Suggestions for Creating a Haunted House Office

Halloween is one of the few days of the year that even mature adults have an opportunity to dress up and role-play. Many are even able to do so at their jobs; however, to pull it off, the work has to be done properly. If you work at an office, then the most effective way to incorporate a Halloween atmosphere is to use what's already present. Computers, for example, can be programmed to pipe a Halloween soundtrack through their speakers. You'll need an amplifier; Halloween-Online.com suggests the Mini Stereo Amplifier from Radio Shack (Optimus SA-155). This amp can be connected to a laptop's sound card, which in turn will project music throughout the office.

Want suggestions for your spooky soundtrack? You may want to find MP3s of classic philharmonic fright, such as "Funeral March of a Marionette" from Alfred Hitchcock Presents; "Danse Macabre" by Camille Saint-Saens; or more fun-oriented songs such as the theme from Ghostbusters. Just so that the sound won't become overwhelming, you can set it at a low to medium volume, to achieve more of a subtle effect.

In terms of decoration and aesthetics, you can use party-store supplies such as fake skeletons, plastic or paper ghosts, or jack-o-lanterns (if you have time to make them.) Granted, you won't want to go overboard with this; you can place such decorations at key spots, such as a break room, the hallway, or your own personal office.

Depending on the type of work you do, you can add Halloween candy into the mix as well. The Leasing Office at my apartment complex leaves a bowl of candy near the entrance before and during the holiday. It's filled with small, non-messy sweets such as Smarties, lollipops, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. The selection, of course, is probably up to your office manager, or you may want to even take a poll as to what people want.

If your company will allow it, you can show up to work in costume. You probably won't want to go overboard, unless your job is the type where that won't matter. There are many sexy women's costumes available, such as the Nurse, the Fairy, the She-devil, or the seductive Fortune-Teller. Men may want to dress as pirates, ghosts, or demons; some of these ideas may even work together with a suit. A retail store, particularly one that sells clothing or novelties, is perfect for these sorts of costumes.

At many schools, similar ideas prevail, albeit on a more low-key scale. Banners may be hung in the hallways; teachers may come to work in costume; and kids may engage in Halloween-related assignments. Granted, a school is a different sort of environment, and while teachers need to maintain professionalism, they can also get away with some playful behavior on holidays, particularly Halloween.

A job I held several years ago at a film equipment facility had a few decorations, including plastic ghosts, witches, and black cats. In our hallway, someone set up a small table where my coworkers and I held a Halloween fundraiser, selling cupcakes, candy corn, and other sweets. Of course, the environment was such that this kind of display worked; if your office isn't that type, you may want to think of something entirely different.

To really go all-out with the "haunted house" theme, you can purchase items such as blacklights, glow-in-the-dark trinkets, and fake blood. Some party stores also offer "Party Kits," which include many fun items that are perfect for the holiday. BuyCostumes.com offers a "Midnight Dreary Deluxe Party Kit," consisting of dinner plates, paper cups, a black cutlery set, and a "cemetery table decorating kit," complete with gravestones and a skull-and-crossbones tablecloth. The entire kit is available for $42.69; however, it isn't necessary to purchase a whole set if you don't want to.

You can purchase wall decorations separately from many websites and party stores as well. It's even possible to turn your everyday office items into spooky accessories. On your computer, for example, there are literally hundreds of Halloween screensavers and Windows themes. FreeHalloweenScreensavers.com, for example, offers a free-download Corpse Bride theme, complete with wallpapers and sound.

Now, you may wonder...how am I going to take all this down, once the party's over? That's where the "not going overboard" part comes in. Purchase decorations that are easy to put together and take apart, and avoid anything potentially sloppy. Even if you're serving food of some sort, make sure that the area is kept relatively neat, and maintained by someone.

If you can afford it, you may even want to hire a caterer; this will take some of the pressure off if you're including food. Once the party's completed, the staff can assist you in breaking down the party setting. On the other hand, if this is too expensive or time-consuming, simply enlist the help of your coworkers in doing the same tasks.

Most banners, cardboard cutouts, and streamers can be taken down with ease...and again, it may depend on the layout of your particular office. Make sure this is a team effort; even if one or two people come up with the main ideas, you can easily delegate tasks to your coworkers.

Hopefully, everyone can work together in scaring up your office for the day. However you decide to pull this off, make it a relaxing holiday, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.