5 Ways to Decorate for Halloween

Is there a crispness to the air? It could all just be in my imagination, but I love the change of seasons!

Not so much the slight allergies, but I that's another story.

It's time to get the pumpkins out. Oh Yeah!

1. Color Scheme

2. Food

3. Entry

4. On the Go

5. Madness Overload

1. Color Scheme

If you want to do Halloween subtly, the best way is to incorporate a color scheme. And the best colors for Halloween? You know it! Black and Orange.

But don't limit yourself to just these colors!

Halloween is in the middle of fall, so all colors of fall are fair game. Browns, yellows, and reds are great to bring out the feeling of the changing leaves and the crispness in the air.

Don't want to do the same old fall colors? Purple and green are a great combination of colors that have often been used to gift the feeling of witchy spookiness. A few touches of these colors will be more than enough to bring any room in the gloom of the season, in the best way!

2. Food

If there is one thing people that know me personally know to be true about me, it's that I love food. And not just in a sense of I will eat like you've never seen - which I might. I love to bake!

Halloween is a very fun holiday to play in the kitchen. If you want to keep things cute, turning a regular cupcake or cookie into a ghost, skeleton, or pumpkin is a sure way to bring a smile on any kid's face.

Willing to go the extra mile for the creepy factor? Get a mold of a skull and make some Jello! Hotdogs wrapped in a croissant? You've got yourself a mummy-dog! Thin pretzel sticks into the sides of an Oreo, dipped into dark chocolate and then place two small candied eyes, and you've got a spider.

Don't feel like going to into the creative food realm? Food coloring is your friend! Green to the mash potatoes, and suddenly you're eating a Mad scientist's latest experiment. Purple into the mac and cheese will certainly get a raised eye brow.

Not one for crafty visuals? Then, it's all in the seasonal flavors! Pumpkin, apple and cinnamon all the way! Put pumpkin in just about everything (soups, tea with your pumpkin spired creamers, coffee too, cookies, salad, mashed potatoes, the list is really endless!) and I doubt you will hear many complaints.

3. Entry

Only want enough Halloween to show the neighbors? Covering just your porch, or even just your front door is good enough!

Simplicity would be your windows. Get some window safe markers and get to drawing. And the wonderful thing about Halloween? Even the worst artist can provide a great showpiece. Use odd lines to make monsters and ghosts, or make it appear like your window is cracked into!

Another simple way to decorate for the season is, of course, pumpkins. When Pumpkin Season rolls around, I am one happy camper. But if you're not eating them, a pumpkin on the porch is a true classical piece. Paint your pumpkin with glitter or in gold, and they make a statement! Use your pets or kids' handprints and you have a lovely unique piece for the season.

If pumpkins aren't making it to your porch, then animals might be the right niche for you! Owls, bats, cats, and spiders and easily understood spooky contributors for the season. Add some sharp teeth or a touch of fake blood, and you're really likely to get a wide eyed reaction.

4. On the Go

Sometimes, you just want to take Halloween out everywhere you go! Or is that just me?

With all the cute clothing designs nowadays, it's not hard to find something adorable in your style. Selective colors or typography on a shirt can make you feel like it's Halloween all days of October.

Send a lot of time in your car? Use some of those window safe markers again and wish people a "Happy Halloween" as you go! Maybe a "Boo!" on the back window will set a smile on someone's face.

Not interested in drawing? Window decals might just be for you! Give your car a stunning personality as you decorate the windows to match your festive mood. Just remember, check if the decals are to be placed on the inside or outside of the window. One rainy day and your designs could be left on a parking lot grounds.

Have a costume for your pet? Maybe walking them can be just that much more fun for the month. Who said costumes only had to be worn on the 31st?

5. Madness Overload

Do all these tips sound good, but you want to do more? You sound like we might just get along.

If you're one to get carried away with your decorating, then you are probably already familiar with madness overload. You know, when you have so many decorations that you don't have the space to put it all out...but you still end up buying more each year?

I love the end of the Halloween season, like all seasons, because that means that stores mark things down. This is when I really like to stock up! Ribbons for tying everything from the stairs to your kiddos hair. Ghost pins and earrings, pumpkin and goblin pencil toppers. Goofy faces drawn onto lunch notes and sandwich bags. Window safe markers reappear to mark up the mirrors, especially in the bathrooms with spooky says, silly jokes, and a recreation of Harry Potter's Chamber of Secrets announcement.

Yeah, we can go overboard around here.

When decorating for Halloween, don't limit yourself! It's a time for fun and creativity. Allow yourself to try new things, and if they don't work out - like if a decoration starts falling sideways halfway through the month? Mix things up again, or embrace the disaster. It's not Thanksgiving dinner, no one will be upset to try a new recipe and not find it as good as Abuela's or your Great Aunt's. Get the kids involved! Let them be your lab assistants in the science of cooking and your grumpy goblins around the house putting up all their school pieces and your traditional ones.

And if you're using candles, Be Careful. Don't leave them in children or pet's reach, and don't leave them on overnight.

Be Safe and Have Fun!

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