Apartment trick-or-treating can be just as exciting as trick-or-treating in a neighborhood. But how do we make our homes frighteningly friendly for apartment trick-or- treaters and land a spooky stop along the candy route? Follow these tips below to make your apartment trick-or-treat friendly this Halloween!
Bewitch Your Door
A well-lit and decorated door is the biggest indicator to kids trick-or-treating that you’re participating in the festivities, so you’ll want to go all out with your outdoor Halloween decor. There are many renter-friendly ways to deck out your door. You can stick to the classic fall wreath and pumpkin display, make your door haunting with fake cobwebs and spiders, or go for a cutesy fall theme. There are so many possibilities; look around for inspiration.
Give Off a Ghostly Glow
The universal sign for “no candy” is a dark home. Let your apartment community know you’re trick-or-treat friendly by making sure your front door is well-lit. Turn on any lights inside that are visible to the outside, switch on porch lights, or consider adding touches like spooky candles in windows or window decals. You can even go all out and switch your lightbulbs for orange and red lights for that extra spooky ambience. If you have no lights or windows around your front door to add to your Halloween decorations, consider adding a sign to your door letting trick-or-treaters know they can knock.
Create a Paranormal Playlist
Indoor Halloween decor doesn’t stop at pumpkins and leaf garland; it includes the atmosphere as well. Get the mood right in your apartment by curating the perfect playlist with all your favorite haunting hits. A spooky playlist paired with your candles and colorful lights will set the right mood for Halloween night.
Get Some Ghoulish Gourds
Sometimes tradition is best. Deck out your apartment with pumpkins, jack-o’-lanterns, and gourds. Whether you’re adding them to your indoor Halloween decor or your outdoor decor, you can never have too many pumpkins incorporated into your Halloween decorations. Like a lit porch light, a pumpkin on your stoop is the universal sign that you’re on candy duty.
Have a Haunted Hangout
The best way to show trick-or-treaters your place is open for business is to hang out and wave hello from your stoop. Even if you’re not hosting a party this year, have some fun and invite a few friends. Bring your jack-o'-lantern, a camping chair, a bowl of candy, a friend, and set up shop to welcome the trick-or-treaters and their parents as they stop by. You can even bring the party inside and watch a scary movie, bake some festive treats, and have fun handing out candy.
Stock Up on Spooky Sweets
You spent so much time perfecting your fall decor, getting your apartment ready for trick-or-treaters, and anticipating the big night; the last thing you want is to run out of candy. Ask your neighbors to see how much traffic to expect or try to remember how many trick-or-treaters you got last year. Give your best estimate and always buy an extra bag of candy. The worst thing that can happen is that you have an extra bag of sweets to enjoy!
Add a Bit of Trick to Your Treats
Get creative with how you hand out candy. Apartment communities have different looks and layouts. Think about where your front door is and what’s the best way to hand out candy. If your front door faces a road, it may make more sense to utilize the back entrance for trick-or-treaters. Maybe you live on the second story of a duplex-style apartment; you can get extra creative by using chalk to circle a spot on the ground and lower your basket of candy down with a string. Some apartments might share a central door to the outside, so if you’re on the first floor, handing out candy through the window might be best. Just because it’s traditional doesn’t mean you have to stick to front door trick-or-treating.
Channel Your Inner Monster
Most importantly, don’t forget to get into the spirit of Halloween with an amazing costume. Coordinate with your friends, your pet, your kids, or whoever to get into the spirit. There are so many fun costumes to DIY or buy. Have fun with it and don’t be afraid to get silly.
Hopefully these suggestions make your apartment the most coveted stop on the candy route this year. Happy Halloween to you and your apartment trick-or-treaters!
