Welcome to the second part of my series on spooky season decor! If you haven’t read part one, be sure to do so first for more tips and tricks!

Avoid The Games

So many people are apprehensive to ask others where they purchased their pieces of decor, especially online! I say go ahead and ask someone if it’s not an item you can find yourself. I have so many attractive pieces in my home that I love and never would have if I didn’t ask someone where they could be found. A quick, gracious message never hurts anyone and you won’t have to play the guessing game, or worse… the can't-find-it game.

Don’t Fear The Thrift

When I was younger and severely unaware of budgeting, I never considered thrift, antique, and consignment stores to be a source for great decorating. Now, they’re my go-to when I’m looking for something to give my home spaces unique character. I’m not above houseware basics, but I use them to supplement my one-of-a-kind items. Antique stores are not only awesome places to find a deal, but they almost always have something older and spooky that you won’t find in a Target. Plus, there’s always a chance you’ll hit the jackpot and bring home a haunted piece…

It’s All A WIP

One of the biggest mistakes I made as a homeowner was expecting to decorate my entire house from top to bottom. Quickly learning that was impractical and, quite frankly, impossible, I embraced the accumulation process. Decorating takes time, especially if you are looking to turn your blank canvas into a creepy canvas. I keep my budget in mind, splurge on the rare items once in a while (when I can), and purchase over time. The days just before and after Halloween are some of the best times to take advantage of clearance sales at their highest and stock up for the following year!

Until next Halloween, thank you for reading — stay safe and spooky.

Your Accursed Librarian, Jessica.

Welcome to the first part of a two-piece series with some decorating tips for the Halloween season.

I love to share the inside of my home on social media with friends, especially on Instagram. Being extremely visual, the space I surround myself in has to be particularly aesthetic, and reflect what I find appealing. While I wish I had my mother’s eye and knack for decorating quickly and painlessly, I’ve found that gradually tailoring the inside of my home to make me happy has created the best environment I could dream of over time and… it’s an ironically scary house all year long. I’m far from an interior design expert, but if you want some of my advice on how to turn a regular home into a spooky space, follow these simple tips:

Make It You

While the majority of people bust out the ghosts and pumpkins once October draws near, they’re annual fixtures in my house. Though I do have my designated Halloween decor (and a specific room for all of my horror goodies and paraphernalia), I decided that I would decorate my home interior exactly as I wanted it: spooky. I think the most important part of choosing your kind of look is to go with a theme you want to live in all the time. For example, I love a good gothic, vintage horror look so I was sure to stock up on tapered candles, aged hardcovers, bats and skulls of all kinds, witchy-inspired pieces, and all the dark furniture I could find when I decorated my living room. Make your house part of you!

Make A Statement

I go weak in the knees for statement pieces. I can’t tell you exactly what kind of statement pieces I love because they’re so eclectic, but I enjoy having a conversation starter in each room of my house. Whether it’s the dark horse painting in my living room that I am slowly putting together with a The Ring theme in mind, a standout headless horseman statue I have in the center of my kitchen table, a big ceramic hare and Xenomorph cookie jar I have on my kitchen counter, or a giant wooden skull candelabra I keep at the front of my fireplace, I always have something noticeable in each room that represents the things I love.

Support Small Shops

Like the local antique and thrift markets in my area, I find the best pieces from small businesses that I follow online. I spend a lot of my time on social media looking for inspiring artists, crafters, and sellers of all sorts to curate house decorations that are truly special. A lot of the time when it comes to purchasing from a small business, you’re receiving something limited in quantity but not in quality. There are so many talented creators out there so I follow accounts, favorite shops on Etsy, put together design boards, and always keep an eye open for things that grab my attention. (Let me know if you want the list, and I’ll share in a later post!)

On that note, thank you for reading; stay tuned for part two!

Your Accursed Librarian, Jessica Rose