Autumn is here, it’s plain to see. The days are growing darker, the temperature is dropping, the leaves are falling and the Halloween celebrations have begun. This is a holiday I don’t mind celebrating all month long. As I am sad to see summer go, it brings something to look forward to. I love the Halloween decorations, the anticipation of little kids ready to don their costumes and trick or treat (who are we kidding, the grown ups are equally as excited to do the same!) and the coziness of fall and all it has to offer. October tends to be a time full of festivities and parties. Whether it’s football tailgates or spooky Halloween galas, there is something for everyone.

I love a good costume party. It doesn’t even have to be Halloween! If you want to throw a theme party with costumes as a must, I will be there. That being said, it seems the rest of the world is more apt to partake in the month of October, and what better way to celebrate the festiveness at home than with a tricked out table (pun intended!). As I always say, you don’t have to blow your party budget decorating a nice table. Think outside the box and get crafty – which is especially fun to do during Halloween. (It also helps to shop at stores like Target, Home Goods and the dollar store, where you can find good discounts.)

For this month’s dining decor I decided of course to focus on Halloween! But I didn’t want to be a basic bat, I wanted to make it funky and eclectic. I like the dark side of Halloween, right before it bridges to gross and scary, so I decided to aim for that. I bought two plastic tablecloths at Target (only $5 each – and the black and white I will use again and again), which are great for any sticky spills, and layered those. I also bought a cute spiderweb runner to add a little depth to the table. I used plates I already owned, accessorized with napkins I found at Home Goods (also only $5), which can be recycled for Thanksgiving. Tying a black and white striped ribbon around them connects them easily with the tablecloth, but also makes for a cute presentation. I filled a glass pumpkin jar with orange tissue paper and used a striped cookie jar as a decorative centerpiece. Now, here is where it get’s crafty – which is fun for both young and old skeletons this time of year: I painted mini white pumpkins with some black accents, and used paper towel rolls and scrapbooking paper to make bats. I also covered my chairs with gauzy covers, to detract from the floral, non-Halloween pattern. It looks a bit like furniture you would find covered in an abandoned house, which fits perfect with the theme.

When you put your heart and soul into a table, you are proud to show it off. Even if you just have one guest to dinner, or you’re just decorating for a fun family night, a festive table makes you, and everyone around it, feel spooktacular. Happy Halloween all you ghouls and boys – and happy dining!

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