Be the (G)host with the Most
Whether you’re bewitched by BOO-tiful Gothic glamour or spellbound by spooky accessories, we’ve got a few tricks and treats up our sleeves to help you vamp up your home for the night.
Set a Spooky Scene
Dim the lights and gather round while we share our terrifyingly effective tips on how to host a dramatically dark and gorgeously Gothic dinner party, perfect for spooking with sophistication.
- Turn your ghoulish gathering into a glamorously Gothic dinner party with dark accessories, and dine by candlelight for extra spookiness!
- Start by covering your table with a black tablecloth.
- Create a centrepiece using candles. The low light casts long flickering shadows that are perfect for setting the spooky scene, while also illuminating your table and your guests. Try using old books, wine decanters and faux flowers to bring the table to life, along with pumpkins in different shades.
- Lay the plates – black of course – on top of the tablecloth, and place black napkins on each place.
- Munchkin pumpkins (the tiny ones that fit in the palm of your hand) are a great way to hold name cards in place, and add to your decor at the same time.
- Romance and Gothic style go hand in hand, so deep red rose buds make great accessories too. You can use them as place markers, or use bouquets of them in elegant vases to give that glam goth feel.
- Add pops of orange to complement your pumpkin presence. The general rule in decor is that your accent colour should make up 10% of your look, and that goes for throwing a stylish party too!
- Use bottles and decanters filled with red, orange or black coloured drinks to combine function and decoration in one. Our lemon and slime punch recipe below makes a gruesomely green option!
Create a Trick or Treat Table
If going trick or treating is too much hassle/it’s too wet out/you’re a bit too old for it these days, create a treat station at home. Gather together some jars and bottles of different shapes and sizes and fill them with sweet treats. In the run up to the 31st the shops are full of Halloween themed gummy sweets and chocolate shapes, but you can also fill them with other favourites and label them with spooky-themed names!
Be a Pumpking or Queen
A relatively easy, cheap and effective decoration that’s a Halloween essential, you’re no longer limited to carving a basic grin (or grimace) into the orange flesh. But where do you stand? Here are our top 5 tips for prettying up your pumpkins:
- If you’re carving, always use a pumpkin carving kit. Don’t risk your fingers by using a knife. Kits typically include a scorer, a carver and a scoop and they’re built for the task, so use them!
- Use a stencil if you can’t draw a design freehand. A curved surface is tricky to draw onto, and there are lots of free downloads out there. Print it, pin in, score it onto the surface, then carefully cut.
- Use LED tealights or other battery-operated options inside of a naked flame. It’s cleaner and safer, and you can reuse them all year round.
- For a slice and scoop free alternative, paint them! Use a brush or spray paint (in a well-ventilated area) and cover them in gothic black, give them sinister red drips, or make them match your colour scheme. You can also add glitter while the paint dries, or add a second layer with a fun message or pattern.
- If you prefer something more practical, you can turn your pumpkin into a serving bowl centrepiece. Cut the top off and scoop out the insides, then fill with soup, stew or fondue and let everyone help themselves.
Make Lemon & SLIME punch
It’s green, it’s gloopy, and it’s a strangely delicious concoction! You can fill a big bowl and leave a ladle and glasses nearby, or make up individual glasses so you can make sure every gets a gummy worm garnish.
Lemon and SLIME punch recipe:
You will need –
- 135g pack lime jelly cubes
- 500ml apple juice
- 500ml lemonade
- 2 limes, thinly sliced
Method –
- Follow the instructions on the jelly packet, and place in the fridge until it’s set.
- Once set, break it up into small pieces with a whisk, and spoon into a punch bowl (or individual glasses).
- Mix the apple juice and lemonade together in a jug, then pour over the jelly.
- Thinly slice the limes and place them on the surface for added tang and a finishing touch.
- Make your sippable slime even creepier by throwing in a few jelly worms or bugs!