Celebrate a Spooky Chic Halloween!

Our first fall holiday is fast approaching – Halloween is going to be here before we know it! As a seasonal décor fanatic I can hardly wait for the weather to start cooling off and the jack-o-lanterns to begin glowing.  As a mother to a candy obsessed 3-year-old (and a person with quite the sweet tooth myself) I am especially excited to decorate our home to the nines this year to start instilling a love of holiday traditions with our family beyond trick-or-treating.  Halloween was a big deal in my own home growing up.  Trips to the pumpkin patch and carving sessions will always be among my most beloved memories.  However, as deep as my love for Halloween is, I am also someone who prefers “spooky chic” to outright scary and you won’t find any cotton webs in my corners! Thankfully, seasonal décor is really having a moment right now with tons of cute and whimsical items that can elevate tabletops, mantels and any nook and cranny you need to fill! 

Black and white is a classic year-round and timeless color combination.  It just so happens to be the perfect Halloween pairing too! Add in a touch of orange and a dose of green or purple and you have the perfect spooky palette.  Pick muted or “dusty” colors for a vintage vibe or opt for punchy brights for a youthful, fun Halloween mix.  When it comes to patterns, my favorites for this particular holiday is stripes (stripes, always!!) and polka dots.

When designing your centerpieces, we always recommend height! With so many baubles and details on the table, it is nice to elevate a few pieces that you can see from across the room.  From simple pumpkins to tricked out treat buckets, there is no limit on what you can place on a few pedestals to create a huge impact.  Remember to space them out enough so that you can see your guests across your lovely tablescape! Another way to add height is to utilize your ceiling space! One of our go-to décor tricks for this holiday (and any holiday, really) is hanging ornaments from the ceiling or from your light fixtures with your favorite seasonal ribbon! It’s a great way to draw the eye up and is really quite memorable!

As if all of this wasn’t fun enough, lets talk place settings!  Switch up each setting by alternating different creatures like jack-o-lanterns, cats and skeletons.  The settings will still be cohesively themed but it adds texture and depth to a table that can afford to be a little unpredictable.   Another creative twist is changing out traditional names on place cards for silly Halloween sayings and movie quotes.  This is a great conversation starter and takes your table to the next level!

I would love to hear about your Halloween celebrations! Share with me your party tips, favorite décor items or traditions in the comments or online using #nellhills.  Until next time – Happy Decorating!