Halloween is on a Saturday night this year, and in case you are planning a party—whether a very small or a very large get-together—we’ve enlisted a few Decorist designers to help you plan a fabulous spooky fête with little effort.  Here are five easy steps to a perfectly chic, fright-filled soiree.

1. Set the stage.

Your entry or foyer is an important place to set the mood for your personal fright night festivities.  Here are some great foyer ideas to get you started. 

photo: Erica Chan / Honestlyyum.com

The Macabre Still Life 

Well, we’re pretty in love with Erica Chan over at honestlyyum.com and this year she outdid herself with this amazing molded hand project.  We love the ethereal still life she created with cut pomegranates and a slightly fading rose.  Erica also created the (killer) skull arrangement on the front of the blog.  Love, love, love.  

No time to mold hands? Use plastic skulls instead and affix dark candles to the top (securely!), letting wax drip over the skull for a perfectly creepy effect.

photo: digsdigs.com

Even the Skull Needs Some Glam.   

Looking for a lighter look with some sparkle? Grab a cool skull and glue or drape some sparkle to it. Um, done!

photo: Instagram user paperjar

Get Animal Object, Add Twigs. 

Find an animal object around the house—horses, dogs, cats are all good candidates.  You will be amazed at the mysterious, rustic effect a few dried twigs can have on any object. Add some spiderwebs to it all to up the creep quota.  Have any creepy old books?  Stack 'em high.

2.  Add (stylish) pumpkins.

Next up, pumpkins. Yes, they get overplayed this time of year, but pumpkins still have star quality at Halloween and throughout the fall. Here are some ways to make them work with your style. 

photo: Linda Pugliese

Matte Black. 

Spray or regular paint a pumpkin or two in matte black.  Bright orange has never looked this good.

photo: Mydomaine.com

Walk Towards the Light.  

There are so many great varieties and colors of pumpkins now available, you can choose your color palette.  If your Halloween mood is more ghostly white than dark gloom, embrace the color scheme wholeheartedly for a memorable look.

photo: Lovely Indeed

A Bit Cheeky. 

These fun, painted pumpkins display tiny messages that will make even the scariest of zombies crack a smile.

photo: Harper's Bazaar

Go Graphic.  

A simple color theme of white and rust/black painted pumpkins have a great graphic quality and work with any decor.  

3. Pick your poison.

No respectable Halloween party is complete without a bewitching drink or two.  No matter what you serve, the key is to make it look good.  Creepy gets bonus points.  Start with beautiful glasses.  Rim your glasses with anything sparkly, the darker and deeper the color, the better. Then, use drink colors that create beautiful contrast, like orange and cranberry juice.  Add interesting garnishes like twigs, seeds, pods and herbs (make sure they are all edible!)  Pull it all together on a great tray to finish it off. 

photo: stylemepretty.com

Apple Cider Martinis.

An adult take on bobbing for apples. Freeze apple slices to keep your martini chilled.  

photo: stylemepretty.com

Champagne and Cinnamon Cocktails. 

Simple but, never plain. A splash of apple cider in champagne or sparkling wine is all you need to create this savory concoction. 

photo:www.hgtv.com

Mr. Hyde’s Poison.

For an unexpected twist, try Mr. Hyde’s Poison. Add a blackberry and sprig of lavender as a garnish. 

Photo: wellplated.com

Blood Red Sangria. 

Entertaining a large party? Save yourself from being shackled behind the bar. Set up a Blood Red Sangria station for your guests. 

4. Dress the table.

If you are serving any food, even if you are not doing a sit down meal, get your table ready as it really can dial up the drama of your party.  Here are a few tips to create a fabulously eerie tablescape:

photo: Erica Chan/honestlyyum.com

Old Bottle Candleholders 

Gather a number (the more the better) of old bottles in varying heights and shapes.  Insert taper candles and let them burn/drip a bit to create a been-around-awhile, ghoulish effect.  

photo: Two Foot Creative

Dramatic Groupings 

Pull a variety of white candles into a round grouping and repeat down your table. Surround the candles with something black and textural-feathers, twigs, gauze. Voila!

photo: Rustic White Photography

Irresistible Food Displays  

Symmetrical arrangements, bright colors and unexpected utensils are all part of creating dramatic, beautiful feasts.  Arrange your delicacies on pretty trays with textured linens, add a dash of creep and sparkle, and vary the height of your displays for can't-live-without appeal.

5. Costume.

Lastly, don't forget your costume!  Here we are channeling the grand dame of Halloween herself, Martha Stewart, for inspiration, as we are kinda more than a little in awe of her. Sometimes a really cool glam cape and some red eyeshadow is all you need. Check. 

photo: Martha Stewart Living

Have a fabulous and stylish Halloween!

xx Your Decorist Designers

Need some non-Halloween home decorating help? We're here to help! Learn all about starting a design project with Decorist.