Sophisticated Halloween Party Decorations

Halloween isn't just for kids anymore. More and more adults are throwing Halloween bashes, many of them sans their little goblins. But when it comes to decorations, sometimes it can be challenging to find things that are not childish and cartoonist.

To help you throw that glam Halloween party that will forever haunt your guests, here are some great resources on where to find or make grown-up Halloween décor:

Sophisticated Halloween Party Decorations from Colin Cowie

In 2005, celebrated party planner Colin Cowie made an appearance on the CBS Early Morning News to promote his glam Halloween ideas. Mr. Cowie suggested steering away from the traditional pumpkins and buying black head forms normally used to display wigs or hats. You can then decorate the headforms with masks and stick skewers of food in them to create the hair. Or you can cut out the top of the headform and place a glass bowl in it to serve dips or veggies. I found black head forms at Allen Designers, Inc. for $11.50 or you can buy inexpensive Styrofoam head forms at The Wing Company for $3.00 and spraypaint them black.

For centerpieces, Mr. Cowie recommends using "a big urn filled with dry ice, colored water and suspended brown and red orchids. Use red for the water to add a little Halloween vibe. Drape the table in black fabric. To go all out, use a black chandelier with flickering lights."

Sophisticated Halloween Party Decorations from Martha Stewart

A great resource for everything domestic is Martha Stewart's website. You can find lots of tips on how to make your Halloween sophisticated. Using glitter, metallic color, and lighting, you can create tasteful decorations that do not look childish. My favorite, easy-to-do decorating idea is the Spidery Sills and Window Webs look. Take small and large votive holders and "nest them", placing the small ones inside the large ones. Place a small amount of fake blood in the large votive and squeeze plastic spiders in between the two votive holders and sprinkle around them on the windowsill. Light the candles and voila! Sophisticated yet creepy.

Other great ideas are to line paper lampshades with black silhouettes such as bats or witches. You can also use glittery skulls or pumpkins to decorate your table.

If you don't have time to make your decorations, or you feel you are not as crafty as Martha, you can buy ready-made sophisticated decorations at Martha Stewart for Grandinroad.

Sophisticated Halloween Party Decorations from Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn started selling sophisticated Halloween decorations about two or three years ago, and has been selling out in droves. This year they are offering free shipping on their entire Halloween collection, which can be found online and in stores. Some of the most popular items are the Skull Cocktail Collection, Skull Appetizer Plates, and Skull Tray, all of which retail for under $25 each.

If you like the look of Pottery Barn, but are looking for some dinnerware choices with that you can use year round, you can also buy their solid Sausalito Dinnerware collection in either Amber or Spice. Pair these orange colors with a black tablecloth for an instant Halloween feel.

Sophisticated Halloween Party Decorations from Williams-Sonoma

For sophisticated food items that double as party decorations, try shopping with premier retailer Williams-Sonoma. They sell a variety of specialty food that look almost too good to eat. Simply arrange on a platter and the food will speak for itself. Especially attractive are the Witch's Hat cake, Ghost Cake, and Jack-o'-Lantern Cakes, created especially for Williams-Sonoma customers by the renowned Sam Godfrey in Perfect Endings bakery in Napa Valley, CA.

The cakes are a bit pricey (about $89 each), however, so if you are looking for something that is a bit more affordable but will still give you that "wow" factor, I highly recommend the Giant Halloween Caramel Apple, sold with or without nuts for $22.95. These huge apples way up to two pounds and have to be cut with a chef's knife. They have been one of the most popular offerings of Williams-Sonoma for years, and they are delicious. (Williams-Sonoma also sells the apples during the Christmas holidays.) One apple can feed about 4-8 people, depending on how big you cut the slices.

Sophisticated Halloween Party Decorations from Crate & Barrel

In addition to Halloween decorations, Crate & Barrel also sells Halloween food and kitchen items. Among my favorites in sophisticated décor are the Pumpkin Candles and Servers, which can be used all through autumn and into Thanksgiving.

Also, the Spider Web Runner is a nice alternative to a black tablecloth and is available for under $30.

Sophisticated Halloween Party Decorations: Final Thoughts

As you can see, you no longer have to be a child to appreciate or decorate for Halloween. If you cannot afford to buy or make all of the suggestions above, try adding pieces every year until your collection is complete. A great place to start is with a solid black tablecloth and orange-colored dinnerware, which can be found at most retailers. If you are having problems finding a black tablecloth, you can visit your local fabric store and make one to suit your needs.

So don't be afraid to decorate your house this year, even if you don't have children. Have a screaming Halloween!

Sources:

Tatiana Morales, "Add Glam to Your Halloween Party: Colin Cowie Offers Sophisticated Ideas", CBS The Early Show, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/28/earlyshow/contributors/colincowie/main989990.shtml?tag=contentBody;currentVideoInfo

Allen Designers, Inc. http://www.allendesigners.com/products/Black_Color-Coated_Ladies_Styrofoam_Display_Heads

The Wig Company, http://thewigcompany.com/product.asp?pn=986&sid=FROOGLE&EID=FR986

Susan Love, "Halloween decorating can be both fun and sophisticated", http://www.cleveland.com/insideout/index.ssf/2009/09/halloween_decorating_can_be_bo.html

MarthaStewart.com, "Halloween Central: Decorations and Crafts", http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/halloween-decorating

MarthaStewart.com, "Halloween Central: Our Products", http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/martha-stewart-products-halloween-decor

Grandinroad, "Halloween Haven", http://www.grandinroad.com/jump.jsp?itemID=2759&itemType=CATEGORY&path=1%2C2%2C2759

Martha Stewart, "Spidery Sills and Window Webs", http://www.marthastewart.com/article/spidery-sills-and-window-webs?&backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/halloween-decorating?#slide_2

Pottery Barn, "Free Shipping on our Halloween Collection", http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/holiday-decor/halloween-holiday-decor/halloween-all/

Pottery Barn, "Dinnerware & Entertaining", http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/dinnerware-entertaining/dinnerware/dinnerware-solid/?cm_type=lnav

Williams-Sonoma, "A Haunting Halloween", http://www.williams-sonoma.com/gift/thm/RipW/index.cfm?dynlink=ripw&cm_type=gnav

Crate&Barrel, "Tricks n' Treats", http://www.crateandbarrel.com/halloween/1