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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!