1. TRANSLATE YOUR PORCH DECOR TO YOUR TABLE
If you're hosting a Halloween dinner party, the chances are you have themed decorations outside your home, too. To create a sense of flow, continue the same porch decor ideas inside your home bringing the concept indoors.
2. USE A MOODY COLOR PALETTE
It wouldn't be Halloween without a dark color scheme. Choose moody greys, blues and purples to mimic a mysterious atmosphere. 'It's always a good idea to begin with a mood and a color,' suggests Imane. 'Look around your dining area for colors to pull from. My dining room has a lot of warmth so I style my spooky ’scapes with bright orange and black.'
3. MAKE USE OF CANDLES
Halloween is all about atmospheric, ambient lighting. For a spooky table that would put the Addams family to shame, use elegant vintage candelabras to set the mood and turn off your overhead lights. 'I’m a big fan of eating by candlelight. In my opinion nothing is better at creating ambience than a warm, natural glow – and this lends itself perfectly for Halloween where candles play such an important role in creating an eerie low-light aesthetic,' says Simon. 'I love to dress the table from end to end with tea lights and lanterns.'
4. USE ECLECTIC TABLEWARE
To replicate the feel of an old haunted house, use an eclectic mix of tableware rather than a dinnerware set. Uniform and matching crockery will look too organized for a spooky setting while a random mixture will help set an odd and peculiar feel to the dinner table. 'Mix and matched crockery also helps to add variety and interest to a table by showcasing the breadth of different glassware and ceramic styles,' says Simon. 'Opt for colored glassware in fall shades like brown and orange for that real wow factor. I think Halloween is the time to be a little more daring with tableware.'
6. DON'T FORGET FLOWERS
Floral arrangements are the staple of table settings. Not only are they visually beautiful and at times bring gorgeously sweet scents to your table, they also add height and therefore a clear focal point to the space. To be in keeping with the seasonal theme, choose fall flowers in shades of red and orange.
WHAT IS TABLESCAPING, AND WHY SHOULD I OPT FOR IT?
Simply put, tablescaping is all about designing and decorating your dining table so your table setting is aesthetically pleasing and thematic as opposed to merely practical. Think wedding table setting or Thanksgiving – it's all about table decor that wows your guests, and Halloween is a great t timeor a fall tablescape.