Clara likes little creatures (seriously, the girl thinks snakes and spiders are cute), and is currently in the midst of an apple/pumpkin obsession (which is very fall-appropriate). So we decided this year’s loose Halloween theme could be “nature” (said a la Will Ferrell as Robert Goulet on SNL). That way it encompasses things like pumpkins, gourds, and apples along with creepy things like spiders and black crows and snakes.
But let’s go back to the beginning. I had some fun with Halloween stuff. First, I grabbed some $1.99 spiders and $2-3 snakes at Michael’s (the snakes were in the wood toy aisle and definitely not meant for Halloween but you know I’m weird…).
When it came to adapting the spiders, I just used a black sharpie to color over the orange bands on their legs (all black spiders = much more real/scary looking). As for the wooden snake toys I immediately pictured them flat white as soon as I saw them. There’s just something haunting about ceramic-ish snakes, right? For some reason I thought glossy white might be too sleek looking, and flat would be sort of ghostly and chalky so I went for it:
And… I love them. Who is surprised? No one? Cool. Anyway, it’s always a tradition to do the console table (see it here and here from years past), so that was the first surface I spooked (spookified?):
I used a few faux apples that I got a while back on super clearance from Pottery Barn for some color along with some old spiderweb stuff I had leftover from a few years back in my Halloween tupperware bin (yes I have one, and yes it’s labeled… I’ll pause while you mutter “dork” under your breath).
Other than that it was just my new snakes and a creepy black spider among things that are usually on the console table, like my oversized vase from ZGallerie, my faux tray from Target (the green tray-looking-thing is actually a box that a wedding photo album came in), my antler candlestick from West Elm, my yard sale greenhouse, and the faux plant inside of it from Ikea.
Oh and miraculously, Clara has yet to mess with stuff on the console (she can’t quite reach up there yet). Of course typing that has probably jinxed us. But anyway, I thought it was cute to snap a picture from her POV. Of course we’ve held her up so she can look at the spiders and snakes, so now she walks by and says adorable things like “bye bye spider” and “hi apples!”
Next came the mantel in the kitchen (which I realize I never took a straight-on shot of, so forgive me).
You’ll also notice some green and white gourds/pumpkins, a bunch of mismatched candlesticks, and my gory little blood-dripping candles (which I made here).
I also used some books I love dragging out every year (yes, also from my Halloween bin) like Midnight In The Garden of Good & Evil, and Everything Bad Is Good For You along with my faux crow (from Michael’s a few years back).
Don’t mind the crooked candle in this pic. Ooh, spooky.
Still have a few more spots I want to spook up, but that’s where we are for now. Oh and just for kicks I thought I’d toss in a few photos from Halloweens gone by (find more info on the pics/vid below here and here):
How are you guys gearing up for October 31st? Any candy-corn-induced stomach aches yet?
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
I really like the white snakes. We haven’t really started decorating for Halloween. We’ve been too busy working on our kitchen. Hopefully soon, though.
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says
We haven’t started yet either with the wedding (and ironically it’s Halloween weekend). I want to put out our blood candles (Martha is so clever) and make our apartment a little more festive since we have friends staying with us the week before.
Robin @ our semi organic life says
Love all the creative holiday decor! I can’t ever seem to get my stuff together to put up and take down all those things. Love what you’ve done with reusing lots of stuff and having a tupperware for it all – not a (huge) dork.
Janette@The2Seasons says
Take it one step further and combine the candy corn with peanuts. The combination tastes just like a Payday candy bar.
YoungHouseLove says
Mmmm sounds awesome.
xo,
s
Julia @ Chris loves Julia says
My favorite!
Krystle @ ColorTransformedFamily says
I agree. This is a fall tradition in my famility. In fact I have a bag of the mixture in my purse right now. Without the peanuts I wouldn’t even like candy corn.
Crystal says
I love your understated Halloween decorations. I’m a little behind. So far, I’ve only made an easy Hallween yarn wreath (http://theweekendhomemaker.com/easy-halloween-wreath) but I plan to do more this weekend. You know, for the kids and all.
YoungHouseLove says
Cute!
xo,
s
ESBlondie says
Who is surprised? No one? Cool.
HAHAHA…This stuff makes my day!
Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says
Too cute! I mean spooky!
I’m so excited to decorate for fall/Halloween! This is the first year the hubs and I have a house to get trick-or-treaters, so we can’t wait!
Merideth says
When I saw the picture of the coffee table from the old house with all the candles on it, I thought “Oh no – Clara!”. But then I remembered that was pre baby :)
It’s fun to see you adapt home decor to make it baby proof/friendly while still maintaining just as much of an impact as a coffee table filled with bloody candles.
Vanessa says
I have a Halloween bin also.
Even sadder – It’s black and orange so I know it’s my Halloween bin when I go searching for it.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, love it!
xo,
s
Angela says
I have the same bin. Black/orange for Halloween/Fall. Red/Green for Christmas. I even have a pink one for Valentines. I love color coding. It makes everything SO MUCH EASIER. At least in my world lol! My husband just gets confused.
Kristina says
my Christmas bins are red and green. I see nothing wrong with color coding
Amy says
So glad I’m not alone! My family just rolls their eyes at my color coded storage bins!
Brandi @ His Shabby Her Chic says
I love the Halloween decor! It’s spooky and Halloween-y without being over the top. Love it!
Sarah says
Love “Halloween Chic”. And I’ve BOUGHT those drip candles before…totally DIYing them next time!
Victoria R says
I totally have a labeled Rubbermaid bin with all my Halloween/Autumn stuff. I have them with Christmas and New Year’s and Valentine’s Day and Easter and Fourth of July… Some holidays are combined if they’re close together, but they’re all labeled and most of them are in colors that coordinate with the holiday. I’m a major dork. Who likes to be organized.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, gotta love color coded organization.
xo,
s
Pip says
Every home needs a faux crow (craux?) Love the spooky! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, craux. I love it.
xo,
s
mariela says
Sherry, I am in love with the way you decorate tables and mantels with little white and clear vases, candles holders, etc. Where do you usually get these? I found hurricane vases at HomeGoods but no white ceramic ones, etc.
YoungHouseLove says
Ikea and thrift stores and yard sales. And HomeGoods and Target sometimes too!
xo,
s
Micha says
Ohhh, those white snakes are KILLER! What a great idea! I can’t believe it’s only 2.5 weeks until Halloween. I haven’t decorated one bit yet, still all caught up in getting that master bathroom finished, but I’m feeling inspired. Maybe I’ll grab my 8 y/o and pick up some fun stuff this afternoon to gorify our house for the season :o)
Aubree says
Wow, these are such great halloween touches. I’m always afraid if I try, I’ll veer too much to the cheesy cheap looking halloween stuff… these are just enough spooky without going over the top. I especially love the candy-corn themed color combo pictures.
Thanks for posting these!
(and I have two HUGE christmas boxes, and one “other” holiday box. I mostly just have a twig wreath that I change out decorations on for my front door)
Sayward says
Label away! My Halloween tupperware bins (plural) are labeled even though they’re already orange and black. Yup, I’m that person :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, you’re not alone! I love how all the bin organizing and color coordinating peeps are coming out of the woodwork to comment!
xo,
s
Sunny says
I love this post. I do not normally like “halloweeny” stuff, but this all looks so sophisticated and cute that it is hard to resist decorating for the “ween”. We will see if I succome(?) to the temptation! Thanks.
Kristen says
I haven’t started any Fall decorating yet. I’m behind this year. I typically do more “Fall” decorations rather than Halloween specific though. I do put candy out…I guess that’s Halloween-y.
miriam says
Love your Halloween decorations! We’re not big on decorating the inside of the house (except for Christmas), but we have a little concrete pad right outside our apartment that I have some plans for. I’m thinking a couple pumpkins, a few potted mums, and maybe a little evergreen tree in a pot that we can bring inside and make our Christmas tree when the time comes.
Our neighbors across the street are a little more, ahem, enthusiastic. There’s a three-story-tall fake spider tied to the front of their house right now… it gives me the creeps every time I walk outside!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh, Clara would go nuts over that!
xo,
s
Leslie says
I just changed over to Halloween decorations a couple of days ago. And you aren’t alone. I had to split my ‘fall decorations’ bin up into two bins, one just for Halloween items this year:) I keep finding great ideas online every year (now even more so on Pinterest) and adding a couple of things here and there. Well, those add up!
Sarah says
You know, I’m usually not a fan of Halloween decorating, but I really like your take on things. The green and white looks so modern. You may have convinced me to rethink things…
ashlee says
did you guys spray paint a lot of the white stuff? what about the yellow candle holder? it all looks FABULOUS!
check out my playroom in progress :) i’m sure you’ll appreciate the mass amount of kids’ artwork.
YoungHouseLove says
We found most of it as-is (already white) at thrift stores and places like Target and HomeGoods. But we sprayed the yellow candlestick last year (it was originally brass).
Love the playroom progress too!
xo,
s
ashlee says
the yellow is phenomenal! you guys sure know how to work the yellow (door, for instance). i tend to shy away from it because i’m never sure what to do with it, exactly. great job!
Krysta @ Domestic for Dummies says
Love the white snakes! Can’t wait to see what the kids will be for Halloween this year!
Sarah says
I miss the yellow-spray-painted Beuaty and the Beast-style chandelier in that last picture! (Lumiere? anyone?)
Where has that little guy gone?
YoungHouseLove says
He’s on the dining room table just waiting for some other accessory friends. And maybe some candy corn. Haha.
xo,
s
Val says
Pshaw, I totally have a Halloween bin. My hubby is really into decorating for Halloween and our deal is we’ll go big for his holiday if he lets me go big for Christmas. I love your snakes!! Our annual Halloween Cubicle Decorating Competition is tomorrow and the smack talk is getting really serious…should be fun!
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds hilarious!!! Good luck!
xo,
s
LMN says
oh wow the snakes are actually quite creepy. and we keep Spook on our bookshelf year round…creepers we are, i tell you :-)
toni from says
I too loved the color coordinated bins, but with colored lids and clear bins. Christmas is multiple clear bins with green lids and red handles, fall/ halloween care clear bins, with orange lids and handles, Valentines/ Spring/ Easter are clear bins, with white lids and handles, and red/white and blue are clear bins with navy lids and red handles. I got most from Target and some from Home Depot/ Lowe’s over the years, and always at a major discount. I am a major dork as well so even though the bins are see thru I still label the outside with a sharpie exactly what goes in each one. It helps with the hubby and kiddos putting stuff away. Being organized isn’t dorky really=just smart and time saving!
Lesley says
OMGOODNESS!! That would make me pee my pants!! haha
Bridget says
I”m planning to go into full halloween mode this weekend! I really like the ideas I’ve found for decorating pumpkind without carving (found on Pinterest…where else!) And yes I’ve had a candy-tummy-ache already :( my boss thought it’s be a fun idea for everyone to bring in their favorite candy and put it in a big bowl on the conference table we walk past about 50 times a day…needless to say the candy it almost gone and we’ve still got to weeks until Halloween! Yikes! Time to buy more candy?
Betsy says
I totally have rubbermaid totes full of holiday decorations. I put corresponding holiday stickers on them so I can tell what’s in each one.
Love the blood candles – how well does that hold up when you have the candles lit?
YoungHouseLove says
I’ve had them a few years now and lot them for a few hours or so. Seems to hold up (sone white drips join the red ones but it still looks great!
xo,
s
Ashely says
I too have a Halloween/fall bin.. also labeled .. and orange.. you know, just in case the giant ‘fall’ label wasn’t enough
Mai says
It all looks amazing! I love how you’ve kept the theme of your house with all the decorations.
Missy G. says
I love the drippy wax on the antler candlestick. I’ve never noticed that detail before! Maybe because I’m always checking out the gallery wall instead.
Melo says
Decor so far… let’s see… Does changing my FB photo count?
YoungHouseLove says
Totally!
xo,
s
Maureen @This (Kinda) Old House says
Wow! Ok, I am officially feeling inept in my decorating ability. My fave thing I have is a black feather wreath. LOVE it. It was a gift, so I don’t know where it is from. I love all of the tapers, by the way! So great! And the skullified (not a word, but should be) photo!
YoungHouseLove says
I got a black feather wreath for 50% off at JoAnn last year after Halloween. Love it!
xo,
s
sara says
The way she says apple is absolutely adorable! :D
Katie Chadek says
I LOVE the skeleton wedding photo! You should seriously take orders on creating those around Halloween – they are so fun!
Kate @ Bread & Chocolate says
I can’t believe I’ve gone this long without buying candy corn!!! Major oversight. Love the snake in your terrarium and all of your festive decor. So far I’ve started with simple pumpkin candleholders. This weekend I’ll try my hand at carving a jack o-lantern.
http://bread-n-chocolate.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-does-your-gourd-glow.html
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet! I love it.
xo,
s
Sandy says
Hey, that picture of you and John is sccaaaaary…
Also, I label all my plastic bins AND they are all clear so I know what’s in them! I have one for beach, Christmas, Halloween, Boots…you get the idea!
I don’t go all out for Halloween, but I saw someone on pinterest that made a star stencil and spray painted her lawn, so I think I may stencil a pumpkin and spray paint my grass with orange!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that’s a fun idea!
xo,
s
josiedelaney says
we’ve got our bar decorated- gourds and orange and brown candles. The outside of our house it really where it’s at though… we have seasonal mums in orange and scarlet on the porch, along with a skeleton garland around the door frame, tombstones in the front yard, Orange twinkle lights along the roof-line of the porch, and a nice trick or treat sign that I picked up at Micheal’s. We are also planning to hang large black paper bats from the trees in the front yard.
Yes, we are Halloween dorks.
Nessa@{CasaBraaflat} says
what a fun way to decorate for halloween. my boys would loooove the spiders!
Crystal says
One of the things that I love about you guys is how you do things the way I would do them (which makes you very logical and rational people, in my humble opinion!). That you call yourselves out as dorks or geeks for doing something like having a labeled bin for Halloween decorations cracks me up – it would never occur to me that someone WOULDN’T do stuff like that. :)
Melissa says
I absolutely LOVE your site and look at it everyday! However, just a word of caution. I am not sure of your spiritual beliefs but there are a lot of demonic spirits of witchcraft associated with Halloween. Just be careful with what you allow your home to be opened to!
Monica @ Home in the Tropics says
Oooh…I love your Halloween decorations! What are Clara (and Burger) going to be for Halloween? :)
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a surprise! Pics soon though…
xo,
s
Monica @ Home in the Tropics says
I figured…lol, can’t wait to see! I’m sure it’ll be adorable
Jennifer says
my daughter likes snakes too… me not so much. we have a zoo pass and she loves to go into the reptile house. while trying to get her to leave the boa constrictor exhibit one day, she turned to me and said “you go momma, leave me here. snakes make me happy!”. she tells people all the time that snakes make her happy… it’s pretty funny.
Sarah @ { rad: renovations are dirty } says
I guess I’m a dork too because I also have a large bin that’s labelled Halloween. :) Man, I love my label maker.
Ann says
So cute! I’ve been a long time lingerer but never really a poster for years, honestly at least two or three. I just wanted to say thanks for sharing your spaces with us. It is so funny, after reading for so long, I actually thought of you while at Anthropologie the other day when I saw some white ceramic animal magnets. I couldn’t find them on their website but maybe they have them in store near you guys? I don’t know if they’ll jive with the new appliances, though!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, love it! Thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
Brittany says
Hey Sherry
I feel bad leaving a comment after seeing how much time it takes you and John to approve. But, I am seriously wanting to see more of yours and Katie’s Pinterest Challenge projects! BTW, thanks you I am totally addicted! :-D
Brittany
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah we’re doing a fall edition ASAP! Stat tuned…
xo,
s
Jill says
Hooray! I was just wondering the same thing :)
Autumn Van Weir says
Aren’t you going to scare yourself everytime you walk by the display with he spider in it? lol I would. I put a huge “door cover” up on our screen door that’s comprised of a headstone (that seems to be my theme. Cemetary!) and I can’t see out the front door now. which is spooky in itself…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, so far I haven’t been spooked but I can totally see it happening some late night or early morning when it’s dark.
xo,
s
Jess says
Have you read those books? Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is AMAZING, and SPOOK is both informative and Hilarious. Big time.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! Love them both. They were stolen from our library for Halloween decor after we read them a few years back. Haha.
xo,
s