How to Decorate Your House for Halloween
Halloween is one of the oldest and most popular holidays celebrated by millions of people worldwide on the night of October 31. It was originally a pagan holiday to honor the dead, which was also referred to as All Hallows Eve. This day falls on the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans. The ancient people believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause great havoc. Thus, masks and customs were worn in an attempt to appease the evil spirits. However, many view Halloween as a time for having fun, putting on costumes and having theme parties. While millions of people celebrate Halloween for fun, knowing the steps of decorating your house could make the holiday more fascinating.
Weeks before the actual holiday, many families decorate their houses by turning their front porch into a graveyard or a mad scientist's lab. Every retailer offers a wide variety of Halloween costumes, décor, and party supplies, but purchasing these animated, life-size Frankenstein inflatable decorations can add up to hundreds of dollars. However, there are other ways to impress the neighborhood trick-or-treaters with your haunted mansion without spending a fortune on Halloween decorations. You can decorate on a budget for Halloween, and still have the most impressive house on the block by using reclaimed materials you already have at home. By adding some simple touches to your front yard using tools you have at home, you can turn your entire yard into a spooky cemetery
To create your haunted cemetery, you first need to cut different shapes out of cardboard. You could try flattening several shipping boxes and using a pen to draw tombstone shapes. In order to give your graveyard some variety, you could try making a few rectangular, cross, and oval tombstones according to your taste. After you draw sketches on the cardboard, you have to cut the shapes out with a pair of scissors. Then paint the shapes a dark grey to make them look like aging tombstones. Once they dry, add on sayings like "R.I.P" to the front of each tombstone, and glue a wood or plastic yard stake to the back of each tombstone to plant it into the ground. Finally, you can arrange them on the lawn to look like a miniature graveyard. You can also use the tombstones to denote a haunted pathway for trick-or-treaters. As they approach your front door, they have to pass by the tombstones, and this would make their Halloween nighttime walk a more thrilling experience.
Jack O' Lanterns or carved pumpkins are also staple Halloween decorations. Some would rather not deal with cutting and carving pumpkins as they can be a real hassle, but carving out a Jack O' Lantern could make your Halloween a more special experience. The first step to carving out your pumpkin is to visit your local supermarket, farmer's market or pumpkin patch to select a healthy pumpkin. When you are choosing a pumpkin, try to pick one that is free of bruises and cuts. Look for a sturdy stem that does not feel too bendable, and for mostly consistent color all the way around. Next, choose a method for carving your pumpkin. The method will direct which materials you will need for your carving. As soon as you are done selecting your design, draft your design on the pumpkin. Use a permanent marker or dry-erase marker to outline your design on the pumpkin. Dry-erase markings can easily be wiped off if you mess up your design. Afterwards, set up a spacious work area by laying down some newspaper to protect the surface and to make cleaning up easier when you are done. Now, it is time to find an appropriate knife to carve out your design. Avoid using a straight-edge knife if possible since you will have to use more force to cut through the pumpkin. After choosing a knife, you have to cut the lid from the pumpkin to remove the filling. Use a large spoon to pull out all of the filling and seeds from the inside of your pumpkin. Scrape it as clean as you can, so that more light can shine through your jack o' lantern. Next, start carving out your design by using a gentle back and forth motion to cut into the pumpkin. Keep following your pattern until you have carved out your design. Finally, choose a light source when you finish carving your pumpkin. Traditionally, jack o' lanterns were lit with candlesticks, but flashlights and flickering LEDs are popular modern options. Make your decision based on potential safety concerns and choose a safe display area.
If you have the Halloween spirit, but you also have to stick to a budget, you can decorate your house from start to finish without spending a lot of money by following few steps. By using the supplies you already have lying around the house, you can create your haunted house and scare your friends who come to trick-or-treat at night.
