Trading tips for dark displays and prop production.
#9358
Hi everyone,

N00b here! *waves* Also avid Halloween lover! I am posting here requesting help for, what else, decorating!

My SO and I are decorating our porch in the theme this year of a medieval torture chamber.

So far, we have bought a 72" wooden guillotine complete with severed head, a ball'n'chain replica with severed leg, some rats and cockroaches, a noose (which I hope to fit with a realistic skeleton) and a 'caged creature' thingy.

The problem is, we have no clue on how to decorate the railings of the porch. They look incredibly daity with the white lattice, that it would just ruin the whole image of a torture chamber. We went to a Halloween store and noticed they sold white gauze with 'bloody' handprints, some camouflage nets, and some weird gray/green gauze stuff. In either sense, it just didn't seem to work with the whole image.

Here are some photos of the porch for a reference.

Image Front view

Image Side view

Image View of side and door

Image View from street

We also have fairly "delicate" windows that I would like to have decorated as well, but keeping in theme with medieval torture chamber, I'm not sure which path to take.

Oh, here's a picture of the guillotine, just to brag. =D
Image
User avatar
By belli
#9362
First off, you have an awesome porch. Great Halloween decorating potential. I love homes with porches.

I saw these items online. They are plastic so you should be able to put them up with no harm from rain.

Stone Wall Roll
Image
http://www.buycostumes.com/Category/227 ... etail.aspx

This would be a cool door mat
Image
http://www.buycostumes.com/Category/227 ... etail.aspx

Door cover
Image
http://www.buycostumes.com/Category/227 ... etail.aspx

Dungeon dwellers
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http://www.buycostumes.com/Category/227 ... etail.aspx

Dungeon Scene
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http://www.buycostumes.com/Category/0/P ... etail.aspx
By GUS
#9363
Welcome, Noob! (me too) ...don't really see a problem with the porch, lights maybe?
Or you can buy sections of plastic graveyard railing that might suit you better.

black ripped cloth, severed bodyparts on chains hanging from the rail / head on a spike in the immediate vicinity will draw the visitors eye away from any thing you deem glaringly out of place, kds generally tend to simply be in awe of the spooky house!

(remember everything changes in the dark / gloom anyhow)

subtle coloured lighting / fog will bring atmosphere to the setting in general, so I think you are focusing too much on the rails.
I think with the approach & drop from the porch low lying fog/ smoke drifting at porch floor height & dripping over / off would be SO good & luckily (unlike me here in the uk) you guys have lots of access to the pick of the halloween decor crop)
some glowing leds behinf the porch lattice surround might help also (monster under the porch sort of thing, simple & cheap either as cheap flashers or fixed non blinking leds lights.
Sure some others will be along to suggest bits & pieces...

If you havent already been, go & introduce yourself in the introductions section!
cheers
Gus
User avatar
By bleedingglitter
#9370
Thanks for the tips you two!

Belli, I was definitely considering buying one of those stone-wall plastic wall covers, but wasn't sure if they would be water-proof/resistant or whatnot. Now I am seriously considering buying a set. I'd just have to punch some holes at the top and bottom, use some zip ties to attach it to the railing.

Super! Thanks!