Wow, some great ideas in this thread (jotting them down...)
A good portion of my last blog post: http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/terra/550-ceilings-floors-seven-layers-scare.html talked about how to decorate the ceiling in a haunt. Here's the relevant section:
The problem with decorating ceilings and floors is we are only home haunters. We feel lucky we have walls to decorate, LOL! But hopefully we can come up with some ways to at least give an illusion of ceilings and floors that fit the room.
CEILINGS:
In my haunt, the maze in the garage is made up of wood frames wrapped with landscape fabric. They are suspended from the ceiling. But, the ceiling is 12' high and the walls are 8' high. You are probably in the same boat: the ceiling will have to be lowered. Here's a couple of quick ways to give the illusion of a lowered, scary ceiling:
Camo netting: This is an all-purpose ceiling treatment used in professional haunts (along with lattice). To make it immersing, rip some of the netting so it hangs down in strips. Looks just like jungle vines. There are all kinds of colors of camo netting to help fit the scene. I've even seen mirror camo netting!
Overhead Scare Items: Hanging bats, chandelier, ghosts, spiders, heads, Spanish moss, bones, chains, barbed wire.... You can decide if you want the hanging items to be just above your victims' heads or they have to wade through it. I like this touch of putting a body among the chains:
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Lattice: Yep, the same stuff you use to hide your lawn mower under the deck. A great 'ceiling' that you could dress up many ways. Thread in greenery for a jungle vibe. You could even add a scare to it by attaching a dummy that your victims will have to walk under. Or a giant spider. Muh ha ha haaaa..... Here's what I'm talking about:
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PVC piping: Span a few painted up rusted PVC pipes and Boom! you've got a boiler room and a ceiling in one shot.
Drapes of fabric: This would be great for a vamp room or mansion.
Spider webbing: Don't forget to add the itty bitty spiders...
Thin foamboard: Just like for walls, you could carve and paint this anyway you want.
Thick foamboard: Shaped into stone spans with openings here and there. This picture also shows camo netting in use:
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Tree limbs: Just span them overhead. Again, You could then hang many things off of it. String (spider webs), Spanish moss, vines....
Chain link fencing: Great for that industrial or torture room. Lace in chains, barbed wire...
Pictures taken at The Darkness in St. Louis
A good portion of my last blog post: http://www.halloweenforum.com/blogs/terra/550-ceilings-floors-seven-layers-scare.html talked about how to decorate the ceiling in a haunt. Here's the relevant section:
The problem with decorating ceilings and floors is we are only home haunters. We feel lucky we have walls to decorate, LOL! But hopefully we can come up with some ways to at least give an illusion of ceilings and floors that fit the room.
CEILINGS:
In my haunt, the maze in the garage is made up of wood frames wrapped with landscape fabric. They are suspended from the ceiling. But, the ceiling is 12' high and the walls are 8' high. You are probably in the same boat: the ceiling will have to be lowered. Here's a couple of quick ways to give the illusion of a lowered, scary ceiling:
Camo netting: This is an all-purpose ceiling treatment used in professional haunts (along with lattice). To make it immersing, rip some of the netting so it hangs down in strips. Looks just like jungle vines. There are all kinds of colors of camo netting to help fit the scene. I've even seen mirror camo netting!
Overhead Scare Items: Hanging bats, chandelier, ghosts, spiders, heads, Spanish moss, bones, chains, barbed wire.... You can decide if you want the hanging items to be just above your victims' heads or they have to wade through it. I like this touch of putting a body among the chains:
Lattice: Yep, the same stuff you use to hide your lawn mower under the deck. A great 'ceiling' that you could dress up many ways. Thread in greenery for a jungle vibe. You could even add a scare to it by attaching a dummy that your victims will have to walk under. Or a giant spider. Muh ha ha haaaa..... Here's what I'm talking about:
PVC piping: Span a few painted up rusted PVC pipes and Boom! you've got a boiler room and a ceiling in one shot.
Drapes of fabric: This would be great for a vamp room or mansion.
Spider webbing: Don't forget to add the itty bitty spiders...
Thin foamboard: Just like for walls, you could carve and paint this anyway you want.
Thick foamboard: Shaped into stone spans with openings here and there. This picture also shows camo netting in use:
Tree limbs: Just span them overhead. Again, You could then hang many things off of it. String (spider webs), Spanish moss, vines....
Chain link fencing: Great for that industrial or torture room. Lace in chains, barbed wire...
Pictures taken at The Darkness in St. Louis
