A Comprehensive Guide to Hosting Sustainable Spooky Gatherings This Season
Photo by Philippa Rose-Tite on Unsplash
With Halloween right around the corner, it’s time to start planning one-of-a-kind celebrations that are sustainable and kind to the planet. Every year, Americans spend $2.36 billion on plastic decorations that end up in landfills. But by making eco-friendly choices, we can ensure Halloween is scary for all the right reasons. This comprehensive guide outlines creative ways to host Halloween gatherings by repurposing old items and opting for sustainable décor, food, and more.
Why You Should Consider Shopping Secondhand This Halloween
When you set out on your annual quest to transform your home into a haunted haven, resist the temptation of mass-produced party store fare and cheap plastic decor. Instead, source your decorations the eco-friendly way by shopping at secondhand shops, antique malls, thrift stores, and yard sales.
“We are veering away from ‘fast’ interiors and looking more to secondhand and vintage homewares to furnish and style our homes—we want to be saving the planet while at the same time creating spaces that reflect our individuality and personality,” says interior design expert Lisa Dawson. So, opting for used, vintage, and antique finds offers a spookier, more sustainable, and budget-friendly approach to decking out your home in sustainable Halloween splendor this year. From the inherently eerie ambiance of older items to the thrill of the hunt for unique décor, secondhand shopping is complete with advantages.
It’s More Sustainable
Choosing secondhand decorations doesn’t just save money; it conserves resources and reduces the environmental footprint of seasonal celebrations. The positive impact of embracing secondhand items can be profound.
As highlighted by ThredUp’s report, “If every consumer this year bought just one secondhand garment instead of a new one, it would lower CO2 emissions by more than 2 billion pounds, equal to taking 76 million cars off the road for a day, and save some 23 billion gallons of water and 4 billion kilowatt-hours of energy.” So, celebrate Halloween this year with an eco-friendly perspective and a nod to timeless design sustainability by minimizing waste and curbing excessive production.
It’s Spookier
The patina and faded grandeur of antique homewares instantly infuse your space with a deliciously creepy vibe. Dusty oil paintings create a disturbingly pastoral scene when hung in a cobwebbed corner. A vintage settee with cracked leather oozes ominous charm. Even a simple pewter candlestick takes on a sinister glow when placed just so.
It’s Unique
Today, about 61% of millennials attest that the allure of unique and stylish inventory drew their interest in used, vintage, or antique home furnishings. These vintage pieces empower shoppers to showcase their distinct style, curating spaces that resonate with personal flair. By repurposing and reusing, you’re preserving the environment and embracing a heritage of craftsmanship and individualism.
Secondhand shops are treasure troves where you can amass decorations with the wonderfully eccentric nature only found in older, used goods. No mass-produced item can replicate the strange, sad beauty of antiques. A cockeyed taxidermy mount, a faded beastly tapestry, a ceramic figurine with missing limbs, and endless other quirky décor finds will infuse your Halloween happenings with oddball charm.
It Saves Money
Simply put, “In most cases, vintage furniture costs up to 80% less, is better made, and is immediately available, bringing character, uniqueness, and style to a room,” according to Chairish co-founder and president Anna Brockway. Whether it’s that gilded mirror, velvet fainting couch, or stone gargoyle statue you need to set the scene for your Halloween celebration, these items might break the bank if purchased brand new.
Scouring thrift shops and yard sales allows you to swoop in on unique decorative finds at deliciously discounted prices. That gilded mirror, velvet fainting couch, or stone gargoyle statue would cost you a pretty penny and be purchased brand new, whereas secondhand shopping allows you to decorate on a budget.
Sustainable Home Décor
Decorating your home for Halloween in an eco-friendly way starts with what you already have on hand. Look for opportunities to give old items new life before purchasing anything new.
What to Look for Secondhand
Check thrift stores, garage sales, and online exchanges for used Halloween décor. This allows you to save money and stop perfectly good items from ending up in the trash. Secondhand shops are fantastic places to find unique Halloween costumes without breaking the bank, and you might even stumble upon a gem. Or get creative using repurposed finds to create your own costume.
Use old bedsheets to create the perfect ghost aesthetic, or turn an oversized button-down into a vampire cape. Distressed jeans and flannel can quickly become a cowboy costume. Always be on the lookout for hats, wigs, fabric scraps, face paint, and other valuable items that help bring your customer to life. You can create a fantastic costume with a bit of imagination without spending much.
Regarding décor, discarded old dolls, dusty antique portraits, and worn vintage furniture help add a creepy, haunted feel to your home. Search for a wicker basket to collect candy in, and watch out for candelabras, candleholders, and jars to add ambiance. Overall, shopping secondhand gives used goods another chance and promotes recycling.
Using Natural and Biodegradable Materials
When selecting new décor items, choose natural and biodegradable options that can be composted after use. Items made from hay, jute, seagrass, and recycled paper can enhance the Halloween mood without generating needless waste.
Celebrate Halloween by carving ambient Jack-o’-lanterns using real pumpkins bought from local farms. Their remains can be easily composted after the holiday. Use beeswax candles in candleholders instead of paraffin-based candles made from petroleum byproducts. And choose paper bunting and garlands over plastic versions that will only end up in the trash.
Upcycled and DIY Halloween Décor
Get creative by giving forgotten décor new life! “It’s so easy to take your fall décor and repurpose it for Halloween,” says expert Lucy Searle. “I usually go full force for fall, then slowly add Halloween decorations to my existing wreaths, pumpkins, etc.” Spray paint old frames black and add eerie silhouette portraits. Turn a broken mirror into a spooky magic mirror: Upcycle plastic bottles or damaged autumn pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns.
DIY projects allow you to customize decorations to your taste. Make papier-mâché skulls and creepy cloth out of old sheets. Knit spider web doilies for an ominous tablescape. Craft an easy homemade ghost out of cheesecloth and LED lights. The possibilities are endless when you use your imagination.
The most sustainable Halloween décor is the kind you make yourself from found objects and recycled materials. With a bit of creativity, you can craft decorations that are friendly for both the environment and your wallet.
Creating Balance with Thrifted Décor
When using a combination of store-bought, pre-loved, and handmade décor, the key is creating an intentionally eclectic look with visual balance. “I think keeping things simple can create more of an impact and a less fussy look for Halloween decorating,” says DIYer Jen Hadfield. Avoid a haphazard feel by thoughtfully curating and blending your assortment of Halloween decorations. Place new and thrifted items side-by-side to intermix modern with vintage. Use DIY touches to add handmade warmth and whimsy.
Cluster decorations in vignettes rather than sprinkling sparsely. Play with heights, scales, and color pairings to craft a layered, collected look. Edit any pieces that feel jarring or out of sync with your theme. It also helps to stand back and ensure your décor has a composed, inviting flow.
Furnishing Your Haunted Happenings
Furniture and seating arrangements are crucial to creating a spirited and welcoming ambiance when hosting haunted dinner parties and gatherings. Take an eco-friendly approach by repurposing flea market finds and getting creative in arranging seating to accommodate all your roaming spirits.
Seek Secondhand Seating with Character
Search local garage sales, estate sales, thrift shops, or online marketplaces to unearth unique or spooky chairs and benches with plenty of antiqued personality. Mismatched seating and varied silhouettes layered throughout your space add to the delightfully eccentric vibe.
Look for wooden chairs with flaking paint, wrought iron bistro sets, and vintage chaises with ornately carved frames. The peeling paint and distressed finishes of older furniture lend oodles of chipped charm, perfect for your haunted happenings.
Prioritize Comfortable Options
While you want seating with spooky vibes, ensure guests can gather comfortably amidst plush autumnal textures. To do so, source well-worn leather armchairs and antique wooden rockers for guests to curl up with spiced cider.
Try rolling out wool area rugs in faded jewel tones beneath seating areas. The play of light and shadow turns each cozy nook into an inviting autumnal cocoon. Consider placing aged trunks and woven baskets beside chairs to hold warming treats and flickering lanterns. Though the décor may be creepy, make sure the seating promotes lingering with lush coziness. With these tips, you can create a welcoming gathering space amidst the haunted ambiance.
Tablescapes with a Green Twist
The table is central for serving up Halloween treats and creating an atmospheric setting. Use eco-friendly dishes and repurposed décor items to set a “green scene” for your Halloween gathering.
Eco-Friendly Tableware and Cutlery Choices
Swap out single-use plasticware and paper plates for vintage dishware sourced secondhand. Mismatched plates, cutlery, and glassware found at estate sales, flea markets, and antique shops make for a delightfully creepy tablescape.
Mix and match silver plates engraved with initials, crystal goblets with etched stems, and antique teacups decorated with spiderwebs. The imperfections and tarnished patinas add ghostly character.
If you need compostable options, serve sustainable Halloween treats on tableware made from recycled bamboo fibers or palm leaves over plastic versions. Place vintage candlesticks in the table’s center to flicker ominously.
Centerpieces Using Repurposed Items
Decorate the table with creepy-cute centerpieces to delight guests. Reuse old cauldrons, candlesticks, pumpkin pails, or urns filled with seasonal flowers, Halloween candy, pinecones, and LED lights to create ambient mood lighting.
Upgrade thrifted glass or ceramic bowls by filling them with spiderwebs, strings of lights, and themed décor. Layer in candles or candelabras for flickering effects. Old books, potion bottles, and apothecary jars collected from garage sales make great decorative items, too.
Table Textures and Textiles
Add interest with table runners and overlays from old lace, burlap, velvet, or patterned fabrics. Choose textiles from natural fibers like cotton, jute, and sustainably sourced bamboo.
Hand stitch reused fabric strips together to make unique runners. “Scour the thrift shops for vintage fabric or tablecloths in Halloween colors and decorate your table ready for celebrations,” says Dawson. Play with unexpected pairings like lace and denim for a striking juxtaposition. Avoid plastic tablecloths and cheap polyester textiles that won’t decompose.
Go Green This Halloween
Hosting a green Halloween party has never been easier. With some creativity and resourcefulness, you can decorate, furnish, and set the scene for Halloween celebrations that generate less waste. Use what you already have on hand, source secondhand items, and choose eco-friendly Halloween decorations and supplies to reduce environmental impact.
Elevate Your Eco-Friendly Halloween with Kaiyo
At Kaiyo, our online secondhand furniture marketplace is dedicated to sustainability. We believe the frightful fun of Halloween shouldn’t come at the expense of the planet. That’s why we’re here to help elevate your haunted happenings through ethically sourced, reused décor.
Browse our wide selection of pre-owned furniture to discover one-of-a-kind pieces that lend creepy antique charm to your Halloween celebration this year. From hand-carved buffets to velvet chaise lounges, our vast inventory of vintage furniture will inspire distressingly delightful designs.
The best part is that you can decorate sustainably, knowing that every Kaiyo purchase powers our mission of building a circular economy. We plant a tree with every order. So, consider trick-or-treating amongst pre-loved Kaiyo furniture and decor this year so we can treat the earth kind, too!
