If you’ve always dreamed of living in Michael Myers’ house, have lusted after the colonial architecture of the Amityville Horror, or fancy living it up in the creepy old house oft-seen in Hammer Horror cinema, there has never been a better time to embrace your darker side. With a few minor changes, or a complete renovation, you could soon be enjoying the living room of your dreams…or nightmares. What better place to enjoy a horror film, after all?
Naturally Scary: Reorganising your Living Room
So, what makes your living room the perfect place to create your spooky snug? For starters, it’s the place we all naturally gravitate to when it comes to settling down in front of a good film; often housing the best television in the house, and with comfy sofas, it’s the ideal place to receive a good scare. More than that, though, your living room is a fantastic place to start if you’re thinking of redecorating your home with something scarier in mind. As understated or blood curdling as you fancy, your living room could soon resemble a horror movie set.
We all know that turning off the lights and pulling the curtains are a great start to any horror film night, but what else can you do to create the right atmosphere? Enjoying a good horror movie is about getting that adrenalin pumping, so ensure you’ve got a good surround sound system set up; what could be creepier than the rattle of chains, or heavy breathing, coming from…gulp… behind you? For this effect you’ll need to rearrange your living room furniture a little, ensuring that everybody can still see the television, while leaving room for floor-level, or wall-mounted, speakers. Having your sofas situated more centrally in your living room, if space allows, is also a fantastic way to feel a little more vulnerable while you’re screaming advice to the hapless victims on screen.
Oh, and lighting? Consider installing a dimmer switch so that you can crank up the atmosphere, fitting a vintage chandelier to inspire the feel of a haunted house, or go all out and shop for shutters that you can fix over your windows. Shutters will ensure all natural light is kept out, which is ideal for a movie marathon at any time of day. They’re also fantastically creepy, and the odd creak in the wind will only add to the scare factor.
Decorating and Accessorising your Spooky Snug
Once you’ve got the technicalities such as lighting and sound out of the way it’s time to go to town on your décor; think movie memorabilia, disturbingly charming accessories, and the odd blood red cushion… or two. Firstly, think about the look you’re creating. Is your devilishly gorgeous living room paying homage to a particular film or franchise, or are you hoping to celebrate blood and guts of every kind? If you’re leaning towards the latter settle for a generically spooky palette, featuring deep reds, purples, and blacks, with heavy fabrics to create the perfect ambience. If you’d like the choice of lightening the mood every now and again, choose a neutral scheme for your walls, and introduce ghoulish accessories or a feature wall to tie the theme together.
Movie posters always work really well if you’re attempting to recreate your own slice of cinema history, while movie props and merchandise can draw the eye, as well as creating interesting conversations. Your imagination can go wild if you’re paying tribute to a film franchise; take inspiration from the films, seek out original props or exact replicas, or aim to decorate your living room in a similar style to the interiors seen on the silver screen. Imagine; your living room will become your own little piece of cinema heaven in which to relax and unwind… and scare yourself utterly senseless.
Horror films are absolutely awash with inspiration if you’re looking to redecorate your living room; from subtle scares and understated homage, to all-out gore fest, it’s time to let your imagination run wild. Hang on…did you hear that…?
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