Throwing a Halloween Party? Start With These

Hosting doesn't require going all-out on decor. A few well-chosen pieces do more for the room than a full haul of one-off props, and it's worth keeping a couple of backups on hand for guests who show up under-prepared.

Dress the table, not just the room

The table gets more attention than most hosts expect, especially once food is out. Simple character centerpieces dress up a spread for very little cost and take up almost no storage space afterward.

Set up a makeup station

If your guest list includes anyone doing their own effects makeup, a shared professional SFX makeup kit from Mehron is worth having on the table before people arrive — it turns "I didn't have time to finish my costume" into a five-minute fix, and one kit covers a whole group instead of everyone buying their own.

Keep a backup accessory in the drawer

There's always at least one guest who shows up without a costume. A pair of realistic Dracula fangs is cheap enough to keep on hand as a grab-and-go fix — it takes a plain black outfit from "didn't dress up" to "came as a vampire" with zero notice.

If you're hosting, dress the part

A host costume that doesn't need touch-ups through the night is worth more than one that looks better in photos. A one-piece bleeding Ghost Face costume stays put while you're moving around greeting people and refilling snacks, which matters more than it sounds like at 11pm.