Thread: I need help transforming a porch into a cabin-like scene...

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I'm thinking I want to make my porch less porchy this Halloween and, since I've got a life sized Jason Voorhees, thought it would be the perfect opportunity to transform it into a cabin, or camp, like scene.

The porch isn't massive. Maybe 8 feet in both directions - though it does have a roof. It's partially enclosed, with one side having a blank brick wall. Obviously the portion connected to the house has the front door and the other side is open, albeit with a railing that blocks the ledge.

So I'm not working with a lot here. I just want to make it less like a house porch and more like a horror scene. Last year, I put down moss and that helped a bit, but it still looked more exposed than I would like.

Now I'm not asking for anything extreme and certainly not something that would involve a total remodel (haha), so some simple solutions would definitely help.

Thanks!

I made this to look like a shack, but quite a few people called it a cabin. It was 9 feet wide. I am not sure if you are looking to create the inside or outside of a cabin, but this might be something you could rework to use either way.

That's pretty nifty. I like it a lot. I was thinking of something like that, but just the facade to place on the brick wall. How long did it take you to make it?

It took very little time to make. What took a long time was scavenging for the pallets and then taking the pallets apart to get the wood to make it with. If you went to the hardware store and bought the materials I definitely think you could make a small version of this in a weekend or two.

yardhauntjunkie, that cabin is awesome, great job! And since i love pallets too, i'm sure that tearing them down was time-consuming! OP, here r some additional ideas for you:

cabin -- if u don't have a lot of time and/or money u could get a similar effect (but with less expense and/or grunt work) if u took plywood and painted a cabin facade. If u r going for a horror scene, maybe u want just a part of a destroyed wall with a distressed door lying nearby, or hanging from hinges. I live in Boise and we have lots of places to get used building supplies cheap -- and doors are always really cheap -- $1-5.

camp -- if u decide on a camp theme, one way to enclose it would be with cammo netting. Not sure exactly what it is called, but i've seen it at army/navy stores. also, the moss is a great idea! maybe continue that effect with trimmed tree branches hanging over the roof to create the hollow in a forest effect. to keep TOTs from entering, you could create a pond in front -- now is the time to find inexpensive kiddie pools -- whatever u do, have fun!

What about scene setters? There are barnwood and blood splattered wood ones that you can hang against the wall of the porch for that instant cabin feeling. They also have Friday the 13th scene setters, but I'm not finding them online right now. I distinctly remember a cabin package in the Halloween store last year. To get them to stay to the wall, you can use velcro strips on the corners and fun/sticky tack along the sides so they don't just fly off.

Thanks bringjoy and trentsketch.

I actually thought about netting, since it's a reasonably priced way to set a spooky mood. I like the idea of hanging tree branches off the roof. I'll have to see if that'll work.

As for the idea of scene setters, I was actually looking at those last night - specifically the two you mentioned. The blood splattered wood is cool, but it's only a border, so I'd have to by some extras to make it reach to the ceiling. I did like the barnwood, though my only concern is how it would work. I've never used scene setters and I don't want it to look too cartoony or fake (I know, I know, it is fake...but you get the idea).

If I could do that, then find some fake windows to add to it and maybe a fake door - but, outside bringjoy's suggestion, I'm not sure where to look.

What about the huge 4X8 foot insulation sheets with the scene setters attached to them. Or better yet, paint them to look like the wood. It was be fast and relatively inexpensive. also easy to store them flat.

Scene setters look decent in dim lighting. They are more of a theatrical back drop than a realistic depiction, but they are good for covering relatively large areas quickly with a moderate level of detail. You're going to have a major prop or an actor scare so the ToTs shouldn't get a ton of time to focus on the background scenery. If you have no time, they are a good way to fill in a display very quickly.

Printersdevil, I actually have a wall already that could easily hang a scene setter.

ondeko, definitely see what you mean. Have you ever seen prop windows or doors that are cheap? If I could use those to go along with the scene setter, I think it would make it look a bit more realistic.