Top tips to turn your home into a Halloween wonderland

Every year, more trick-or-treaters are taking to the streets and more families are turning their homes into Halloween showcases.

And why not? Says Bunnings D.I.Y. expert and self-confessed Halloween fan Mitchell Mclean, it’s a lot of fun!

“For a lot of people, Halloween is about being part of the community,” Mitchell says.

“There's not a lot of other events out there, especially themed ones, where you can really do something that will bring together a whole street or even suburb.

“At Halloween you can build something that will open your home up to people you haven't met, start some conversations and just have fun!”

And whether you’re just putting up some simple decorations, going all out or D.I.Ying your own Halloween masterpiece, it’s easy to do.

Here’s Mitchell’s top tips for giving your home the creepiest of makeovers.

Start small

If you’re just starting your Halloween house, Mitchell says, don’t think you need to spend a lot of time – or money – to make an impression.

“Even if it's just one theme item to begin with, maybe a skeleton holding the lolly bowl, a couple of ghosts hanging from a tree or a spider at the gate, it shows you’re taking part,” he says, “and then you can build from that.”

Add a little D.I.Y. graveyard, Mitch says, get the family to join in and carve some pumpkins, then add a few Halloween solar lights to show it all off at night and you’re well on your way.

“Just a few items and a bit of imagination and all of a sudden you've got a pretty good theme going on which doesn't cost the Earth,” he says.

“And the solar lights are great because there’s no wiring for kids to trip on when they come to visit and they don’t cost anything to run!”

The perfect project

If you want to take your Halloween display to the next level – and give it your own personal touch – Bunnings has got you covered. “There’s a lot of D.I.Y. things you can do to really make a difference, “Mitchell says.

“A bit of scrap timber can become a headstone, some leftover cardboard boxes (ask at your local store) can be turned into a gang of ghosts and some scrap pallets can easily be turned into a maze.

“Add some low-cost spiderwebs and a few surprise features like witches and skulls and you’ve got a great project for whoever is handy in the house that adds a whole new level of interaction for visitors.

“It’s all about the fun, so make your house as much fun as possible!”

Go large!

And if you REALLY want to turn your home into a spooktacular vision, go for it, Mitchell says.

“Some streets get right into Halloween and it becomes a focus for visitors driving in from all around, he says.

There are loads of creatures, ghouls, spooks and more you can buy, from tiny spiders to giant inflatable monsters and they’ll all give years of use.

“And if you want your house to stand out, think about light, sound and movement,” Mitchell says.

“The solar lights already mentioned will definitely highlight your creepy creations, but think about festoon lights, coloured spotlights and more.

“A fan behind the spiderwebs and ghostly sheets will make them move and a low-cost blue-tooth speaker playing a spooky soundtrack (check your favourite steaming service for a playlist) will really take things to the next level.

The sky’s the limit

With so much on offer and so many possibilities, the only real limit is your imagination this Halloween … and it’s a collection that you can keep on growing.

“Just like Christmas displays that start small and end up taking over the front yard, Halloween is a time to put your personal stamp on the street, show everyone who you are and invite people into your home for that bonding moment in the community.”