Halloween Lights

When planning a Halloween party, what’s the one thing that has to be absolutely perfect for everything else to be effective? Lighting. Whether creepy, fun or geared toward a theme, imaginative use of lights will have guests dying to come back. Here are tips for setting the right mood.

Outdoor Lighting

As guests arrive at the start of the night, the proper lighting of lawn decorations and outside props is important. Too much light, and the atmosphere is not properly scary. Too little, and the guests won’t be able to admire the props.

Colored Lights

Rather than use normal bulbs for flood lights, purchase blue, orange, red or green colored bulbs. These give a spooky effect, especially if combined with a fog machine. Take care to camouflage them.

Blue – Use especially for anything ghostly, such as a cemetery, and displays of ghosts and ghouls.

Red – Goes well with devilish themes, witches or vampires.

Green – Gives alien themes or props an eerie, not-from-this world glow.

Amber – Highlights pumpkin patches.

Angles

Do not simply shine the lights directly on props. Use different angles and back lighting to create shadows. If trees are available, set a light in it and point down on the scene. In a cemetery setting, a light might be placed behind one of the tombstones.

Strobe Lights

They can disorient, and, if used properly, will make stationary objects appear to be moving.

Rope Lights

These can be strung to highlight a pathway, or porch entrance, for guests or around the outside of a scene, providing a little extra illumination to a certain area.

Solar Lights

The glow from everyday solar lights can add to the ambience.

Indoor Lighting

It can be difficult to balance between dark enough to set the scene and making it impossible for guests to find their way around. These tricks can help.

Black lights

Florescent tube black lights can be used in darkened areas to give off some light with a spooky, purplish tinge. Also, by using neon chalk or paint, arrows or other markings can be used to show the way to areas of the party, or to display creepy messages. Parts of indoor props can also be painted with neon glow paint to illuminate them.

Colored Bulbs

Put them into normal fixtures in certain areas, including the bathroom, to provide light while maintaining the setting. Red is always a good one to use because of the devilish connotations. Blue and green bulbs are another option.

SpecialtyLights

Strings of lights in Halloween colors can be hung around the party or in windows to highlight decor, but there are also strings of illuminated spiders, skeletons and pumpkins, just to name a few, available. Small, battery-operated LEDs can be used as creatures’ eyes.

The right lighting at a Halloween party can make the props, decorations, sound effects and music all the more creepy. Using these tips, and some imagination, will ensure guests have a frightfully good time.