eremedies

The makings of a spooky Halloween home

If you want to turn your house from terrific to terrifying for Halloween, you need a few basics, but that doesn't mean your haunted haunt will be ghastly instead of ghostly.

* Start with the right lighting - dim lights or nightlights set the mood. Plug them in or use your Christmas lights indoors, then cover them with sheets. You can also get a black light for that luminous, scary effect.

* Dress the part. A great costume is necessary to pull off the right effect. Rent one from a store or make your own - the makeup you do in the mirror can make almost any outfit convincing.

* Use the element of surprise. Put things (or people) that will pop out in unexpected places, like when people head to the bathroom or hang up their coats.

* Instead of trite skeletons and cobwebs, try other scary themes. What could be scarier than a house that appears to be falling apart around you or the sudden appearance of a thunderstorm or earthquake - indoors! Maybe you can think of a few more ideas of your own and make this Halloween truly spooky!