Halloween isn’t just for children – adults can have just as much fun (and maybe even more) when it comes to celebrating the spooky season. Whether you’re planning a classy soirée, a spine-chilling haunted house night, or a playful costume bash, the key is to blend creativity, atmosphere, and entertainment. Here are some ideas to make your Halloween party unforgettable.
1. Choose a unique theme
Think beyond fancy dress and set a theme to inspire your guests’ outfits and the overall décor. Ideas include:
These honeycomb paper decorations are over one metre tall and perfect for hanging around the house. With movable limbs and bold black-and-white stripes, they’ll spook and amuse guests in equal measure. When the party’s over, fold them flat and store for next time. £12 for a set of two, available from Talking Tables.
- Vintage horror night – Think classic movie monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein, and black-and-white aesthetics.
- Masquerade ball – Elegant masks, gothic candlelight, and mysterious vibes.
- Witch’s coven – A moody, mystical night with cauldrons, crystals, and potions (aka cocktails with lots of green chartreuse or creme de menthe).
- Zombie apocalypse – Guests come as survivors or the undead and make as much or little effort as they want.
2. Creepy and creative decor
This round tin tray features bold orange text that adds a playful Halloween vibe to your kitchen or party setup. Its deep design makes it perfect for serving treats or drinks. £10, available from Elite Tins.
You can get some really inventive Halloween accessories at the moment, that won’t break the bank.
- Dim the overhead lights and use candles (real or LED), lanterns, or string lights.
- Pose plastic skulls, and old books across tables.
- Hang eerie portraits or mirrors to give off a haunted-house feel.
- Play with black, deep red, and metallic accents to capture the mood.
Bring a laidback glow to spooky season with this cute neon decoration – guaranteed not to scare! Featuring a high quality acrylic frame and BOO spelt out in purple and white neon flex, this is a contemporary Halloween decoration which will fit into any party decorating scheme. £14.99, available from Lights4Fun.
3. Spooky food
These Halloween vintage-look plates, featuring a happy black cat, pumpkin and skull shaped designs, will charm your party guests and are ideal for cocktail parties. £9 for a set of 8, available from Meri Meri.
Food and drink are an essential part of any party.
- Cocktails: Serve themed drinks like blood-red sangria or punch, tall green drinks with crème de menthe or iced green tea, or pink grapefruit juice with melon ball ‘eyeballs’.
- Food: If you’re serving finger food rather than a sit down meal, how about pastry snakes made from strips of puff pastry with olive eyes, devilled eggs and pumpkin hummus served from a hollowed-out pumpkin shell?
4. Costume contest
Encourage a little seasonal competition by offering prizes for the best costumes in various categories, such as scariest, funniest, best couple or group costume, most creative.
5. Entertainment
Dare to decorate with this eerie wreath, a must-have for any haunted home this Halloween season. £15.95, available from Home Luxe Co.
Attention to detail is what helps a party go with a swing.
Music: Create a spooky playlist featuring classics such as Monster Mash and Michael Jackson’s Thriller
Games: ideas include Halloween-themed charades or ‘what’s in the witch’s brew’, where guests have to identify the ingredients of a cocktail (alcoholic or non) while blindfolded.
Photo Booth: Set up a corner with eerie props, a backdrop, and instant cameras or a phone tripod for guests to capture memories.
With a little thought, yours is the party everyone will be talking about for the next 12 months!
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