Give Your Home A Seasonal Makeover, With Help From Your Favorite Halloween Movies
By Cait Munro, Refinery29
When we think about the concept of "decorating for Halloween," what comes to mind is mostly the scattering of kitschy pumpkins and stringy spiderwebs — stuff that was fun when we were kids, but that doesn't really suit our personal style right now. But Alessandra Wood, director of style for the interior design start-up Modsy and a design history PhD, has a very different vision for how to incorporate seasonal flair into the home.
Using the sets of Halloween classics like Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Rosemary’s Baby, Beetlejuice, and Stranger Things as inspiration, Wood created five rooms that we can easily draw inspiration from all year round. Sure, they have some decidedly theatrical elements — think Christmas lights used to communicate with the underworld and drippy candles worthy of IRL witches — but to be honest, we still wouldn't mind calling them home. Read on for how to get these freaky-chic looks for yourself.
When we think about the concept of "decorating for Halloween," what comes to mind is mostly the scattering of kitschy pumpkins and stringy spiderwebs — stuff that was fun when we were kids, but that doesn't really suit our personal style right now. But Alessandra Wood, director of style for the interior design start-up Modsy and a design history PhD, has a very different vision for how to incorporate seasonal flair into the home.
Using the sets of Halloween classics like Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Rosemary’s Baby, Beetlejuice, and Stranger Things as inspiration, Wood created five rooms that we can easily draw inspiration from all year round. Sure, they have some decidedly theatrical elements — think Christmas lights used to communicate with the underworld and drippy candles worthy of IRL witches — but to be honest, we still wouldn't mind calling them home. Read on for how to get these freaky-chic looks for yourself.
Beetlejuice
Fans of the 1988 flick, which stars Michael Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, and a young Winona Ryder, will immediately recognize the black-and-white motif from Beetlejuice's iconic striped suit driving the focus in this room.
"This space is truly a design for a contemporary enthusiast," says Wood. "The movie Beetlejuice embodied the trends of ‘80s design with loud statement pieces. We added plenty of plants to bring some life to the room and pay homage to the birds of paradise in the movie, as well as the odd house plants throughout The dining table and chairs are a modern interpretation of the movie’s concrete high-back chairs."
How To Get It
"Look for sleek pieces that have contemporary finishes (silver and glass coffee tables, minimal and sleek low-profile sofas, bold graphic patterns on decor pieces). Personally, we love the black and white armchair — it’s such a fun statement piece even if you’re not going for a black/white theme for the whole room," shares Wood.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Tim Burton's beloved animated film — which also doubles as a Christmas movie — follows the love story of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, and Sally, a human rag doll, as they attempt to introduce the foreign concept of Christmas to their town. Less scary than it is sweet, this room reflects the film's quirkiness through layered patterns and subtly offbeat details.
"Just like the movie, we wanted to incorporate spooky, whimsical elements with an eclectic twist. We chose a darker palette with purple accent walls for a true The Nightmare Before Christmas feel and layered bold black and white patterns with copper and gold accent pieces for a fresh take on those classic Halloween colors," explains Wood. "To pull the space together and really make you crave watching this flick are The Starry Night canvas from The Nightmare Before Christmas, light up spider webs, the spooky ghost mug, and a fir Christmas tree."
How To Get It
"Our number one piece of advice for those super fans out there who want to bring this movie home: don’t be afraid of mixing patterns, colors, and shapes!" notes Wood. "Also, try layering black and whites with bright colored furniture or go big and bold with a dark purple accent wall for a moody effect. Finally, work in some strong geometric lines juxtaposed with curved furniture pieces for an unexpected whimsical twist."
Rosemary's Baby
Among the scariest films in the canon, Rosemary's Baby, released in 1968, stars Mia Farrow as Rosemary, a woman who is raped by a demonic presence and later gives birth to its evil spawn. Yeah, not one for the faint of heart. And yet, Wood says, when you put aside the objectively horrifying plot, there's some serious design inspiration to be gained from the film.
"Despite the plot, we loved the overall styling and aesthetic of this movie," she says. "We took inspiration from the set and filming location. Shot in an authentic apartment building in NYC, the bones of Rosemary’s home were extremely beautiful and created a great canvas for almost any style interior, Rosemary decorated her apartment in a contemporary style for her day — the mid-twentieth-century — adding in eclectic details. The set designers paired shag rugs with comfortable sofas in deep colors such as olive and burnt ember."
How To Get It
"We’ve emulated the lighting in our shot to help create drama in our scene, something you can easily do at home," says Wood. "Look for authentic mid-century decor pieces such as lamps, side tables and chairs. Bring in cozy elements such as a shag rug or sheepskin throw and think about color from a naturalist perspective — earthy tones (olives, mustards, terracottas)."
Hocus Pocus
Is it even really October if you don't re-watch Hocus Pocus? The classic 1993 film, which stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters, three witches come back to life in Salem, Massachusetts, is the ultimate Halloween must-see. It's also, apparently, a great jumping-off point for designing a room that's both cozy and cool.
"Since Hocus Pocus takes place near Salem, Massachusetts, we really wanted to create a space that encapsulated the American Colonial aesthetic we see throughout the movie. The pieces in the room are inspired by early-American furniture and the room styling marries fairytales and the real world," shares Wood. "The warm color palette and dark woods pull from the moody elements of the Sanderson sisters’ cottage — but not as scary. We envisioned Max and Dani hanging out here on a cozy autumn afternoon with the fireplace going."
How To Get It
"There are some simple ways to incorporate our take on Hocus Pocus into your own home," Wood says. "Start by finding a few Americana pieces that normally the modernist in you ignore. Then bring in texture and accessories! Baskets, wreaths, candles — these pieces really complete the layered look. Try adding a statement wrought iron lighting piece — a moody chandelier, sconces, and table lamp help create a cottage aesthetic. Next, get comfortable with an earthy color palette to really set the mood."
Stranger Things
Despite being a TV show — and the newest item on this list — Netflix's Stranger Things has quickly created a nuanced and resonant visual language. From the iconic Christmas lights to the normcore aesthetic of the Wheeler home, Wood reflected the show's '80s-meets-2000s vibe in her design.
"We took design inspiration from the Wheeler house, a perfect 1980s home with an eclectic mix of the period’s staple pieces (slipcovers, anyone?). We also wanted to give the feeling as though the space had just been vacated by a group of rambunctious teenagers," she says. "The iconic string lights are an easy element to bring into any home and give you that retro vibe all year long, especially if you’re trying to communicate with someone in the underworld."
How To Get It
"Really want to lean into the ‘80s? Try adding a wallpaper like the one we selected and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back in time," Wood suggests. "While this look isn’t the most refined or glam style, it’s accessible and eclectic. Don’t be afraid to mix and match furniture and patterns. Shop around your local thrift store and garage sale for some one-of-a-kind gems to really tie the room together and make it feel effortless and collected."
See more at: Refinery29
