Halloween inspired interior design is often gimmicky and full of way too many pumpkins, but it doesn’t have to be. Instead of going for the obvious and perhaps too cheesy decorations like spiderwebs, skeletons, and witches’ hats (would you even want to keep them after Halloween itself?), try to embody the spirit of Halloween in a way that is evocative yet suitable for the rest of the year.
The key to that is subtlety and drawing inspiration from the abstract, not the literal, associations we have with this spooky holiday. Throw away those fake zombie face masks and read on to learn how you can infuse some freaky into your home, while keeping it classy.
1. Be bold with red
Condominium – 33 Fort Road by WEDA StudioInc
Red is a volatile colour that can potentially cheapen the look of a house, but when used properly, it can add a pop of much-needed boldness to any interior design. Instead of going overboard with red furniture or red walls, position the red colour strategically throughout your home by putting up artwork like the one pictured above, or through accent pieces like cushions, vases, and photo frames.
Designer Xue Li from WEDA StudioInc concurs, advising homeowners to “take note of the contrast” and not to neglect “details for walls, lighting, curtains/louvers, and furniture selections.” For this design, “a mixture of darker wood grains and unique lamination” was chosen for a modern feel. The strong red colour was integrated seamlessly by matching it with similarly warm-toned hues like yellow-golden lighting, tan or brown furniture, and rich fabrics like silk for your upholstery.
2. Use monochromatic visual centerpieces
Bungalow – Thomson Road by Space Vision Design
Orange might be Halloween’s official colour, but there’s something about stark black and white visual centerpieces (especially if they’re as ornate as the ones pictured above) that scream classic horror.
In this design, a grand and intricate chandelier, made in black for extra intensity, is paired with a crystallised bust of a horse and a zebra-patterned couch to create a look that is almost overwhelming in its potency. However, the minimalist monochromatic colour scheme ensures that the design is coherent, and not a jumbled mess of ornaments.
One piece of advice that Winnie from Space Vision Design gives is that homeowners “must be able to accept and style with more daring designer pieces.” In the case of this design, for example, “the wall was hacked to be able to see the pond outside, allowing for a more open feel.”
3. Woodsy elegance
Havelock Residence by Prozfile
If you want to experiment with a more underused colour scheme, ditch the purple and go for cool grey and blue tones instead. With a pale wood-textured accent wall and gold highlights to contrast with the other darker grey-blue walls, this design is less The Conjuring and more of a peaceful retreat. Furthermore, as Cadine from Prozfile puts it, the “heavy contrast between the main and side carcass allows for unclutteredness” and gives the room a “strong character.”
4. Muted darkness
Halloween-inspired decor doesn’t always have to be frightening. In fact, one can design a room that’s both muted and welcoming by drawing inspiration from the typical Halloween colour scheme of pumpkin orange and witchy purple. These two contrasting colours go well together because their high contrast creates an especially vibrant and eye-catching look.
Furthermore, Darwin Interior‘s Ashton points out that with darker rooms, you want to “keep the ceilings or certain walls white to provide a contrast and also ample surfaces for reflecting light.” To keep your bedroom cosy, he also recommends using “warm lighting colours instead of white light.”
5. Glow orange
HDB 5 Room – Blk 890A Woodland by Design 4 Space
Suffuse your home with warmth by investing in some yellow-toned lights. Yes, this comforting scene doesn’t exactly scream Halloween, but we’re merely taking inspiration from the holiday, not trying to scare ourselves in our own home.
Britney from Design 4 Space emphasises that “interior design should magically make guests feel warm and transfer the interior into a sanctuary, and this cosy glowing lighting perfectly epitomises the warm, inviting mood.” Add some edge to your design by playing with geometric bulb-holders and textured wood walls.
6. Subtle surrealism
Duplex Condominium – Jln Loyang Besar by Spacious Planners
As any horror fan would know, some of our worst fears are psychological in nature; think looming eyes and weird shapes that have no place in the natural world. Of course, no one wants to be scared out of their wits every time they go home, so tone down the fear factor by using statement pieces like surrealist artwork and deep, rich colours to subtly reference your eerier inspirations.
Nora from Spacious Planners reveals that “what often contradicts, can also complement, each other” and that “the key is to balance the dark interior with splashes of bright colours, metallic accessories, and soft furnishings.” She also urges homeowners to be “a little edgier with dark colour choices” in order to create “a bold interior that speaks its own language,” for example in this particular design, which was inspired by a fusion of East and West that reflected the homeowners’ background.
Want to take the spook a step further? Check out HomeRenoGuru’s Design Gallery for all your interior inspirations!
