Whoa, have I fallen behind on posts?!  The last time I wrote was just before our big family vacation at the beach, and by big, I mean there were 13 of us sharing a house for a whole week.  ;)  We had a great time and the weather was perfect.  It was just what we needed to kick start the fall.  When we left, the weather here in Atlanta was roughly 100 degrees.  The weather in Florida was 90-ish, with lots of sunshine and when we returned, we came back to rain and highs in the mid 70’s.

Welcome Fall!  And with the start of the season, it most definitely means Halloween is just around the corner.  One of my favorite holidays for sure!  Let’s face it, who doesn’t like a good excuse to dress in costume?

Speaking of costume, your house wants to play dress up too you know.  In honor of Halloween, check out these spooky transformations …

Greet your guests, beginning with your front door.  You may not have an orange door like this photo from Pottery Barn, but you could layer your stairs, porch or walkway with lots of pumpkins, candles and halloween decor.

photo courtesy of Pottery Barn

What about bats at your front door, like this idea from Country Living?

You could even leave a message for your guests.

You can’t stop at the front door.  The foyer is another great place to get creative.

photo courtesy of Life in the Fun Lane

You know I’m a sucker for birds.  Collect twigs from your yard, arrange them neatly in a vase, add a little spanish moss as filler, then, for the finishing touch, add a few black crows (from your local craft store) like this idea from Pinkandpolkadot.

How about your Living Room?  Try draping cheescloth over your sofa or window treatments for an extra scary look.

Of course we can’t forget the fireplace!

photo courtesy of Good Housekeeping

I found these two photos from Shelleybdecorandmore and loved the witch legs and the idea of using candles, spanish moss and old books to decorate the mantle.  You may want to stick to battery operated candles though.  Don’t want to burn the house down!

Now, let’s set the table.  Want something that really makes a statement?  How about this poster backdrop, with feather wreaths from Apartment Therapy?

If you want to try your hand at something a little more subtle, how about creating a collection of black and white plates for your dining room walls, or do a nice Halloween tablescape?

photo courtesy of Good Housekeeping

And finally, let’s accessorize.  Add Halloween touches throughout the house by repurposing things you already have, like this idea from Better Homes & Gardens.  By using glass containers that you may already own, replace the candles or contents with flash cards that spell “Boo” or maybe even black and white candies, like the next idea from Pottery Barn.

photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

photo courtesy of Pottery Barn

Again, with the black crow – encase one inside a glass container for display.  Or, add decorative masks to your decor.

photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

How about hanging one of these from your porch or back yard?  Take an inexpensive chandelier, drape a few Mardi Gras beads and spanish moss.  Next, spray paint everything black.  Finally, add the black candles and voila, a beautiful Halloween chandelier like this one from Shabby Addict.

Want something a little softer?  Try these black crepe paper flowers from Country Living.  Check out the How To directions here.

photo courtesy of Country Living

Lastly, who says you have to stick the traditional black, white and orange?  Add a pop of color, such as lime green, like this idea from Rhonna Designs, or gold, like the gilded pumpkin idea below from Country Living, or even mix in a little hot pink!  Have fun.  It is Halloween after all.

Have any ideas of your own or pictures you would like to share?  We would love to hear from you!

Enjoy until next time,