It’s that time of year again – Halloween is right around the corner! My neighborhood goes all out with mini haunted houses, tons of trick-or-treaters, and spooky decorations galore. My family and I love to join in on the fun with our own outdoor decor such as dollar store witches brewing up trouble around a bubbling cauldron, spiders spinning sticky webs, and ghostly green eyeballs scattered about. The interior also gets a frightful makeover with black fabrics, webs, and things that go bump in the night.
However, this year my home improvement projects are thwarting my Halloween spirit. We’re having some much-needed stucco repair work done along with a full exterior paint job. The responsible homeowner side of me knows this needs to get done ASAP, especially with El Niño bringing extra rainfall this season. But the Halloween lover inside is crushed to think of postponing the decorative fun until November.
So now I’m on a mission to find the perfect compromise between home repairs and Halloween magic. Here are some ideas I’ve come up with to make it work:
- Ask the repair crew to paint the house a creepy dark color for the season
- Strategically place lighter decor pieces that can be moved easily
- Stick to indoor decorating in areas away from their work
- Plan an epic indoor Halloween party to make up for lack of outdoor fun
- Get creative by using projection lights or window clings for ghostly effects
- Place a sign explaining the construction chaos is part of the Halloween vibe
If you have any other suggestions, I’m all ears! I refuse to let home repairs completely ruin Halloween this year. Perhaps with some flexibility and creativity, I can find a way to balance both seasonal joy and home maintenance. This determined Halloween lover isn’t giving up without a fight.