Now that the weather is (kind of) getting cooler in Florida, we’re loving being outside!
Since we moved into our 1960’s fixer-upper, we haven’t had many opportunities to host gatherings. To transform our home into our ideal entertaining space, we had a list of improvements that we wanted to tackle. And as many of us know, that takes time (and money) to complete. However, I don’t let that stop me from decorating for the holidays or having people over to celebrate.
Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE Halloween decorations. BUT, I’ve never been a fan of scary movies, haunted houses, or creepy decorations. Instead, I like to call my decorating style “pretty Halloween.” While I’ve built up my Halloween décor inventory over the years, our house is slightly larger, and my style is somewhat different. We also love to entertain outside, so my goal is always to create an inviting and festive space while keeping my budget in check. (especially since Christmas is right around the corner!) Here are some tips on how I accomplish this:
Scroll down for ideas on how to decorate your home for Halloween for under $20…
Use everyday furniture as accent pieces
Take a look around your home. If you know your guests will be outside, and there’s no rain in the forecast, take easy to move pieces from inside your house out. A black dresser placed under the window facing our outdoor sectional created a more beautiful presentation than staring at a neutral wall and windowpane. Take things a step further by opening the drawers and placing potted plants inside. Or, add blankets your guests could use as the night gets colder. You could even decorate it with leftover Halloween decorations (fake spider webs or orange lights are two options). Once your event is over, move the piece back inside or cover it with a tarp and enjoy until weather permits.
Don’t under estimate the power of thrift stores
Shop early to find the best selection of holiday merchandise at your local thrift store. I started shopping at the end of September and found some wonderful fake pumpkins and skulls. They were a bit dirty and chipped – nothing that a coat or two of spray paint can’t fix! Krylon makes some beautiful glitter sprays for anyone with a passion for bling (silver, gold, and diamond colors only) Or, just for the holidays, Rustoleum has an orange and black glitter line (NOTE: I’m not affiliated with either product)
Clearance is your friend
On one of my daily shopping trips to Lowes, I spotted a box of plastic pink flamingos on clearance for $5 each. Not only did I want some for my yard art collection, but after finding some ideas online, I decided to modify a few for my Halloween collection. Spray paint along with free-handing a few details and voilà! My walking dead flamingos are complete. The best part? It only took 20 minutes to create each one!
Accessorize for $1 or Less
The Dollar Tree is a fantastic place to find accessories you can’t make. Lights, ribbons, candles, paper goods, and small accessories can all be purchased for those perfect final touches. Have I mentioned how I love spray paint? These Dollar Tree skulls (above) didn’t exactly go with the “pretty Halloween” theme I was going for. So I spray painted them black and added a coat of glitter paint. Now, they’re more elegant and all for under $5/each. Perfectly placed on our dining room table, this tablescape was a scary success.
Reuse what you have
You don’t always have to go out and purchase something new to make your home festive. Take a look around your home and repurpose things in a new way. Extra fabric, pillowcases, sheets, books, candlesticks, trinkets, etc., can all enhance the mood. Mirrors can be placed on their back as trays. Use old books or crates to add height for accessories. Move items around in your home to create that one-of-a-kind look.
I loved having the opportunity to enjoy my “pretty Halloween” decorations with my friends. How do you decorate for Halloween? Have some tips or photos that you’d like to share? Comment below or follow us on social media and let us know. We’d love to hear from you!
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