How to Create Your Own Haunted House

Haunted houses big and small have become a favorite part of the Halloween celebration. Whether tame and toddler friendly or all-out frightening, Haunted Houses are fun to participate in from start to scare. If you would like to make your own Haunted House but aren't sure where to start, here are some tips to get you ready for fright-night.

Pick Your Terror Level
The first thing that you are going to need to decide on is who you are building your Haunted House for, and how frightened you want them to be. Are you making a kid-friendly Haunted House that is suitable for nieces and nephews, or do you want to put some panic into your co-workers? Choose your target audience carefully and keep them in mind while buying and building props.

Pick Your Location
You can hold your Haunted House in an area as small as single-car garages or as large as a city warehouse, but if you don't know where you are going to put it you won't be able to begin planning your paths and buying props. If a hillside manor is out of your reach, don't despair. With proper staging and layout you can have an effective and frightening Haunted House in any space.

Know Your Budget
Once you know who your victims - er - visitors will be and where your Haunted House will be located, it's time to work out your budget. No matter how much money you have to dedicate to your haunting, you will need to carefully plan what you spend on props, make-up, supplies, lighting and special effects. As you begin assembling your Haunted House it will become very easy to justify spending a little more here and there, but before long you may find yourself in over your head. No matter what, stick to your budget. You can always add more props, make-up and surprises next year.

Plan Your Paths
Before you begin buying props, figure out where visitors will walk. Make sure that your paths are wide enough for an adult to stand with arms outstretched all points so that there is less chance of someone jumping from fright and knocking something over. Once your paths are laid, measure the areas that you will be using to display your props and scenery. Lay the plan out on a sheet of paper and include measurements so that while you are shopping for props you will be easily able to identify spooky items that fit in your space.

Get Creative
To save some cash and make your haunting more fun, see what ideas you can come up with to create props on your own. Cold leftover spaghetti makes for great zombie brains, warm Jello makes for great slippery-slimy goo to adorn slightly-ajar coffins and lifeless bodies. See what ideas you can come up with for everyday items like black trash bags, paper streamers and old worn out clothing. Remember that anything can be spooky when in the right context.

Have Fun
In the end, it's key to remember that building your Haunted House is all about having fun. Whether your haunting takes place in your own back yard or a creepy old farmhouse, make sure that you are creating a project that is fun for you to put on as well as being fun for your friends and family to walk through and enjoy. Don't take yourself too seriously, and keep hold of your best sense of humor.

If you would like some more ideas on how to build your own Haunted House, head down to your local library and ask your Librarian for books and DVDs on creating a haunted house. If they don't have anything Halloween specific, check out books on movie production and building stage props. If you're having difficulty finding a library, go to www.librarysites.info to find a library near you.

Want to read more about Halloween from Denise Kawaii? Click the links below.
Halloween Ghost Tours in OregonCity
Ghost Tours in Seattle, Washington