Halloween Hosting Guide
Trick-or-treating… Fun costumes… Scary movies… There’s a lot to love about Halloween. So why not make more of it this year, and host a halloween themed event at yours?
What’s that? The idea of tacky parties and single-use decor gives you the creeps? Well, never fear! We have plenty of alternative event ideas - and clever decorating tricks - to make this your best halloween hosting season yet.
Why host for halloween this year?
It’s very easy to get in a rush this time of year - sometimes it feels that summer ends, and we’re already diving headfirst into Christmas preparations. We encourage you to slow down a little, enjoying what each season has to offer - and autumn has plenty of things to enjoy!
Sitting around the middle of autumn, halloween is a great time to host an event. Spooky events can be a riot - and why should the kids have all the fun? There’s also bonfire night around this time, so we’ll be borrowing some ideas from this traditional British celebration too.
Halloween decorating ideas
Please, put down the plastic light-up ghosts! While it’s fun to change up your decor each season, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of buying (and replacing) new decor each year. If you want to save money (and be a bit more sustainable), here are some of our elegant halloween decor ideas to spruce up your home this season.
Pumpkins and squashes
A classic autumnal decoration, pumpkins and squashes are the perfect accessory to bring a little halloween atmosphere to your home. As well as heading down to a pumpkin patch, you can source more unusual squashes from farm shops, garden centres and larger supermarkets. Mix and match sizes, colours and shapes for a rustic look, and group several together for a harvest festival feel. If you want to re-use them year after year, you could opt for knitted, crochet or fabric pumpkins too.
Candles galore
Loading up on candles is an easy way to create a spooky, halloween vibe - the flickering ambient light and melting wax lends a great atmosphere to your space. Incorporating an assortment of sizes of taper, pillar and tea light candles helps to channel that witchy look. If you’re worried about pets or small children, opt for battery powered candles instead.
Antique glassware
Add an elegant feel to your halloween dining table by loading up on antique glassware. These are the perfect items to look for in secondhand and antique shops - look for unusual colours, ribbed detailing, textured glass and eye-catching shapes. As a bonus, these amplify the effect of your candlescaping.
Rustic table linen
Channel harvest feasts of old by decorating your dining table with rustic table linens. Think undyed linen, hessian, neutral checks and a little lace - and layer up like you would your outfit. This is another area where shopping secondhand (and combining unexpected elements) can make your tablescape stand out from the crowd.
Dried flowers, fruits and leaves
With few fresh flower options at this time of year, opting for dried is a great alternative. You could even DIY some decor - a garland of dried leaves, a bowl of pot pourri… As a bonus, when stored properly, these are pieces you can reuse year after year.
Dim the lights
Your choice of lighting is a game-changing hack for creating an atmosphere! Simply turning down the lights can make a world of difference. Of course, if you don’t have a dimmer switch, there are other options - swap out your fixtures to lower intensity bulbs; invest in colour and brightness adjustable remote-control bulbs; or simply load up on table lamps and switch the big light off.
5 Halloween event ideas to host at home
Stuck for ideas on events to host this season? Here’s 5 halloween home event ideas to help you organise an unforgettable event that’ll impress all your friends and family.
1. Halloween cocktail party
Up the ante on your halloween event by hosting an elegant cocktail party. Fancy cocktails, a scattering of candles and everyone in their most fancy outfits will never fail to set the scene. Make it family friendly by serving mocktails instead - but we won’t blame you if this is an event you keep adults-only!
Must haves:
- Interesting glassware
- Lots of candles
- Halloween-themed cocktails
- Spooky snacks
2. Cosy halloween crafternoon
What’s more cosy around this time of year than a communal craft session? Gather some friends and try a new craft together, or simply ask everyone to bring their own projects to work on. There’s something about creating with your hands side-by-side with your loved ones that makes you all warm and toasty inside.
Halloween craft ideas:
- Candle painting
- Cosy colouring
- Autumn wreath making
- DIY costumes
3. Autumn camp night
This event might rely a bit on the weather, but it invokes a nostalgic, throwback feel that’s hard to beat. Light the fire pit, let guests make smores and hand out sparklers for everyone to enjoy. Jacket potatoes, chilli, and soups are great savoury food options, and a hot mulled cider will keep everyone toasty.
Must haves:
- Smores making
- Fire pit or BBQ
- Sparklers
- Jacket potatoes
4. Scary movie marathon
Break out your favourite scary movies and snuggle up for a fright night marathon! Whether it’s just the two of you, the whole family or all your mates - this is an easily adaptable event that’s super quick to put together. If movie nights are a regular thing in your house, a cinema sofa could be a great investment. Just make sure you have enough snacks!
Must haves:
- Comfy sofa
- Cosy blankets
- Popcorn and snacks
- Lots of drinks
5. Halloween costume contest
If you love an excuse to dress up, why not host a halloween costume contest? Create a catwalk for everyone to show off their outfits, designate a photographer, and offer prizes for the best costumes. Great fun for kids and adults alike!
Must haves:
- Red carpet
- Photo booth
- Spooky themed nibbles
- Halloween drinks
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