5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying New Halloween Decor (Don’t Be Code Orange’s Next Victim)
* Picks up CB radio *
Attention, Halloween lovers. We’ve got a Code Orange happening at most stores right now. That’s a code orange happening at most stores right now - over.
It’s mid July, which means we’re in the heart of Summerween, and Halloween decor is hitting the shelves. The TikTok hauls are flooding in, which means you’ve already been influenced to go buy new things. You’re itching to go shop the latest collections at Michaels, Bath & Body Works, Marshalls, etc. You’ve been hypnotized, and you don’t even realize it.
There’s nothing wrong with doing a little holiday shopping, BUT before you turn into a complete consumer zombie, ask yourself these 5 questions:
IS IT CONSUMABLE?
Consumable products are almost always okay to buy, in my opinion, but don’t go crazy. This is me giving you official permission to get those cute candles and soaps. Why? Because soaps and candles will actually get used, and have a purpose in your home. We don’t believe in saving the good candles for a special occasion, so buy them, use them, have fun.
IS IT GOOD QUALITY?
What does “good quality” mean? The definition will be different depending on who you ask. Will it stand the test of time? Just like a vampire, we want our Halloween decor to live forever, not just a couple of seasons.
One reason I love thrifting holiday decor is because vintage pieces have already proven that they can stand the test of time. They often made things using higher quality materials back then, and you know those items are going to last years longer than something you buy at the dollar store. Is it well made? Does it have a clean paint job and no visible glue, or was it just thrown together?
Lower quality items are often comprised of a paper layer over pressboard. Overtime, the paper might peel and crack. Hand painted items that are painted well, are a much better choice, and will last a lot longer.
I cringe when I see wall signs that have that thick scratchy twine stapled to the back of it. Low quality signs always have twine instead of fabric or ribbon. As you curate your collection, you’ll begin to recognize high quality vs low.
IS IT A PASSING TREND?
If you’re building a collection of decor to last a lifetime, you can’t buy into every trend that crosses your screen. There will always be influencers yelling at you to “RUN DON’T WALK” (can we just get rid of that saying?) to the nearest store to grab whatever new hot items are trending.
There are some cute and classic decor choices that pop up occasioanlly, and if they’re good quality and fit your aesthetic, go for it. Just make sure you’re really taking stock of what you already have, and what pieces you need to enhance your existing collection. I say this as someone who bought into the Rae Dunn craze of 2016-2018, so believe me when I say, I’ve been in the trenches and I know what I’m talking about.
DOES IT MATCH MY CURRENT HALLOWEEN DECOR?
I know it can be tempting to buy something just because everyone else is screaming that you NEED it, but does it actually go with your current decor? When you’re curating a collection to use year after year, it’s important to make sure the things you buy actually go well together. Don’t buy the viral pink ghost blanket just because everyone else is, if the rest of your decor is orange and black. I know it can be a big dopamine hit to find something everyone else wants, but you don’t need it.
DO I HAVE A SPOT FOR THIS?
If you can’t think of a single wall to hang that giant “psychic readings” sign on, you probably don’t need to buy it. It’s normal to move things around year after year, so you don’t necessarily need to think of one static spot to put something, but you should have a general idea of where it can go. I constantly see posts from people asking “how is everyone displaying this?” or “any ideas of what I can do with this?” If you have to ask those questions, maybe it’s not something you should be buying. I say this as someone with way too many plug in jack-o-lanterns, but I promise, I have a spot for all of them.
Have fun! Remember, it’s so much better to buy unique pieces that you curate for your own home, as opposed to the same thing everyone else is buying. We can’t wait to see what you find!
Special note: At Merrymake, we don’t believe in using AI for writing blog posts, so all of our posts are 100% written by the author. Yes, we really are just that witty.