As much fun as Halloween parties are, they can also be a bit stale if you’ve been to a lot of parties. Fortunately, people are finding ways to get creative when it comes to celebrating the spooky season. If you want to throw a fun Halloween party this year, here are some creative ideas to help you out.

1. Use Lighting

Lighting is a great way to spice up a party, especially a dark Halloween party. If you want to get creative with your Halloween party, try adding some string lights and other subtle lighting around your home or the venue you’re setting up in. You can even choose Halloween-themed lights to set the mood for the party even more.

2. Make Spooky Treats

If there’s one thing people love during Halloween, it’s a good spooky snack or beverage. You can find lots of Halloween recipes online, whether you want to make alcoholic beverages, cookies, or another Halloween treat. If you’re going to make treats and drinks, just make sure you make enough so that everybody can try one.

3. Step Up Your Costume

Costumes are one of the most important parts of a good Halloween party, so make sure you’ve got a costume that will wow your guests. You can find excellent selections of Halloween costumes for men and women online, with everything from celebrity costumes to couple’s costumes and more. If you’re going to be hosting a party, you need to make sure your costume stands out.

4. Spooky Greetings

First impressions are always important, so make a good first impression with partygoers by giving them a spooky greeting when they arrive. You can scrawl a message on the wall in fake blood or leave a message in slime on the front door. No matter how you choose to greet your guests, a spooky greeting is a great way to start your Halloween party off right, so give it a try.

5. Create a Photo Backdrop

These days, taking pictures at parties is one of the main events. Give your guests a special place to take photos for social media by creating a photo backdrop on one of the walls. You can go any route you want for your photo backdrop, from spooky spider-webs to a fun, decorative Happy Halloween sign. You can even have a sign custom-made for you if you want to commemorate your party.

6. Halloween Music

Music is a big aspect of parties, whether you’re at a birthday party, a graduation celebration, or a Halloween costume party. This Halloween, make sure you set the mood for guests by playing a Halloween playlist. If your friends don’t want to listen to music with a Halloween theme, you can have them choose some of their favorite songs and artists for you to include in the playlist.

7. Hold a Costume Contest

Dressing up is one of the biggest parts of Halloween, so make costumes a focal point by holding a costume contest at your party. You can choose a few judges or let the whole party judge, but the important part is that you have fun with it. You don’t want to make anybody feel bad about their costume, but it’s nice to highlight some of the most creative costumes. You can even give out a small prize for the winner of the costume competition.

There are so many things to consider when you’re throwing a Halloween party, from the guest list to the venue, food, and more. If you’re planning a Halloween party, make sure you start preparing early. The earlier you start planning your party, the better it will be. Use the tips above to help you. Happy hauntings!