Sophisticated + Modern Halloween Ideas

Oh Halloween, ghosts, creepy creatures, haunted houses and endless sweets. While kids dress up to trick-or-treat, us adults can join in the fun too. There are grand costume parties to attend or you can host a small party at home with friends, my favorite way to celebrate. I’m not usually one for the guts and gore of Halloween, but more of the idea of dressing up and playing up the spooky mystery that the haunting night processes, without the classic bright orange and black decor either. Instead Halloween can be a sophisticated, chic and modern holiday. There are so many beautiful Halloween stylings that I just had to share my favorites with you. So if you don’t have any plans yet, call up a few friends and get inspired by these effortless ideas to create your own sophisticated Halloween get-together next Friday…

Moody hues, like black and gold feel entirely appropriate for the spookiest day. A gold candelabra feels eery for Halloween, especially when used with black candles. {image via Elle Decor} {image via Coco + Kelley}

Try to include as many black details as you can, like drinking glasses or dark flowers. I’m thinking black and gold is the new Halloween orange and black.
{image via Elle Decor}

Instead of commercial Halloween decor, add a more gothic feel with creatures of the night, like black crows or owls. Just don’t go overboard with them, or else you’re house might look like a haunted forest. {images via Elle Decor}

I do like spiderwebs when done subtly, they give a haunting factor when paired with sophisticated decor. Place it in certain areas throughout your party area, like the bar cart and around liquor vintage bottles for a haunted house feel. {image via The Happy Heathen} {fireplace image via Pop Sugar}

Even though it’s no longer spring, is no reason why you can draw inspiration from a dark and eery butterfly garden, and turn it into a mysterious and glam masquerade dinner party. Certain greenery can create that spooky forest feeling, I especially like fern for this effect. {image via Coco + Kelley}

My favorite sophisticated Halloween touch is using decorative skulls. Plus, most of us already have decor skull pieces in our home. {image via Pop Sugar}

Food is a great way to play up the creepy factor, but you don’t have to go over the top grotesque with fake fingers or green gooey puddings. Instead serve devilish food and drinks that ooze the Halloween spirit, like black pasta, white cupcakes adorned with spun sugar webs and spiders, or bright blood red candy apples. {image via Pop Sugar} {cupcake image via Donna Hay}

Dry ice is perfect for making drinks look extra spooky, but it must be used carefully since it cannot be consumed. It does look cool, just make sure it’s completed melted before anyone drinks it. Instead of using them in drinks, you can always be safe and fill cauldrons or vases with the dry ice to create smoking pillars on a buffet spread.
{first image via Sugar and Charm}

Replace the black cauldron and use a clear skull-shaped punch bowl to set the mood. And in lieu of plastic serving ware, use pieces that evoke the sinister mood of Halloween, either by color or material. {image via Design Love Fest}