Minimalist Halloween Decor
It should be known that my husband LOVES Halloween, so when the weather turns its spookiest he is ready to turn our little home into a haunted mansion, however as you can imagine, waking up in the set of The Addams Family is not my idea of a good time. As you likely know by now I lean more to the minimal side of decor, so to help find a sense of balance between our tastes we’ve collaborated over the years to create a small collection of decorations that always make our home feel a little more festive and make us smile every time we put them up, fangs and all. Here’s how we bring the scary without overwhelming our small space.
Introducing the Boo Bag
As you may know, we’ve always lived in small spaces so having large, complicated holiday decor (no matter the occasion) never seemed like a good idea, but we also wanted to find a way to feel like we were celebrating. Years ago I took a paper bag and wrote in big letters ‘BOO BAG’ on the front and made a deal with my now husband that whatever we wanted to decorate with for this particular occasion had to all break down and fit into this small bag. Though there was a time when he wished that we could be those people who have a 12ft tall skeleton, we took it as an opportunity to get creative and make a lot of our own decorations. Though we won’t always be able to do just a small bag (at some point we may graduate to a BOO BIN) it’s a great exercise in keeping things minimal and simple.
Keep it small & flat
One of the main ways we managed to keep so much decor in our little bag over the years is by getting creative with paper and wall hangings! From our small bats to our little string of ghosts, we like to use our walls as much as possible to help make the whole space feel like it’s part of the fun.
Use what you have
Often times we get pulled into the shopping vortex around the holidays, convinced that we have nothing on theme and need to spend the money on something new. I’m here to tell you you have lots of little things already that can nod to the holiday even if it isn’t covered in fake blood or automated. I like to add little pinecones around the house, and though they’re not the most spooky addition, they make the whole place feel a little more fall which brings in the tone of the season. I also like to rely on my coffee table books, opening them up to a page that has a haunting ambiance or a mysterious image to make things feel a little more on theme.
Save your money
I will argue, though I know others won’t agree, that Halloween just isn’t the holiday to spend all your pennies on. Though you can decorate a week or two in advance it doesn’t have the same longevity as other holidays this time of year, so investing a lot of money for ultimately only one night feels like a bit of a waste to me, but that being said it doesn’t mean you can’t find a few small, cost-effective things to add to your space. For example, our pumpkin-shaped candle is a welcome addition this year because we can burn it throughout the month and our skeleton bride and groom was a gift from our October wedding that will be in our bag for decades to come, especially as a big fan of The Corpse Bride! The point is, there are small additions you can make without breaking the bank that can feel authentic to you!
Keep it simple
At the end of the day, you can make your home as full or as empty of Halloween decor as you like, but for me it’s really about nodding to the holiday, not taking over your home with it. Because you’ll be the one who has to keep it clean and put it all away when it’s over, why not make it an easy lift and add small thoughtful things that make you excited about Halloween without giving up the comfort of a beautiful home.
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