If you’re thinking about decorating your porch and yard for the spookiest night of the year, you can do it without having to spend a lot of money. Here are a few low-cost ideas for showing your Halloween spirit to the world:

You can get rolls of yellow Caution tape (the type you see at crime or disaster scenes to keep people out of certain areas) fairly inexpensively at most hardware stores, and if you put it up around the perimeter of your yard, accompanied by a sign that says something like “Fright Scene: Enter at Your Own Risk.” You can enhance that spookiness even more by replacing your regular porch light with a black light bulb. Adding a few Halloween-oriented items like skulls and ghost figures that glow in the dark will be even more effective.

If you want your pumpkins to last longer (and even to be reusable when you scrap your Halloween decorations and begin decorating for Thanksgiving), don’t carve them. Paint them with acrylic paint. You can create an infinite variety of faces or scenes, and your pumpkins will last much longer. There’s also none of the mess involved with carving them. Place your pumpkins in groups of three to five of varying sizes and shapes. It makes for a much more effective display.

                                 

A little paint can go a long way in creating great-looking tombstones, too. You can paint simple boards grey and then use black paint to add silly or scary epitaphs that will delight visitors.  

You can create some wonderfully spooky scenes in your windows by cutting out silhouettes of the various Halloween icons, such as black cats, witches, and skeletons, out of construction paper. When it gets dark, your windows will take on a lovely macabre look when the light is blocked out by those eerie objects.  

Simple scarecrow-type figures, topped with rubber Halloween masks, can also be effective in adding some scare factor to your front porch and lawn. Just stuff a shirt and pair of pants with straw or leaves, add the mask, and you’ve got an instant horror figure for just a little time, imagination, and very little money. 

Adding a new paint color to your home is an easy and inexpensive way to change the look and ambience of your living area. As cooler weather arrives, warm up your space with this fall’s most popular colors. Whether you favor traditional styling or lean more toward contemporary furnishings, fall’s deeper and bolder paint palette can help set the tone for a warm and seasonal home. And best of all, you don’t have to paint the entire room to get the benefit. You can add paint color as an accent to one wall and completely change the mood of your room.

The smell of peppermint, the taste of hot chocolate, or the excitement of standing under the mistletoe… Holiday Decorating is all about creating an environment that brings back memories and traditions. Creating a decorated and cheerful atmosphere throughout your work space is important especially during the Holidays; as it brings out the happiness in all of us.

At Style on a Shoestring we specialize in interior design on YOUR budget. We especially love to decorate for the holidays whether it is for your office or your holiday party. We understand it can be overwhelming to pull out those dusty boxes full of décor and not quite know where to start, or maybe you do not have much to decorate with. We take the headache out of preparing for the holidays, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your time with your co-workers and friends. We offer many holiday decorating services to fit your needs, keeping your budget in mind. We offer a complimentary initial design meeting to go over your ideas in detail and provide you with an estimate on the spot. Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner and we understand your need for efficiency.

Style on a Shoestring works closely with Interior Plant Services to exceed the warm and inviting atmosphere in your work space. Working together we will design your holiday wreath, Christmas tree décor, garland placement, etc. We have a very creative team of designers who enjoy thinking outside the box, especially when it comes to holiday décor. If you would like to WOW your company and co-workers this year at your holiday party, we can get the job done!

           

It’s almost that time of year to pull out all of your Thanksgiving Decor!

 If want to try something new this year then let your imagination run wild. A great and simple centerpiece can be cost effective too. Try lining red apples down the center of your table. If you really want to get interesting, cut a small hole on the top of each apple and add a tea light.  Keep in mind the fall colors while decorating; burnt orange, sienna, green, yellow, brown and deep reds. Adding texture really adds interest especially where it is least expected. Keep cozy throws out on your sofa and bed, for those colder nights to snuggle up in front of the fireplace. Fill a clear jar in your kitchen of marshmallows and chocolate and leave it out on your counter. This is especially cute for holiday parties.  Buy gold colored spray paint, or your favorite fall color, and paint over all of your old décor instead of buying new! It is an easy and fun way to make a huge difference in your home. Repetition through design always looks good and makes a great impression.

If you are still struggling with ideas for your holiday party then please let us know. We would love to come to your home and help!