Halloween Decor: Framed Black and White Photos and Art
The outside of your house is all nice and spooky... but, um, I'm not feelin' it with that inside decor. I think your walls could use a bit of help...
I adore classic, vintage, and goth styles of Halloween decor and am a great admirer of black and white photography. Put these loves together and you have concocted a style that offers up the perfect ambiance to a favorite fall holiday. Some words of advice: Never never forget about your walls.
On the decorative side, the idea of adding black and white vintage Halloween photos to your decor, offers a wonderful dimension to festivities. Let's look at color pallet. The six main colors of Halloween are •black •white •grey •orange •green •and purple. So you really can't go wrong with black and white photos.
They can replace photos and paintings you may already have on your walls, mantels, stairwells, hallways. Very large or poster sized ones can even be leaned against open wall spaces. You can display many or just a few. They can be a main part of your Halloween decor, or serve as a backdrop. They can be draped in cobwebs and spiders or banners and streamers. Smaller, framed, black and white Halloween photos can even be set up strategically on your buffet amongst spooky punch bowls, ewy-gooey cupcakes, and wormy sugary treats. The choice is yours.
What photos work best?
Not spooky enough? Cut out the eyes and place a blank white paper behind them for an eery effect to an otherwise normal photograph of you and your cat.
Well, that's up to you. There are so many choices, from photos you have taken, to black and white vintage-style Halloween posters you may find. It could be especially fun to use personal photos of you, family or friends, "passed" or present dressed in Halloween costumes, or not (as some really do look spooky just as they are).
With digital photography the way it is now, and with all the software available to transform the look of a photo, you can even turn a pleasant colorful pumpkin-picking-in-the-sunshine photo into a black, white, and grey, spooky and ominous delight. You can even request that your color photos be printed up in black and white from just about any photo print shop. Take photos of:
• pumpkins • Halloween decor pieces - individual or together • an off angle close up of wooden porch steps (preferably peeling) • a run down house • the moon through the trees.
Whatever your choice, be creative, take loads of photos, crop away, use what works.
Of course your photos don't have to be vintage, or even have a vintage feel to them. But I have to say vintage spookiness can be quite fun to decorate with.
Some other great framed and spooky Wall ideas
A fabulous idea from Pottery Barn. verlap your Black and white photos for a spooky look.
imple black and white printouts or illustrated pages from vintage books can be clipped to rods on stairwell walls.
You can purchase fabulous photographs like these from artists/photographers at places like Etsy. Take this "Halloween Moon Photography 8x10, Black and White Night Sky Print, Surreal Tree Photo, Spooky Wall Art, Titanium Gray Decor". Photographers like Elizabeth Urquhart will offer any print in a variety of sizes, including 20x30.
Black construction paper or felt silhouettes of a pumpkin, a witch, a cat, a skull. on a framed newspaper background, and voila, perfect for the mantel.
This do it yourself black and white Halloween project from Life in the Fun Lane serves as a fabulous example of what you can do for an entryway or other odd space.
Creating a spiderweb backdrop for old photos (unframed in this case works best because of the weight) is a perfect idea and allows for a few smaller photos to make a larger statement.
The only thing missing from these white shutter and window frames is some black and white Halloween photos and art. But it's a great idea for re-purposing and adds nice eye catching depth, texture, and character to your spooky decor.
Shadow boxes work just as well as photos, though are probably more expensive to create. You can always take a photo of Halloween trinkets and objects like these against a white or black background for the same effect.
A gallery of classic vintage monsters - black and white printouts you can make yourself.
Spooky silhouettes on newspaper with a touch of Halloween colored ribbon. Perfect.
Spooky black and white murals (like this one from Pottery Barn) or wallpaper as your main Halloween decor for a room can be a far out use of a photograph.
Have a favorite idea? Let us know in the comments below. Or e-mail us your photos.