About the author: My name is Sophie Layton, and I’m an MA International Public & Political Communication and BSc Biology graduate from the University of Sheffield. I am currently the Digital Media Officer for the Student Publication Association & Newsletter Editor for the Essex International Jamboree. I am also the former Managing Editor of WILD Magazine, former Editor of Ed Fringe Review, and former Arts & Theatre Editor of Forge Press. I am also the Digital Media Officer for the Student Publication Association.
Halloween is upon us! Here are our tips for celebrating in style and getting your (haunted) house truly ready for the spooky season!
From the second the first semester starts, there is one holiday on everyone’s lips. As the clocks go back and Halloween is now on our doorstep, it’s time to bring out the decorations and let the darkness take hold! But how can you make sure that you’re not damning your future self? With four university Halloweens under my belt, here are my top tips on how to decorate your house for Halloween – without losing your deposit.
Halloween is a great opportunity to let your creative flair show, but it’s important to make sure that everyone in your house is onside, especially if your decorations are likely to cause a fright! Before you crack open the toolbox (or indeed your purse), make sure to let your housemates know that you want to decorate and whether there’s anything particular you’re hoping to decorate with.
It’s a great way to avoid any unexpected frights, setting off unknown triggers, and may be a great way to recruit a few more helping hands to get your house sufficiently haunted in time for the spooky season. A perfect way to get along with your housemates!
The best part about hosting, and having the responsibility to decorate for Halloween, is that you know your house better than anyone; that dark corner behind the fridge that you’ve become accustomed to could be a great hiding spot for a spooky fright for those who are visiting for the first time.
Whether it’s built-in features, architectural quirks or just something unexpected, use your house’s character to enhance your decorative abilities, and you’ll find your living room being the talk of campus on November 1st!
Now for us Halloween lovers, we may wish the spooky season lasted all year round, but unfortunately, it does not – and you don’t want to be the one house that can’t move with the times! When you’re putting up your Halloween decorations, or any form of decorations, make sure the items you are using are temporary, removable and leave no marks, scratches, scrapes or unwanted residue.
Using a hot glue gun or epoxy resin might be the only thing to keep that awkward decoration flying above the hallway, but if midnight strikes and it can’t be removed without taking the ceiling with it, you might be paying for that trick with all your treats when you move out!
Making your decorations removable is key, but not all temporary fixings are made equal, and some might just leave you with a permanent memory of your decorative abilities, despite your best intentions.
Once you’ve consulted your contracts to see if there are any fixings that can’t be used (keep your nails, screws and blue tack away!), look for products that are in keeping with the wall texture and colour to help avoid a hefty fee later on. Consider trying white tack, Velcro fixings, or glue dots!
For the most creative amongst you, creating your own Halloween decorations is a chance to not only make a unique piece to adorn your student house, but also save some money in the meantime. Whether it’s a decoration or a homemade piece for your costume, make sure you’re crafting safely and responsibly.
Remember to use an ironing board when preparing your clothes, a safety mat for cutting and soldering, and newspaper or similar coverings if you’re cracking open some paint. Remember to follow all safety instructions for your chosen method of craft and keep an eye on your tools to avoid a burn mark on the carpet (or worse)!
When the big night comes along, and the menagerie of freaky faces begin to appear at the door, try to keep your dream from becoming a nightmare. Keep track of who’s coming and going and don’t over-invite; your house may look like the netherworld, but it’s still the same size!
Consider making your party invite-only, limiting plus-ones, and ensuring those who are coming don’t invite their entire courses. The whole city may be celebrating Halloween, but they don’t all need to be celebrating at your place!
Once everyone’s around, don’t forget to have fun! Halloween should be a holiday for you as well, but as the host, you need to make sure that you’re in for a thriller, not a fright. Remember to keep noise levels to a minimum (especially if you have neighbours), make sure everyone in the house knows roughly when people will be leaving and make sure people are taking care of your house whilst they’re in it – when it comes to moving out, it doesn’t matter if it was your course mate’s society friend who broke the door – you’ll be paying the bill, regardless of the arguments!
Halloween is an opportunity unlike any other to let your creative spirits (no pun intended) flow and the dark of night to take hold around the house. Be sure to decorate and celebrate responsibly, and it’ll be a night to remember, rather than one you’d rather forget!
Now that you know how to decorate your house for Halloween, it’s time to check another thing off your to-do list: paying the bills. If you’ve still not sorted out your bills or need a better way of paying them without any hassle, Split The Bills can help. We bundle up and divide utility bill payments between each housemate, so there’s no chasing and no joint liability. Get your quote today and have a spooktacular Halloween!
The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the Split The Bills Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Split The Bills. Split The Bills accepts no liability for the content of these Student Blogs.
Anticipating sharing a house for the first time? Browse this round-up of the different types of housemates you’ll meet at uni to best prepare yourself!
Anticipating sharing a house for the first time? Browse this round-up of the different types of housemates you’ll meet at uni to best prepare yourself!
Moved into a shared house? Browse these top tips on how to make a student house look homely on a budget.