Nothing quite sets the mood for a good horror movie like crashing thunder and zigzagging lightening! So what better way to set the mood for your Halloween party? Special lighting can really perk up your party and create a special spooky tone.

Candles
Candles are very atmospheric; what better for a derelict dungeon or haunted house than shadows cast by a flickering flame? Candles can be an inexpensive way to add dramatic effect to your gathering. Imagine: an old candelabra with black taper candles and a little spider webbing around the base (never near the flame!). Instant spookiness! Scatter an assortment of candles around your party space and you’ll definitely be on your way to a frighteningly good time!

  • Never leave candles burning unattended.
  • Keep all flames away from anything that could drop or fall onto them.
  • Always be watchful of little ones around candles.

Light Sets
You hang lights up at Christmas so why not Halloween? Orange and purple light sets are readily found at most discount stores around the holiday and they’re fairly inexpensive. Some Dollar Tree stores even have them, but they may not last from season to season. Some places like Michaels and Target even have lights in cool shapes, like skeletons and witch hats.

Glow In the Dark

  • Signs painted in glow-in-the-dark colors are especially fun at night.
  • Glow sticks have lots of uses around Halloween. Pop one in a pumpkin as a safer alternative to a candle, drop one in a punch bowl for an eerie effect (be sure to read any safety warnings first), or give them out as favors. Glow sticks can be found in lots of stores around Halloween.
  • Glow in the dark stars are cool any time of year but at Halloween they can really, well, glow! Decorate the ceilings and walls of your party space with them for a night time/out side feel or for a space-themed party. Do keep in mind though that they need to be subjected to light for a few hours before they’ll glow in the dark and that they show up best in dark or very dimly lit rooms. Packs of these stars are available in most discount stores (check the toy section) and some specialty stores like Spencer's.

Check out these links for some lighting ideas:
HalloweenLighting.net
Optifanatics