ELEGANT YET CREEPY IDEAS FOR GROWN-UP HALLOWEEN DECOR
Grown-up Halloween decor
Every year, I find myself drooling over the newest Halloween decor from the frou-frou chains — and then gasping over the prices. In the end, I prefer the simplest Halloween option — vintage dishes and linens and one-of-a-kind handmade items. Here are my ideas for Halloween entertaining this year.
A vintage lace tablecloth is the first layer of this Halloween table. This one is intricate and delicate — the perfect foil for the creepy layers to come. If the tablecloth is torn or stained, even better. Maybe it’s dried blood, right? Imperfection tells a story.
I find many of my vintage linens at estate sales and auctions. You can find estate sales in your community at estatesales.net.
Vintage dishes, all with black decorations, are another elegant touch, as are the vintage silverware and glasses. I made the napkin ring from lace binding. You can find out how here.
I love making these handmade skulls. All year, I collect vintage anniversary clocks with glass domes — I won’t pay more than $3 a piece — at garage sales or estate sales. I look for inexpensive foam skulls of all sizes at discount and dollar stores and then assemble broken jewelry, rusted hardware and anything else that creates a freaky vibe.
SNAKES ARE CREEPY, TOO
I also tried a more colorful Halloween tablescape using a modern snake-themed fabric. I made a table runner from the snake fabric and then decorated a gold charger with small plastic snakes. I also made a tea towel with the snake fabric, for sale in my Etsy shop.
OUIJA BOARD TRAY
My handy husband upcycled Ouija boards into Halloween serving trays. You can find out here how to make your own.
A CREEPY TEA TOWEL FOR KITCHEN OR BATHROOM
Tea towels are the perfect canvas for one-of-a-kind Halloween designs. Here are two of my favorites this year — the itsy bitsy spider and Lizzie Borden. They’re for sale in my Etsy shop, handyjan.etsy.com.
HANDMADE LOCAL POTTERY
My collection of pottery by a local pottery maker, Artifact, is better than any factory-made Halloween dishes. These pieces are incomparably creepy and also one-of-a-kind. You can often find their pieces at Clash Dayton in Dayton’s Oregon District, or reach out to them on their Etsy shop.
