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Guest Picks: Decor That Doesn't Scream 'Halloween'
Subtly moody art and accessories can work well around the home for October 31 festivities and long after
The Halloween and fall season is upon us, so I've assembled a few seasonal items to place around the house and get you in the mood. Decorating for the season tastefully — that is, without overdoing it — can be difficult. How much is too much? I would recommend that you set a backdrop for the season using color, texture and mood as a guide. I would blend oranges, grays, blacks, whites, silvers and reds. Go for a few bold and even strange textures or designs: Mercury glass, labyrinth motifs and unusual shapes evoking the haunted or the bizarre can be so much fun. Try for that mysterious item with an edge, or go for the happy orange item accessorized with dashes of white to tone it down.
Trust me, this season's decor does not need to scream at you with go-to symbols like skulls, ghosts and witches. How about creating something a bit more daring and using the power of subliminal details? After all, the best crime films don't necessarily show you the gore; it's all about suggestion and suspense. Try it and let me know what you think! — Barbara from Chez Elza
Trust me, this season's decor does not need to scream at you with go-to symbols like skulls, ghosts and witches. How about creating something a bit more daring and using the power of subliminal details? After all, the best crime films don't necessarily show you the gore; it's all about suggestion and suspense. Try it and let me know what you think! — Barbara from Chez Elza
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by Pottery Barn
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| I love this spooky Black House lantern by Pottery Barn. I would take it out this month and use it as a Halloween prop. |
by DwellStudio
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I love the dark, moody feel of this DwellStudio platter. I would set little Halloween orange–colored goodies on it to contrast with the black and white.
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A gourd lamp base with a mercury finish will give your Halloween decor a little subliminal je ne sais quoi. I love how the shape evokes seasonal squash, but in a trendy, eery, crystal ball–like material.
by Serena & Lily
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This Serena & Lily fiery platter would look smashing on your Halloween table.
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These glass cloches will help you create your own cabinet de curiosités. Scary objects cleverly displayed under these would immediately pop out with great effect.
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This stunning Zinc Scroll mirror by Restoration Hardware channels window architecture from 19th-century Belgium. It should give your guests the creeps (in a good way) when they enter your haunted Halloween abode.
by Serena & Lily
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These orange baskets would make excellent candy bins for your Halloween party, but they also double up nicely as fall decor throughout the season.
by Jayson Home
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This elegant side table by Jayson Home makes me swoon! The color is perfect, and I love the steel material.
by Serena & Lily
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This orange mohair throw by Serena & Lily would be the ideal addition to your fall decor.
by Jayson Home
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I love the smoky color of the Cullen chair by Jayson Home. I see at as a perfect addition in the living room or entry foyer.
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The pumpkin shade on this Blu Dot Otto ottoman is perfect. Its felted material gives it a soft, warm feel, and I love that it has hidden casters.
by Thomas Paul
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This whimsical Thomas Paul pillow design has a bit of an eery, magical vibe to it. It certainly puts me in the mood for Halloween.
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This French Directoire–inspired acacia wood bookcase by Wisteria is a classic. It would look fabulous as a display for unusual objects for your Halloween party.
by DwellStudio
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The bold shape of this Compass mirror by DwellStudio is very appealing. I love how the sharp surround contrasts with the round shape.
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by Pottery Barn
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| Pottery Barn's photo of Staten Island’s Battery Weed passageway from the New York Time archives is perfectly eery. |
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You do realize these beauties are really called "Ghost chairs," right? I could not resist putting them in my Halloween decor picks! Philip Stark knew what he was doing when he designed these.
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This hand-thrown vase by CB2 is perfect for the fall and Halloween season. I swear, it looks as if it has been kissed by a spider web.
by Worlds Away
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This orange Pagoda lamp by Worlds Away puts me in the mood for fall. It's a very versatile piece in my view.
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This console table by Wisteria has a theatrical air that's perfect for sprucing up your fall interior. Plop a mirror over it, and voilà — a perfect spot to check your Halloween disguise and create a fantastic seasonal vignette.
Next: Goth Glamour for Halloween and Beyond
Next: Goth Glamour for Halloween and Beyond
Ideabook published on Oct. 28, 2012.
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