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Orange and blackBԪַ and pink and purple: creative twists for Halloween parties

Some tips and trends for making your Halloween party a spooky delight
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This photo provided by Kim Cook shows her Halloween mantelscape with trick or treat banner, fabric pumpkins, and a color scheme of objects to fit the season. (Kim Cook via AP)

BԪַIBԪַm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,BԪַ says the heroine in L.M. MontgomeryBԪַs book BԪַAnne of Green Gables.BԪַ

All we autumn aficionados feel the same, right? The season usually takes its star turn in October, with , sweater-worthy days, and the heady aromas of spice, apples, pumpkin and woodfire.

And for many people, stirring into that mix just makes it yummier.

Throwing your own Halloween party is a great outlet for getting creative with the season, and it doesnBԪַt have to be all monsters and mayhem (though thatBԪַs fun). There are themes that bring a party mood and style to the table and the room, while still evoking HalloweenBԪַs mystery.

You donBԪַt need to go all out on a homeful of décor. I do a simple mantelscape in my living room thatBԪַs just a few décor pieces in autumn colors, a string of festive lights and a banner with a seasonal message. The vibeBԪַs just enough Halloween for me, and when itBԪַs over I can easily edit the elements for Thanksgiving.

Some party and decor trends:

Whimsigoth and pinkoweBԪַen

Claire Brito, House BeautifulBԪַs social media editor, says sheBԪַs seeing people leaning into a flirtier, more feminine interpretation of the darker .

ItBԪַs a nod to pop cultureBԪַs TV witches of the BԪַ90s BԪַ Buffy, Sabrina, et al BԪַ and to the lifestyle vibe of with its boho, natural, nostalgic vibe. Brought together, youBԪַve got BԪַwhimsigoth.BԪַ The look leans into moody purples and dusty pinks as well as vintage florals and plaids.

Another seasonal decor look with a goofy nickname: Say boo! to decorBԪַs BԪַpinkoweBԪַen.BԪַ

Brito says it echoes the trends of and the Year of Pink, with blush-toned pumpkins, lacy tableware and mismatched glassware. Adding indoor plants inside Mason jars and making stacks of books will create an BԪַold greenhouseBԪַ and BԪַromantic libraryBԪַ mood BԪַ both ideal for a Halloween gathering.

Macabre mysteries

House BeautifulBԪַs deputy managing editor, Olivia Hosken, likes a good old-fashioned murder mystery, and recommends games that get everyone teamed up.

Masters of MysteryBԪַs game kits set the crime in different eras and environments BԪַ among them, the Wild West, Broadway, a palace, a pirate ship and the 1920s. There are also mysteries themed around BԪַBridgerton,BԪַ BԪַRocky Horror,BԪַ James Bond or outer space.

The game maker suggests how to set the scene for your murder mystery, including décor, menus, music and costumes.

For the Roaring Twenties, for instance, use a black-and-gold color scheme, with cocktail glasses filled with gold beads, strands of pearls, and black feathers for decorative elements. Era-popular deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail and icebox cake could be on the menu.

Victorian vibes

Author Lesley Bannatyne, who writes often about Halloween, says it was the Victorians who began turning Halloween into a celebration. Jack-oBԪַ-lanterns on porches, blazing community bonfires, and doors hung with cornhusks and apples welcomed guests to the party.

Queen VictoriaBԪַs obsession with the supernatural fed a fascination with mystics and fortune tellers.

Try creating a 19th century look for your Halloween party. Think tarot cards, palmistry, astrology and astronomy art; glass jars filled with curiosities like toy critters, paper butterflies, silk flowers; black or gold painted twigs; cobwebs made of chunky yarn or cheesecloth.

Get the family candlesticks out, and set them with black taper candles.

BԪַLight them an hour before the party starts, so theyBԪַre extra drippy,BԪַ Hosken says.

Add dark purple or deep red flowers, and Spanish moss. When the partyBԪַs over, most of these items can be repurposed.

Toasting time

Some bottles ideal for the Halloween party table:

19 Crimes is an Aussie brand named for the number of crimes it took for 18th century British convicts to be shipped off to Australia. The wines are named after colorful real-life rebels, with vintage photos on the labels. Scan the QR code on the back of the bottle to watch an augmented reality clip of the characterBԪַs story.

And CaliforniaBԪַs The Prisoner Wine Company has released an BԪַUnshackledBԪַ line of reds and rose, with metallic labels evoking a vintage combination lock.





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