Halloween is a holiday of excess: gluttonous portions of candy, over-the-top costumes, and, of course, a multitude of glowing, spinning and cackling decorations. There is a way, however, to get into the spooky spirit with items that complement, rather than clash, with your existing decor. Here’s a roundup of finds that are ghoulish without being garish.
Orange crush
It’s a subtle nod to the season, but the orange wool grass pillow adds a punch of Halloween’s orange and black without overdoing it. The pillow is a part of the local Agnes & Hoss line and measures 19 inches with a silk front panel, faux suede back pane and hidden zipper.
Cost: $173
Design Shoppe, 2009 N. Fremont St., 773-883-6004. www.designshoppechicago.com.
Creep couture
If there is such a thing as “classy creepy,” this mug achieves it. The Black Beetle earthenware mug from designer Laura Zindel has a milky white exterior with a detailed scarab that imitates a charcoal drawing. The line also includes vases and teacups with drawings of monarchs, stick bugs, ants and other insects.
Cost: $38
Virtu, 2034 N. Damen Ave., 773-235-3790. www.virtuchicago.com
Topi-scary
These offbeat takes on the classic topiary add an understated touch of Halloween to the garden. The topiaries are not strung with lights, so they are intended for daytime rather than nighttime fright. The cat, bat, and spider are all made from ivy strung over a wire shape; the ivy is planted in soil and moss for indoor or outdoor use.
Cost: $69 for bat and spider, $89 for cat
Smith & Hawken; call 800-940-1170 for store locations. www.smithandhawken.com
Floral derangement
Swap out those bright, colorful bouquets with something more appropriate for the season: long-stemmed black roses. The decidedly dark arrangement comes, of course, in an unlucky grouping of 13. The blooms are crafted from nylon with plastic green stems, so they can be re-used next year as well.
Cost: $19, plus delivery
Grand In Road, 800-533-7502. www.grandinroad.com
Gourd-geous
Each of these ceramic gourd tureens is handcrafted, so they vary subtly based on the artist. The harvest-inspired designs can stay on the table through Thanksgiving as candy dishes, soup bowls or centerpieces. Sizes vary; the cream-colored gourd measures about 6 inches in diameter, while the striped squash measures 5 inches in diameter.
Cost: $38
P.O.S.H., 613 N. State St., 312-280-1602. www.poshchicago.com
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