DIY Haunted House
Halloween is right around the corner and if you have been wanting to do something to give your friends and neighbors a fright, then keep reading! We’ve got some spook-tacular ideas for turning your garage into a haunted house that you won’t want to miss.
Clean it out
The first step to creating a haunted house in your garage is to clean it out and make space. This is a great time to check out some of the overhead storage systems we mentioned in an earlier blog (pardon the shameless plug). Tidy up, sweep the floor, and if needed, move some of the larger items (think lawnmower) out until November 1. The goal here is to create the most space possible and to prevent guests from tripping over tools or garden supplies.
Spook It Up
Here’s the fun part, coming up with the plan and figuring out what kind of haunted house props you will use. Do you like super scary mazes where monsters and ghouls pop out of every corner? Or do you prefer a tamer spiderweb and blacklight haunted house? Maybe you want a movie or tv show themed haunted house.
Whatever you prefer, you can start off with covering up workbenches and shelving with black tarps or gardening fabric. Replace your overhead lights with blacklights or flicker bulbs. Synthetic spiderwebs come in a myriad of colors and stretch to fit any area. Spanish moss, white sheets, and tea-dipped cheesecloth will give it that someone-used-to-live-here-but-now-it’s-haunted vibe. Conceal any daylight by blacking out the windows with construction paper.
Depending on your budget, you can purchase a life-size Halloween fiend or make your own. There are so many to choose from— some light up, some make noise, and some jump at you when you least expect it. In this same vein, you can enlist a family member to dress like one of these creatures of the night to pop out at people and give them a good scare.
Don’t forget the floor and ceiling. Rats, mice, spiders, and bloody hand- or footprints will add to the horror. Hang bats from the ceiling just low enough to brush someone’s head and give them a scare. Blow in some fog to up the creepy-factor.
And of course, you need pumpkins or gourds of some sort. Carved as jack-o-lanterns or left as nature intended, nothing says Halloween quite like a pumpkin. You can stick with traditional orange, or paint them black or white to complete your scary ensemble. Fake pumpkins are great if you host a Halloween party year after year, and many of them can be carved just like the real thing.
Make Some Noise
One can’t make a haunted house on decorations alone. A chilling soundtrack will really set the mood and bring out the goosebumps. Bluetooth speakers in the corners of the garage will create an immersive experience for your guests. Think about the tone you want to set and go from there. Maybe you want to keep it light for younger guests or perhaps the adult-only crowd needs a scare. Not sure what to pick? A quick internet search will land loads of Halloween song lists– choose your favorite and set it on a loop.
Invite Your Friends
Now that you’ve completed your garage haunted house, you need suckers people for scaring. Plan a party for the weekend before trick-or-treating and invite friends and family. Have everyone bring a spooky snack or beverage to share. Then, if you made your garage a true house of horrors, tone it down (if needed) and get ready for the trick-or-treaters. You know how tame you need to be judging by the age and number of children in your neighborhood.
Halloween is a fun time of year for children and adults and a garage haunted house will bring everyone together. Be sure to have some candy on hand to give out, especially to the poor souls who may have found your haunted house a little too frightening!