Thread: Less is more?

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I'm trying to figure out how far to take our exterior Halloween decor, so I thought I'd come to you guys for help.

Our house is very old and has a bit of a dark history. When we bought it, it was literally falling down. The first year we lived at the house, the exterior was still unpainted and the house had a very creepy look. We simply put the eyes in the windows and called it good. We didn't have a single trick or treater , they wouldn't approach our house. This year we used our old porch floor and started boarding up the windows, we also added the eyes again. I like the thought of giving our house a quiet sinister look, but wasn't sure if it's enough?



Obviously it doesn't look like much during the day. Any ideas on what we should add? I thought about making a "For Sale" sign, something that looks desperate, like we're trying to get out of it.

ps. We're CHEAP!

Whoops! Here's the photo, I think?

I might be to dark, do you have a porch light you can turn on and maybe add a couple of sinister looking jack o lanterns, cause it almost looks like no ones home.

That's really great and it does look very sinister and it hasn't taken too much at all to do that. But, it might mean its a little less approachable....especially to the younger TOTers.

Perhaps you could add some Jack O Lanterns as Tina suggested, but also maybe some outdoor lights? The shaped ones you can get like ghosts/pumpkins etc and perhaps a Happy Halloween banner or even the yellow and black tape that says Caution Haunted House.

Just because, it looks great but as its so dark people might assume you're not home.

Good work though.

How about a fog machine and some sidewalk lights.

In your case, I think less is better. I do like the fog machine and maybe some low lights at ground level to slightly light the fog.

What about a red flood light on the door to extend the face imagery and better light the way?

Love it, but I agree it doesn't look too welcoming.

A couple well placed jack-o-lanterns would probably do it. (Maybe one in the window on the left looking up at the face on the house?)

Great idea though.

I LOVE IT! and I agree, less IS more.

That being said, a JOL or two would certainly cement the idea that you are 'open for business' for ToTs.

Totally agree with all the others...

Everywhere I've ever been, no matter the decorations, if the porch light isn't on, then TOTs don't go to that house. Some might go up just because, but in general that's the main "we have candy" signal. Without it, it does look like a scary creepy house, but no one home to give candy.

I wouldn't walk up to your house also as it's hard to see the walkway and steps to the front door - kind of dangerous.

I'd definitely put out a JOL on the front porch. I'd also take the monster house a step further and get some big pieces of cardboard (I save up any that look large enough) and cut out TEETH and paint them white and put them hanging down from the porch in front of the door like there is a mouth open. I'd also put a purple or orange light in your porch light (if you have one) so they can see to walk up, or else get a few lengths of rope lights and line your walkway and steps leading up to the porch.