Dickson Dream Home: Spooky Daydreaming

Hm... isn't daydreaming usually pleasant? But it can't be nightmaring because it's daytime. Ok ok, today I have been daymaring.

I've finally caught Halloween fever! Oh don't worry, I've been working on our costumes for weeks. But I'm finally getting into the Halloween spirit! Took me long enough... Halloween is one of my favorite holidays!

Today, I was walking home from school, and as I passed our neighbors' yard, I admired all of the Halloween decorations that positively coat their front yard. I began daymaring about all the things I would love to do... someday... when we have money to spend on frivolous things... *Sigh* I fear it's the eternal struggle.

So, because our house won't be adequately decked out this year, I decided to post some of my dream (or mare) decorations here. Welcome to the Dickson's Nightmare Manor of Horrors. Mwahaha!!!... Sorry. Carried away.

Upon entering our spooky abode, you will come face to face with a foreboding knocker.

In the entryway, you are greeted by a buffet covered in sinister looking terrariums. Full of everything from creepy giant spiders, to stacks of miniature skulls, to unidentifiable plants floating in sickly colored liquids.

via: Country Living 

 You then walk down a hall, lined with old family portraits. But wait, when you glance back at them, they've taken on a ghostly form!

Seth and I saw some spooky portrait holograms when we were grocery shopping this week. Set in antique frames, they would be a perfect haunting element for any Halloween home.

 Everywhere you go, candelabras cast eerie shadows all around. 

What is so great about Halloween is that almost anything can look spooky, if staged right. Especially if you have pieces that are antique or worn. For example, put tall black candles on an elegant antique candelabra, and you've got the perfect light source for any haunted house. 

In the dining room, you find the table piled with gilded pumpkins and gords, and lined with fall leaf garlands. 

The centerpiece is a huge floral arrangement full of deep fall-colored flowers, accented with dark feathers and draping strands of black pearls.

 The wall above the sofa is covered in a collection of masks, staring down at you.

These masks can be bought, or very easily made. In high school, we had a masquerade themed dance and we all made our own masks. Just use those plastic dollar store masks, cut them to the shape you want, then use acrylic paints. Splotched metallic paint looks great on top of a deeper color. Then accessorize with feathers, glitter, ribbon, or whatever else you have lying around. If done well, they can look very expensive.

 Ravens are perched sporadically through the house. 

 And of course, everything is adequately covered in cobwebs.

 As you exit, you must walk through rows of  tombstones and ancient statues, lit only by the glowing jack-o-lanterns at their feet. 

Ideally, there would be big spooky statues in the forms of angels and demons. Inspiration here was drawn from Phantom of the Opera.

Happy Halloween Season! 

Now I'm off to work on our completely DIY costumes... they're taking so much work. But they'll be worth it. The unveiling will be coming soon.


PS: aren't you so happy I've broken out of my lazy blogger-video posting rut? I am :)

*amber*