Halloween doesn't scare Melanie Brzo-zowski into a fit of random decorating. She treats the holiday with the approach she takes to other seasonal events.
Two weeks ago, Brzo-zowski switched out the blue seascape decor from the warmer summer months in favour of a little black magic perfect for October's spooky vibe.
"It's not so much about the gore. It's embracing a great holiday," said Brzo-zowski, the event design consultant for Chef's Expressions.
"I am like a mad scientist with my Halloween entertaining: I add a cup of funky, a spoonful of elegance and a pinch of sparkle - always have to have sparkle - to get the proper balance with my decor, events and menus."
Even though Halloween is usually associated with over-the-top kitsch and gore, it doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice good taste. Local designers and event planners say that with a little thought, a tasteful, high-end Halloween can be within reach.
Brzozowski strives for an upscale appearance without spending exorbitantly, which is why she shops at Michaels and Target. She also goes to Pinter-est for some ideas, but mostly dreams up ways to incorporate her decorations on her own.
"Entertaining is an art and should be treated as such," she said. "Even with the 'fun' holidays, like Halloween, you should still use the proper silverware, glassware, real linens, etc. If you are going to do something, you do it right."
Carmen Brock, owner of Trohv, a home furnishings store in Baltimore, prefers a subtle approach.
In past years, she's filled her home with various knickknacks and stylized figurines. Now, she fills her two stores with them. She reserves her at-home decorating to the exterior of her Baltimore townhouse. This year, Brock scattered white pumpkins along the porch and staircase of her home.
She suggests that customers decorate spaces such as mantels in a less flashy manner, perhaps skipping the traditional orange and black in favour of texture and nature.
"Do not clutter with a lot of pieces," she said. "It's good to keep it simple and monochromatic. Throw in something organic - from nature, such as driftwood, coloured sticks and dried leaves. Stay within that palette. Add some cosiness and sophistication. And incorporate some other textures [such as] burlap and dyed canvas."
Philip Smith, a design consultant at The House Downtown in Baltimore, thinks that small touches using minimal materials can make a big impact during Halloween.
"Hang a single hanging light bulb from your front porch," he said. "Give it an eerie, neglected look."
Glamorize the typical white sheet ghost silhouette by using tulle. "If you have a little girl, use pink tulle," he said.
Smith arranges Halloween figurines or small pumpkins along a table or mantel. He also anchors tablescapes with "really cool" topiary jars. Fill the jars with small gourds or candy corns. The more tiers and layers, the better, he said.
"If you're not crafty, simplicity is very good," he said.
Smith also suggests decorating a chalkboard in seasonal designs for an additional piece of art. In his home, he decorated his chalkboard with a "spooky" picture of his home surrounded by bats.
"It sounds kitschy, but it's really nice," he said.
"I make sure each room is different, but the overall house goes together - it's the transition from room to room that builds excitement," Brzozowski said. "I love to have items that complement each other, not that match. It is more appealing to the eye to look at a room of things that go together, in different ways, than a room that has all things matching."
Most importantly, you should keep yourself in mind when decorating your home, Brzozowski says.
"Remember that you will be the one looking at it the most, so surround yourself with things that make you smile or that remind you of your childhood," she said.
PARTY TIPS
Invitations: Melanie Brzozowski, event design consultant for Chef's Expressions, advises setting the tone with invitations, preferably on paper. There is a joy receiving a nice paper invitation. "Already I want to go to the event because I feel the host has put time and energy into it," she says.
The menu: "Make sure your menu fits the time frame of the event," Brzozowski says. If your party starts at 5 p.m., "serve enough food so it is equivalent to dinner. You can still do a cocktail-style reception during this time, but ... go heavy on the hors d'oeuvres so you satisfy your guests. You never want guests to leave hungry." With a later start time, "serve wine, cheese and desserts."
Homemade goods: Carmen Brock, owner of Trohv, says keep it simple. "Use orange frosting for a chocolate cake," she says. "You don't have to do a million things. Take one item and put a Halloween twist on it."
