the candle. You can just smooth the edges down. My candle never got hot enough with the hairdryer to burn my fingers.

You can see how the edges have disappeared and the image melts into the candle. Have patience!

I found my antique images online at the Graphics Fairy. You can look in old books for spooky images or make your own custom graphics using words. Next, I’m going to try using an old photo of my family with zombie eyes.

Set the candles in a bowl with dried black beans for a creepy effect and you’re done.

Happy Halloween!

The post To BUY or DIY: Graphically Pleasing Halloween Candles appeared first on EcoSalon.

Your mantle is calling for your decorating prowess.

If you’re in proud ownership of a mantle this holiday season, Halloween is the perfect time to kick off your decorating prowess. A well-plumed mantle can set the holiday tone for the entire house. Get your mantle right and you might not even bother with the front stoop.

By our count you have exactly three opportunities to perfect your mantle before the end of 2011: now, as in Halloween; Thanksgiving; Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza. Here are 25 exceptionally well-executed ideas to get you started.

Word of warning, I’m about to delve in Addams Family kitsch. These mantles are creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky.

You get the idea.

via Boopsie Daisy

via Just a Girl

via Home Design Interiors

via Second Sister

via Homestories A 2 Z

via The Shabby Chic Cottage

via Langes Fädchen, Faules Mädchen

via Poetic Home

via How I Keep Sane

via La Beau Rêve

via Mandajuice

via Wendy Copley

via Shaggy

via Shelterness

via Southern Living

via Little Miss Momma

via The Shabby Nest

via My Insanity

via Home By Heidi

via Modern Homes Interior Design

via Pottery Barn

via I Heart Nap Time

via Martha Stewart

Images: Occulta Gemini; Boopsie Daisy; Just a Girl; Home Design Interiors; Second Sister; Homestories A 2 Z; The Shabby Chic Cottage; Langes Fädchen, Faules Mädchen; Poetic Home; How I Keep Sane; La Beau Rêve; Mandajuice; Wendy Copley; Shaggy; Shelterness; Southern Living; Little Miss Momma; The Shabby Nest; My Insanity; Home By Heidi; Modern Homes Interior Design; Pottery Barn; I Heart Nap Time; Martha Stewart

The post 25 Wicked Halloween Mantles appeared first on EcoSalon.

There is something utterly beautiful about a mixture of metallic glamour and death. As the end of October nears, I find myself craving something dark that can linger all year long. Jayson Home & Garden offers the Claw Bottle Opener ($24), a brass wonder for accessing bottles of pumpkin ale. A Porcelain Beaver Skull ($110) like this charming one from Beetle & Flor is the perfect coffee table embellishment, a ghoulish paperweight, or a flawless bookend.

And just in case you need a dark and brooding jaw bone dangling over your collarbones, this porcelain skunk Jaw Pendant ($65) will make you weak in the knees.

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