Spooktacular ways to decorate this Halloween, from make-your-own ghosts to sumptuous pumpkins in fashion shades.
October is upon us, and it is now officially OK to start decorating for Halloween.
It may just be the most fun time of the year. There’s none of the pressure or stress associated with Christmas.
Halloween is shorter in duration too - more of a sugar high long weekend than a fortnight of eating and drinking.
People dress up differently, too. They give loads of think time to their costumes and throw themed parties.
It’s a festival that the Irish gave to the world, that we exported, at a time when the humble turnip was the vegetable at the centre of the celebrations.
And we have imported the American version back into our homes and decorated with gusto. Every year, the displays get bigger and more OTT.
Here are some ideas that will help add spooky festive touches to your home:
Make your mantle a little spookier
The ceramic ghosts, above, are as spooky as they are bewitching.
Each is handmade in Ireland, meaning that each piece is utterly unique.
The small size measures six cm high and costs €13, while the large 10cm high option costs €21. Made by hand by Swedish-born, Chapelizod-based potter, Ann Sofie of King Hall Pottery, they’re available online and in store at April and the Bear.
The potter will be hosting workshops, where you can make your own ghosts, €35, at her Chapelizod-based workshop on Fridays, October 3rd, 10th and 17th. For further details and bookings, visit Kingshallpottery.com
Posh pumpkins for every budget
Dunnes Stores' selection of tactile jute, velvet and chenille pumpkins offers a very grown-up and on-trend way to weave in a Halloweenscape into your home.
The miniature-sized ones are just nine cm high and are priced from €3 each and come in about six different colour options, depending on the finish you choose.
The collection includes a 23cm high resin gourd that costs €15 and large 48 cm jute stem models that can double as door stoppers, €15 each.
Pictured are two sizes of jute-made models, small, €25, and large, €32.
Go nuts for this serving dish
Divided into three sections, this serving dish can do double duty as a decorative item on an open shelf in a kitchen.
Made of acacia wood, it measures about 35 cm by 23cm and is sizeable enough to serve up monkey nuts and traditional treats.
It costs €19.95 at Meadows & Byrne and will make a lovely, seasonal hostess gift if you’re invited to dinner.
Add ambience through candles in this season’s shades
We all look better in candlelight, and so, we should welcome the change in the season and the chance to celebrate the golden glow they give.
You can add visual interest with coloured glass candlesticks.
A contemporary take on the classic bobbin designs of the 17th Century, Floella, from Neptune, comes in amber and olive-green options.
The tall, which stands 22cm high, pictured, costs €29.
Dinner candles served with style
Danish design company Sostrene Grene sells one of the best selections of coloured candles.
This square-shaped Bordeaux-coloured design is in this season’s most fashionable shade and burns for 12 hours – long enough to get from pre-drinks to digestifs, no matter how hard you party.
It costs €4.22, while the blue glass cube candle holder, also pictured, costs an additional €4.08.
