Halloween is often brushed aside as a children’s holiday. Though as we get older it gives seems to give us license to be someone or something else for one evening.  As children, black and orange, witches and goblins, chocolate and lollipops are enough. For most adults, free candy is simply not reason to embrace the holiday.

This year take your typical garish and goolish fright-fest and turn it into an elegant and evil soiree.  A couple easy cocktails, festive hors d’oeuvres, and a lot of black fabric is all your need to turn your small space into a something far from friendly.

It Begins with an Invite

The devil is really in the details when throwing a successful party.  The tone and feeling of the event begins the moment guests receive an invitation.  You can always go the route of sending paper invitations, but evite.com and paperlesspost.com are easy, cost-effective and earth-friendly.  Each site has a number of Halloween-themed designs to choose from. Remember, this isn’t a child’s party.  Pick a theme that matches the scene you are trying to set.

Set the Scene

Halloween is all about over-the-top theatrics. Don’t be afraid to really play up the ambience. Here are some easy tips for creating the perfect Hallows Eve look:

• Use black as your base color and work from there, adding tiny pops of dark orange, white and gold.
• Purchase inexpensive black fabric from a craft store and use to cover table tops and wrap lamp shades for a dark and dramatic look.
• Place groupings of black taper candles along with smaller tea candles around the space. Use as a main source of light once the party begins.
• Create creepy tableaux out of old books, skulls, crystal balls and apothecary bottles filled with water and orange food coloring.
• Raid the party supply store for black leaf garland and cobwebs to drape over lamps, bookshelves and tables.
• Check out the local flower market for black tulips, burgundy calla lilies, and black roses. Use together in flower arrangements to place around.
• Turn on televisions and have old black and white films playing on mute.  Anything Hitchcock would work brilliantly.
• Create a spooky music mix with the help of one of I-Tunes pre-set playlists or pick your favorite Halloween jam and plug into Pandora.

What to serve

Let your menu take a cue from your setting.  Small bites, cocktails and devilish desserts are all your need to round out the evening. Here are a few menu suggestions:

Savory

Spicy Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Chicken Leg Lollipops

Skeleton Fingers

Roasted Potato Moons

Sweet

Monster Eyeballs

Brain Cookies

Bowls of Assorted Candy

Cocktails

Dark and Stormy

Blood Orange Martini