Set the Table for a Spooky and Sophisticated Halloween

Create the ambiance for a crafty, spooky and sophisticated Halloween dinner party.

It can often feel like time flies faster than a witch’s broom, and with the many hats we wear, taking the time to decorate can seem more like a trick than a treat. But let’s face it, Halloween is more fun when you can transform your home into another place and time. So let’s make things easy and start with a theme: Welcome the Witches.

Starting with a theme helps you pick colors and see decorative textures that can be added in layers. It can force you to pay attention to what you need to build on or to take away to complete your mood.

Dare to Enter. Jen and Michael Boulle’s adorable Glendora, California, bungalow is transformed into a haunted house with spindly tree branches and a murder of crows.

In Jen and Michael Boulle’s adorable Glendora, California bungalow we asked ourselves, “If we wanted to throw a dinner party for witches, what would that look like?” Here are some of the ways we brought our spooky and sophisticated theme to life.

close up of porch with skeleton wearing witches hat and fake crows in branches — Happy Haunting. Nothing beats a skeleton greeter on the porch. Black and white pillows add a modern punch.

Bring Nature Indoors

When decorating, look to nature to add more of a rustic aesthetic. In this case, with a recent wind storm, fallen branches and tree debris gave us plenty to work with. We found long spiny limbs and used a pair to frame the front porch. Michael cut some of the branches and secured them to the railing. We attached a few faux crows to the branches and stretched spider webs for a grown-in effect.

Inside in the dining room, we used black-painted branches down the center of the table to add more gnarly, rustic details. Other branches were put in rustic buckets throughout the house in various vignettes.

witches hat and broom propped up in entryway of home decorated for Halloween — Salvaged Materials. This fencing was found on the side of the road. It makes the perfect backdrop to set a broom against.

Handmade Elements in the Spooky and Sophisticated Halloween Decor

For some of our décor, we made what we couldn’t find. We made the Halloween “Trick or Treat” and “Witches Brew” buntings using fun fonts and some digital scrapbooking skills; then we printed and cut out the bunting. I punched star-shaped holes in the flags, then strung the individual letters on baker’s twine. I also made small brooms with extra raffia, twigs and twine.

spooky and sophisticated Halloween with hand labelled jars on shelf along with painting of crow — Eerie and Elegant. Think about your décor as setting the stage for anyone who enters. Here wood planks and twine come together as a display board that seems straight out of the Salem Witch Trials.

Make your own seasonal signage for décor that lasts from year to year. Use salvaged wood for a more aged effect. I created the “Welcome Witches” sign from a repurposed cabinet door and twigs that were in my yard. I also transferred a vintage Halloween photo of Jen’s mother onto scraps of wood to hang on the wall.

black and white photos vintage image of witch and painting of crow surrounded by red leaves

vintage encyclopedia opened to types of claws with illustrations with fake spider — Fun Ephemera. In the spirit of apothecary I displayed a page I happened upon in an old encyclopedia. I love its detailed illustrations of claws; it brought a whole other level of creepiness to the cabinet. I added labels to old jars to create a lineup of ingredients a witch might delight over.

floral bouquet fake crows silver candlesticks and fake skeleton comprise tablescape for spooky and sophisticated Halloween — Spooky & Sophisticated. Jen’s china is combined with fall-like colors and textures to create a table fit for an evil queen. Use burlap and mercury glass for a blend of rustic and elegant materials.

bookshelf with collection of fall foliage, crows, spiders and small skulls for spooky and sophisticated Halloween — Gathered Finds. When it comes to celebrations and gatherings, use imaginative, repurposed materials for those special atmospheric enhancers (i.e., pinecones, twigs, candles, signage and various oddities). When collected and clustered together, they enhance any gathering.

vignette of various sized pumpkins, bucket of twisted branches and crow figurine — Nature’s Collections. A group pf uncarved pumpkins and a bundle of twigs from outside are all that’s needed to create a fall update in any corner. The point is not to overthink the details, but to create an overall feeling your guests will enjoy.

trick or treat pennants on entryway wardrobe — Easy Additions. I created this paper garland with some digital scrapbooking tools. Adding it to an armoire along with some pumpkins on the top instantly brings a seasonal mood.

small pumpkins with crows figurine and bucket of twisted branches

floral bouquet in fall colors at center of table set for Halloween party

pumpkin shaped bowl with pumpkin soup ready for spooky and sophisticated Halloween dinner party — Family Traditions. Halloween is one of the Boulles’ favorite holidays. They have hosted a Halloween Open House in their home for more than a dozen years, where they serve pumpkin soup, eat plenty of snacks and then go around the neighborhood for some great trick-or-treating.

fake crow on top of vintage clock guarding stack of plates with spider design — Old & New. Spooky spider plates from Pier 1 mix with an antique clock for a blend of modern style with family heirlooms.

stick on spider stickers on cabinet fronts, mummy head shaped candy holder and spider's web style fruit bowl in home decorated for Halloween — Cut to the Chase. These paper spiders instantly add a Halloween vibe to a corner of Jen’s kitchen. Seasonal sweets are served up in classic Halloween party style. Crust & Crumble Bakery in downtown Glendora adds the perfect touch with their tasty, adorable baked goods to round out any gathering or celebration. Visit crustandcrumblebakery.com.

fake skull sits next to bucket of beer ready for spooky and sophisticated Halloween dinner party — Witches Brew. We transformed Jen’s laundry room into a beverage bar by covering the machines up with black gauzy fabric and having easy-to-grab pumpkin ale on ice.

spooky and sophisticated Halloween dinner party tablescape with skeleton wearing black detailed shawl and witches hat — Feeling Ghoulish. This stunningly spooky sideboard came together much like the porch: delightfully twisted branches are propped up in a vase and tied to the mirror for a grand effect. Antique silver combined with blown-glass pumpkins and a pewter pedestal with skeleton feet from Pier 1 make a memorable scene.

Looking for more spooky and sophisticated Halloween ideas? Read on for A Ghostly and Glam Halloween Party. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of cottage inspiration!