Context is everything. In the right environment a common item can take on a whole new spooky life with or without minimal adjustments. Here are some of my favorites and at the end of the post are pics of these ideas in action.
Hanging planters - These puppies are pretty much ready to rock as is or add a few bones or Spanish moss. Even the typical coco fiber they come with is quite perfect. From simple to more ornate, there's something for every aesthetic. Plus, it's a hanging prop which I'm utterly obsessed with. This one could be transformed with hanging bones, beads and feathers. This rope one would be gorgeous in a pirate or swamp haunt.
Garden Shepherd's Hooks - Where to hang the planters other than a nice Shepherd's hook. Boost up your entrance, create a cemetery gate, or simply as an accent, you don't need to do anything other than stick it in the ground. They routinely go on sale too so keep an eye out in the non-Halloween months and you can pick up the fancier one's on the cheap.
Metal Garden Fencing - You may have noticed in the background of the above pics my graveyard fence. Once again, Halloween ready right from the store and available year round so watch for deals. On top of that, it's another item with different style options to suit your needs. If you want something smaller, check out these fabulous edging options like these Gothic Window looking pieces. Whatever you go with, you're looking at about half the price (or more during a good sale) than you'd spend on the glorious, but $$, Grandin Road fence.
Trellises - For a haunted house, witches liar's, swamp shacks and more. Drape with Spanish Moss, dried flowers and herbs, hang ornate mirrors and other decorations, or weave in creepy vines. For Halloween it's a devilish display while serving is pedestrian garden function year round.
Metal Plant Hooks - Perfect for the plant hangers or lanterns. Add some black chain to whatever your hanging for some extra scare.
Terrariums - A perfect "all about context" prop. Move your terrariums to the display and they go from sweet tiny garden to potion ready supplies for an apothecary. **Hanging prop alert***
Burlap Landscape Fabric - Ready to drape over fences or deck railings. Turn into a creepy curtain or door panel. Use as a tablecloth or cut strips and hang from the ceiling. This version is more light weight than what you'd get at a fabric store but at 24 feet for around $11 it's a great bargain and you can buy oodles. Burlap is a haunters dream. I'd wrap myself up and sleep in it if I could.
Cheesecloth - For creepy curtains and drapes, can be dyed to suit your needs. Cut and tear holes to give it an nice aged effect. I like to experiment with different brands as they often differ slightly in weight and weave. I found one at some point along the line that is so light and airy, the slightest breeze can coax it into a ghostly dance.
Garden Statues - This one isn't as cheap as some of the other ideas but if you time it right and find a sale this is a good investment. Also, look for resin options which are far more affordable. Since many of these are meant for non-Halloween use, you can move the statue to somewhere else in the garden and enjoy it year round. Again it's all about context. To create a cemetery, an angel or a Virgin Mary are straight forward options but even an artichoke or lion can take on a new vibe grouped together during the month of October. Or simply use as intended and uplight with orange or green to give it a otherworldly glow. Some options are ready to haunt like this Winged Gargoyle, this guy, this beauty, or this good looking one.
Concrete Pavers & Bricks - I find a lot of the fantastic polystone decorations often lack height and therefore presence. Easy fix is to boost them with some cheap pavers or bricks. The nuance in colors available allows you to get a close match and the texture just feels heavy, lending itself to greater authenticity. Also an easy addition to the urn or statue mentioned earlier.
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| (the gargoyle to the right is sitting on 2 bricks. There's also short Shepherd's hooks holding the lanterns on the left) |
Galvanized Trash Cans - Here's another way to boost up props that might be on the shorter side. I did this for my lamp post. The prop itself was only around 5 feet. What lamp post is only 5' tall? A spray painted galvanized trash can flipped over matched the look of the lamp and gave it the height I was looking for. (I tape the two together for stability.) They come in a few different sizes allowing you to get just the right proportions.
Plant Stands - Another way to raise props and pumpkins to give them height and prominence.
Gazing Balls - Enjoy during the boring, non-Halloween months and then move to the display in October. These balls are enchanting and add a bit of mystery as the catch the light and reflect their surroundings. Add to a cemetery or Witch's Lair or anywhere that may be a bit dark and could use some intrigue and light. A rainbow of color options as well as different stands to suit your needs.
Spanish Moss - Drape from tree branches for a swampy effect or tuck into the corners of a brick or stone wall to add a sense of dampness to a dungeon or haunted house. It's inexpensive and gorgeous.
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| Spanish Moss + Storm Clouds = Halloween Magic |
Large Black Garden trash bags - Continuing with the trash theme, check out my post on how to turn a large garden trash bag and clothesline into a chilling curtain.
Garden Forks - Manure, digging, curved, border, so many options...so many uses. Use good ol' SOS Pad/Steel wool & Vinegar to age the handles and rust the metal with salt & vinegar. A nice caking of fake dried blood on the tines will wash off when season is over. Or just leave as is because again, it's all about context so this year round useful tool gets to take a break for a month and play the part of Halloween prop.
Machete, Mattock & Axe - Slaughter house, Cabin in the Woods or Kill Room, placing various murder weapons around means vengeful killers won't be left with empty hands.
Rope - From Sloop to Ship of the Line, every pirate's sailing vessel needs plenty of lines. Likewise, heavy dungeon "equipment" requires sturdy rope. Rope is versatile, visual and has a great texture for tactile terror.
Door Knocker - There's various temporary Fun-Tak style adhesives to enable you to add one of these to a brick wall to serve as an anchor for dungeon prisoners. Loop a lightweight fake chain thru and then down to the bindings of a skeletal remains of some poor, unfortunate soul. Or, crazy idea, use a door knocker as a door knocker! There are some, um, shall we say "unusual" one's out there that can take an ordinary front door to Haunted House, Swamp Shack or Witch's Liar in a matter of 1 to 2 screws.
Bamboo Coconut Broom - I mean come on, it's like Halloween just sitting there in the cleaning aisle, all year round.
Round Wooden Barrel - I imagine this in a pirate themed haunt but could work anywhere. Fill with skulls & snakes with a smoker, flip it over for a table or stand, or add a liner and fill with murky, bubbling water. I'd love to see what you turn yours into!
Crates - Pre-weathered or age them yourself with an SOS Pad or Steel Wool, crates are handy for both display and storage.
Metal Baskets - The ever changing Home Decor and Accents available typically offers up a gem. These metal baskets are just to die for that I'm having a hard time not buying them as I type.
Planters - Shopping today I came across a large planter that would be great for a Egyptian tomb set up. Add a mummy from Grandin Road (keep an eye out on eBay for these), a cat garden statue, or if you're lucky an obelisk, stack up sand colored paving stones, make piles sand in the corners of your steps and spread some sand on the ground so visitors get the sensation of the Valley of the Kings under their feet. Online I found a few other planter options that could work equally as well. Create mummy wraps by shredding cheese cloth and dying it with tea, coffee or Rit dye to fill the planter. Don't forget to burn some incense for additional atmosphere. I also found some alluring Asian designs for a whole different aesthetic.
Stakes/Wood Fence - No such thing as too many vampire killing stakes, ammirite? These are actually attached to a plastic sheet that you may want to cut off. Or not, staked up it looks like you've got bags of stakes ready for 30 Days of Night. The cheap boxes of wood Grade Stakes can easily be made to look old with a SOS Pad/Steel Wool stain.
Bag of soil - I like using a soil conditioner for this but any bag will do. Use the bag to create a "freshly dug grave" look by piling in the shape of a newly filled in grave. Line it up with a headstone to really drive home the authenticity. I usually wait until a few days before for this so as to not damage the grass too much. Plus it's a fun last addition change to keep your regular visitors guessing.
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Swivel Hooks & Grab Hooks - Heavy things, like bodies, need large hooks. The mere sight of a big, meaty hook can send shivers down your spine. Even if you're just hanging a lantern, these hefty babies will keep your guests wondering if they come in handy for other nefarious uses.
Outdoor lanterns - Watch for end of summer sales for these. Lots of options to choose from to suit your haunts needs. You can use as is or paper mache some orange tissue paper to the inside of the glass.
Saws - Circular, jigsaw, hack or tooth, their sharp teeth send shivers down the spine. Rust them up with a salt & vinegar treatment and cake on some dried blood (corn starch, corn syrup, onion flakes, water & red food coloring) since we know you're not new to the slaughtering rodeo.
Caution Tape & Signs - Create a crime scene or dangerous situation with some caution tape and signage.
Plastic sheeting - Make Dexter proud and turn the front porch into a Kill Room with plastic sheeting. Add red food coloring to corn syrup and fling against the plastic sheeting to create blood sprays. Don some disposable coveralls or a nitrile black apron, blue nitrile gloves and you may just find your doorstep devoid of life all night long.
There's 32+ ideas to get you going.
You could Weekend Warrior a haunt in no time without breaking the bank. Take advantage of ordering ahead and Ship to Store so you can get exactly what you want and have it all waiting, ready to go. While there, stock up on other Halloween basics and keep an eye out for other items to inspire you.
Orange light bulbs
BBQ Lighters (for lighting candles in pumpkins)
Black Matte Spray Paint
Black Electrical Tape
Black Zipties
Screw in hooks of all sizes
Command hooks
Small gauge wire
String
28 days till Halloween...
Below are some pics of the above ideas as displayed in my haunt.
