Thread: Small house, no yard

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Hey everyone I hope you are all well.

I joined the forum last year, and I'm a very very amateur haunter (no good at making props yet, I'm not very practical really!) but I'm determined to fly the flag for bringing home & yard haunts to Britain.

I've been thinking about what I'm going to do this year. I have moved house, to a small house that has no outside space at the front (and just a narrow concrete yard at the back.) I want to do a Hallowe'en party, but I am stuck for what I can do in such a small space with no yard.

Also, as my kitchen is probably the biggest room in my house, it will have to be 'halloweened up'! I've always avoided doing the kitchen as I've never been sure what to do. I'm working on a concept for this year though, which is "The Witches Kitchen." However, I don't know how you make light-coloured, very modern wooden cupboards look creepy!

The same with the living room as all my funriture is white/very light wood with a light wood floor...nice for day-to-day living, but low on the creep factor!

How do you guys make your modern homes look creepy for halloween?

Also, for those of you who theme your haunts - do you have one theme that runs through the house, or a different theme for each room? If it's the latter, how do you segue between them?

Any input would be appreciated

You can board up the windows and have it look like Zombies are trying to get in.
Or put UV ghosts in the windows. Have the outside of the house covered with spiders, I saw a house done like that and is was simple but effective.
For the cabinets you could use double sided tape and foam or cardboard to cover the and make them look any way you want.

Get some cheap sheets and mess them up, rips, stains, and cob webs then cover the furniture. It will give it the old unused look.
Change the lights bulbs to colored bulbs, that will make a radical difference.

did you see the party thread. bet you would find lots of ideas there.
you need cobwebs, bats and spiders. ghosts and potion bottles. cauldron, spellbook and some witches

"I'm determined to fly the flag for bringing home & yard haunts to Britain."
I think you guys are doing a great job over there! Keep up the good work!

"I've been thinking about what I'm going to do this year. I have moved house, to a small house that has no outside space at the front (and just a narrow concrete yard at the back.) I want to do a Hallowe'en party, but I am stuck for what I can do in such a small space with no yard."
I'm a big fan of BBC shows and understand exactly what you mean and what you are dealing with. Hmmm...You can still Haunt your front by adding "boarded up windows" to cover your windows. Go with a spider scene outside. Make a web to stretch over the front of the house and hang some large spiders.

"Also, as my kitchen is probably the biggest room in my house, it will have to be 'halloweened up'! I've always avoided doing the kitchen as I've never been sure what to do. I'm working on a concept for this year though, which is "The Witches Kitchen." However, I don't know how you make light-coloured, very modern wooden cupboards look creepy!"
That or a mad scientist scene is great for a kitchen. Cover your cupboard doors with creepy cloth (dyed and torn cheesecloth) or continue the spider theme by stretching webs over them and hanging spiders. Either would go well with the witch theme! And don't forget lighting! Change out the color of your kitchen bulbs for some creepy ambiance.

"The same with the living room as all my furniture is white/very light wood with a light wood floor...nice for day-to-day living, but low on the creep factor!"
Cover the furniture with with cloth to give it that old-world gothic feeling (plus it will protect it some from spills), heavy cloth is best but dark will at least help, even if it is large flat sheets. And again, put up colored lights to change the look of the room, play with different colored bulbs, the light color of the room will reflect the colors. Maybe scene setters on the walls? Or draping tulle?

"Also, for those of you who theme your haunts - do you have one theme that runs through the house, or a different theme for each room? If it's the latter, how do you segue between them?"
I like to give my party a theme and then create a scene using that theme in my backyard haunt. I will have the decorations in the house be toward that theme, but will also have general Halloween decorations out as well.

"Any input would be appreciated"
Hope this helps!
Val

If you have a porch, there are really good ideas on this Forum to trick it up. Give the neighbors something to talk about.

scene setters might work for your cabinets or fridge at that. here is a link to check out if you like
Halloween Creepy Kitchen Decorations

I second the colored light bulbs! They are an excellent way to get some atmosphere quick, cheap and without muss or fuss.

Another idea is to use black plastic (some party stores sell plain black plastic table coverings for "over the hill" parties, or cut open some black garbage bags). Shred the plastic in about 3" wide strips leaving about 2" connected at the top (like a panel of fringe) and hang it in places where people will walk through, from the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs (not the top of the stairs or people might trip and fall down), in doorways, etc. It's creepy to walk through and with low wattage red lights it's like walking through a meat-packing plant. You can also wet the plastic with a spray-bottle filled with water. And turn your air conditioning on full blast if you really want to create a refrigerated feel. Some choice body parts in the refrigerator among your drinks and you're set

Oh, and if you have room, you can wrap a "body" made of some old clothes stuffed with sheets or blankets or whatever, then wrap the body in clear plastic, tape it around the ankles and neck with duct tape, and leave it on the sofa for people to sit next to.

Here it is springtime, and I'm thinking like this. What is wrong with me?

hang long string from the ceiling so they feel like they're walking through spider webs