I have been so excited to share my Halloween tablescape with you. You would never guess that Halloween is my least favorite holiday!
When I was invited by the very talented Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate to participate in the Halloween Tablescape blog hop, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to challenge myself to do something out of my comfort zone! Oh, don’t get me wrong I love to create pretty tablescapes, but Halloween has just never been an occasion I really got excited about.
Since both my girls are adults now, it has been a long time since I did much more than carve a jack-o-lantern and hand out candy to the neighbourhood kids.
Of course as soon as I committed, I was excited to style a table that was both somewhat elegant yet dark and eerie at the same time. I knew I didn’t want to spend a ton of money since it is likely I wouldn’t use the same things again next year.
Believe it or not, it was a vase full of dead roses that I had set near the door to take to the compost bin (and forgot for two days as I walked by them a dozen times!) that set the theme for the entire tablescape!
Since I had absolutely no real Halloween decorations I headed to HomeSense and picked up 4 salad plates with sophisticated looking skulls and skeletons for just $4.99 each. I also bought 4 black/gray bamboo place mats at Kitchen Stuff Plus, but I will get a lot of use out of these.
On a trip to the thrift store I picked up a sliver gravy boat to use as a holder for a short pillar candle. Best of all, it was only $3 and I know it will come in handy to have an extra one on hand.
At the dollar store I found a long black fishnet, which I used for a table runner. It is a huge piece which allowed me to stretch it out in some places, yet scrunch it up in bunches in others. I also bought 2 headbands with felt black hats. A long skeleton arm complete with 5 tealights are perfect for the buffet.
The floral centrepiece is just weeds I gathered while on a walk with the dog. I gave them a light spray with black chalk paint. A few hydrangea blooms that have dried on the bush add just a hint of color.
The dead roses that set the vision for my table are placed above each plate. A lone pear sits beside a “poison” bottle borrowed from my friend Leslie. She also loaned me the cast iron crow that has its evil eye on a plate of dark purple grapes, blue cheese and figs.
I hit up my Mom’s family photo collection and pulled some spooky looking photos of our ancestors! I am sure they were all very lovely people, but really old photos all look just a bit sinister to me!
Homemade black candy apples are easy to make, and I gathered a couple of branches from the yard to use as sticks.
I have to admit I am pretty pleased with my Halloween tablescape since I haven’t really decorated for Halloween in years, and the last time I did decorate it was for kids! Not to mention I had nothing to start with but still spent only about $30 and have collected a few things that I can use all year long.
A few more pictures…..
A deep red Merlot fills a wine carafe and wine glasses, and is keeping with the dark, moody feel of the table.
An old tarnished silver mug and wine goblet I already had hold some dried Japanese Maple leafs and a tealight candle.
I have had so much fun putting together this Halloween Tablescape. Who knew I would like Halloween more as an adult than I did as a kid!
There is no telling what I will come up with next year!
I am not the only one in the Halloween spirit. Check out all the fabulous Halloween tablescape ideas that have been featured all week long!
Monday
Belle Blue Interiors
My Carolina Home
Home is Where the Boat Is
My Kentucky Living
Tuesday
Rattlebridge Farm
Corner of Plaid and Paisley
Hey Fitzy
Wednesday
Life and Linda
Me and My Captain
The Painted Apron
Thursday
The Sweet Sensations
Dining Delight
Celebrate & Decorate
Friday
Red Cottage Chronicles
B. Lovely Events
A casa di Bianca
Supper Table Talk
I am also joining the Hauntingly Beautiful Decor Halloween Link Party and you can too!”
Until next time…..
Ann Krucek says
You nailed the dark, erie, sinister look!!! I love, love, love the black candy apples with the sticks! The dead roses and weed centerpiece are the perfect touches to lend to its creepiness. Well done!
Maureen says
Thank you Ann! The candy apples were tasty too!!
Kari @ Me and My Captain says
What a great table Maureen! I love everything about it. The black candy apples are perfect as well as the dead flowers. How many times I have thrown out dead flowers with never a thought to use them in this type of tablescape! And the salad plates are new to me….haven’t seen them before. Our local HomeSense store leaves a lot to be desired. I have gone in twice and walked out wondering who would spend such high prices for so few items, (very few choices…nothing like Home Goods). It is more like a high end seasonal gift shop open only a few months of the year. How disappointing for locals. BUT, I will make one more trek to see if it has gotten better, you have given me hope and inspiration.
Your creativity is Genius! Love it. Great job!
Maureen says
Thanks so much Kari! It turned out to be a good thing that I forget to throw those roses out! We have a really fantastic HomeSense and I visit probably a little to often!! We don’t have Home Goods here, which might be a good thing 🙂
Tammy says
I am so glad you decided to participate in this blog hop. Your halloween table is one of my absolute favorites. The decor is simply perfection. A little bit of halloween creepiness with a little it of elegance! I love it!
Maureen says
Thank you so much Tammy! I am so glad I was able to get up and running again in time to participate. It is always so much fun and I get endless inspiration from everyone!
Linda says
Creepy and eerie tablescape. The dollar store provided you with some awesome accents. The black candy apples with stems is cool. Love the plates! A table that represents Halloween totally.
Rattlebridge Farm says
Oh, how elegant! I adore the story of your table, a sophisticated ghost story, one with great beauty and style. The candied apples and fruit tray are stunning additions. So many details to enjoy– the dishes, candlelight, centerpiece, chalkboard blank, and textures. So delighted to play with you–and what fun to dine here!
Mary says
So much spooky fun from the dried {dead} roses to skull plates and black candy apples! Truly eerie and elegant!
Carole @ From My Carolina Home says
You did great, those plates are really creepy! Halloween isn’t my favorite holiday either, but it is fun to pull together some things for a new look.
Lori says
Oh, I so enjoyed seeing your Halloween tablescape! Not only are all the trimmings on the table perfectly collected and arranged, but your photography captures the elegant eerie ambiance of it! I really like the addition of the dried roses and pears – for some reason, they make everything else on the table look even better. The hat idea is fantastic and the table runner makes a wonderful backdrop. Pinned and pinned!
Donna Bianca says
Your table looks like an Edgar Allan Poe’s Novel! Such a beautiful idea, love it
Shannon@Belle Bleu Interiors says
What an elegant and beautiful Halloween table! Your centerpiece is gorgeous, and those candy apples look just scrumptious. It has been so much fun blog hopping with you! Happy fall!!!
Chloe Crabtree says
What a perfectly spooky table you have set! I had spotted those same dishes at Home Goods, but they didn’t call my name or tug at my shopping cart hard enough to come home with me. Using those along with the little black hat, was genius! The dark fruits and wine add just the right elements to create the elegant by eerie table. The dried rose…fantastic! Thank you so much for being a part of the blog hop!
Jenna says
This is one of my favorite tables this week Maureen, I love your spooky elegance! The figs are wonderful and the candy apples are simply fabulous! I also love all the dried elements you used and the eclectic collection of things on the table, stunning!!!
Amber Ferguson says
I am absolutely in love with this post! WOW! I will be pinning nearly image. I found you on the Halloween tablescape hop and I would love if you would link up this post to Hauntinly Beautiful Decor Halloween Link Party so that I could feature you! Fantastic!
https://followtheyellowbrickhome.com/hauntingly-beautiful-decor-halloween-link-party-friday-features/
Also following you now on Instagram!!
Maureen says
Thanks a bunch! I will be sure to link up 🙂
Teresa says
I really enjoyed your post! The table was eery as though waiting for its spectral occupants to arrive. At the same time, you expected that it would be an elegant group that would appear.
Bliss says
Ohhhhhh….I love me some halloween, and your table looks marvelous!
Maureen says
Thanks a bunch!!
Lynn Spencer says
Hey Maureen…you absolutely must have a dinner party with that table all set…the food will be so easy since that table is so perfect. Thanks for all the great ideas. Like you, I used to go all out for Halloween but with one in college and the other a senior in HS…it’s fallen by the wayside. But your elegant table is making me rethink…maybe I do need to get back in the game…on a more grown up level.
Wishing you a fantastic day.
Hugs, Lynn
Maureen says
Thanks Lynn! I do think it is time for adults to enjoy some Halloween fun!
Laurie @ VinYet Etc. says
Wow, what a spectacular tablescape! Who knew a Halloween table could be so nice! All of your sinister & elegant touches were spot on and just the right amount of “dark & moody”!
Maureen says
Thank you Laurie! It sure was fun to put together!
Stacey says
I commented on Facebook that we used to always have friends over on Halloween night for dinner but I never did anything this neat. You outdid yourself and made Halloween just as fun for the adults as it is for the kids. 🙂
Maureen says
Thank you Stacey! This is the first time I ever considered doing something for the adults!!
maryjo materazo says
love this! you nailed it! xo- maryjo
Maureen says
Thank you!
FLORENCE @ VintageSouthernPicks says
This def looks eerie, so it fills the bill. Love those plates! And for someone who doesn’t like Halloween, you did great with all this decor! Booooooooooooo
Mary says
Maureen the title is so perfect. It is elegant and it has an underlying eeriness but without being scary.
Rhonda Hallstrom says
Oh Maureen, This is so beautiful but still so spooky! The carmel apples do the trick!
Maureen says
Thanks so much Rhonda!
Emily Miller says
Love the plates!! This Halloween tablescape is so fabulous ! the “death” theme is so unique!
Ashley p says
That’s awesome – I really like the plates.