Pumpkins and Gourds
You don't have to be a crafty do-it-yourselfer to ramp up the Halloween charm of your home's exterior. Add pumpkins and gourds of various shapes and sizes to your front steps in order to improve your house's seasonal curb appeal. If you don't enjoy carving pumpkins, you can simply paint your pumpkins to reflect spooky faces. Use glow-in-the-dark paint to create eerie eyes and add other simple accents to your pumpkins with odds and ends from around your home.
Front Door Wreath
A seasonal wreath is a simple accent, but it's one that brims with warmth and festive charm. A wreath will greet trick-or-treaters as they come to your door, but it will also make for an inviting focal point for potential buyers if you're planning to list your home on the market this autumn. If you really want to wow the kids, replace your fall wreath with a spooky witch or ghost as it gets closer to Halloween.
Spooky Trees
To rev up the visual appeal of your outdoor setting for Halloween, consider bringing your trees into your design plan. With a bit of fishing line and outdoor-friendly fabric, you can create a troop of ghosts that hang from the low branches of trees on your property. You can also hang other decorations like spider webs, bats and flying witches.
Front Lawn Focal Point
If you're planning to sell your home in the fall, try to avoid installing decor that might take away from the beauty of your setting. But you can still create a Halloween focal point that blends well with your home and landscape. For instance, if you have a birdbath, you might consider replacing it with a cauldron encircled by the silhouettes of witches. The key is to create a sophisticated display that is attractive to both children and potential house buyers.
Eerie Living Room
You can create a haunted living room scene that can also tie the look of this room together. Rather than investing in expensive slipcovers or new furnishings, simply deck your furniture out with clean white sheets to create an eerie setting. Add some flickering, battery-operated candles and cobwebs to create an inviting Halloween setting that will work for you even if you're selling your house.
Garage Door
Don't ignore the blank slate of your garage door when decorating your exterior setting for Halloween. Vinyl clings can help you create a wonderful seasonal display. Consider a bevy of bats or a row of eye-catching jack-o-lanterns to adorn your garage door. Even if you intend to sell your home in the fall, a decorated garage can help you improve your home's curb appeal.
Decorated Windows
Decorating your windows with Halloween decorations can enhance your décor both inside and out. You can add spooky silhouettes to the windows along with some black crepe to create an eye-catching arrangement. If you do have electrical décor, make sure to keep a fire extinguisher close by, just incase.
Halloween Props
Finally, don't forget to add some fun Halloween props to your interior to get into the spirit of the Halloween season. Add some spooky potion bottles to your mantel or shelf, black candles to your candleholders, black flowers to vases and hang fake spiders or ghosts from lighting fixtures. You can also replace your wall hangings with Halloween-inspired pictures that bring a touch of eerie charm to your setting.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to purchase your Halloween decorations or make them yourself, you can enhance the look of your home when you decorate for Halloween. The kids in your neighborhood are sure to appreciate your outdoor décor just as much as your neighbors and potential buyers.
Andrea Davis is the editor for HomeAdvisor, which helps homeowners find home improvement professionals in their area at no charge to ensure the best service in the shortest amount of time.
Written by Andrea Davis
Nancy M. Alexander Stone Harbor and Avalon NJ Real Estate, Long & Foster Avalon
