Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year for most people but it also has the potential for being a scarily dangerous time as well. With low lighting, lots of decorations and all activity happening at night, it’s more crucial than ever to be careful when you’re trick or treating and also when you’re decorating. To make your Halloween as stress-free as possible, we’ve compiled some suggestions that you can take to have an eerie Halloween without compromising safety and of course, your budget!
1. Colors
The most effective way to create a creepy outdoor atmosphere is to play with lightbulb colors. While many people will opt for black lights, that’s not actually the best option for putting a mystical glow over your yard or porch. Do as the professionals go and choose dark blue lights instead. It gives enough light for trick or treaters to see without compromising the scariness of being under a blue glow.
Try to stay away from strobe lights as they are very aggressive for trick or treaters with health issues and even give headaches to those who are at the peak of their health. Instead, go for lights that flicker at slower, random intervals. This ensures you get the sinister effect that comes with flickering lights but still hold onto the safety that will ensure everyone has a great night.
Another easy way to cast a supernatural look across your yard is to replace garden lights with different colored porch lights. With just about every color option available, you can go for a single color across the board or randomize the colors to keep things interesting.
2. Home automation
For those with home automation, there are even more options to play with lights both inside and outside your home. You can program your lights inside to create a “haunted mansion” for the night with flashing lights going throughout the home or lights programmed to shut off at random intervals. This could be a perfect solution for those who would rather stay in and hand out candy.
You can also program your porch lights to flash when trick or treaters step onto the porch to give them a rush of excitement before getting their share of candy. It’s also possible to time your flickering lights to match when trick or treaters press the doorbell. If you have any questions about that, don’t be afraid to give us a call and we can work towards a solution to give you the best halloween decorations.
3. Lighting alternatives
There’s also unconventional ways to use light for your decorations. For example, your christmas lights don’t have to stay in the garage all year except for the few weeks of the holidays. Bundle up your lights and light up your ghost’s, ghoul’s and witch’s heads to add an eerie aura around them.
If you live in an area full of little trick or treaters, opting out of using candles in pumpkins might be a good idea. Instead, electronic candles and flickering orange lights can provide the same effect a candle can without the risk of causing a potentially dangerous situation.
Safety should be at the top of everyone’s list no matter what the holiday because it could make the difference between having a great night and having a bad night. If you’re worried about any lights or electrical work that could be potentially hazardous, don’t hesitate to give us a call at Signature Electric!
Do you have other ideas on smart Halloween lighting? Let us know at @signaturemark!