So you have decided to host a Halloween costume party? What fun! Now you just need to decide on a festive theme and how much time, energy, and money you can put into the project. Some people settle on a simple theme, decorating with a few Jack-O-Lanterns, cobwebs, and spooky props. Then there are the people who spend tons of time and money converting their entire home into an elaborate haunted house and graveyard. Not to worry, Halloween costume party planners! There is a happy, wallet-friendly medium.

How About a Halloween Costume Party in a Mad Scientist's Laboratory?

With a little imagination, you can host your Halloween costume party in a mad scientist's laboratory! Here's how you do it. First, make a list of anything you own that is somewhat laboratory-like: glassware, metal or PVC pipes, silverware and utensils, white sheets, plastic gloves, spooky-sounding music. You can also make some pretty inexpensive purchases to round out your Halloween costume party decorations. For example, buy several bags of dry ice and place pieces in glass containers, which you can then place on different surfaces. This will give the overall party a smoking, eerie feeling.

You can purchase a plastic skeleton and, after detaching the different limbs and parts, place hands, feet, and other body parts in various locations. Mix up water, tonic water, and food coloring to create spooky vials of liquid. You can also make a variety of fun, scary-looking cocktails. Try searching for the recipe for the Brain Hemorrhage, or make your own drink with a mixture of desired alcohol, juice, sparkling water, dry ice, and food coloring. Add ?Monster Mash? to the play list, and serve fun Halloween costume party appetizers, and everyone will still be talking about your fabulous Halloween costume party at Christmas!

Heaven and Hell: Halloween Costume Parties Can Be Naughty and Nice!

Heaven and Hell is a popular fraternity party theme, but you would be surprised at how fun it can be as a theme for a Halloween costume party! It is a relatively straightforward and easy theme, and your guests will love deciding whether they will be naughty or nice at your Halloween costume party. Basically, you need to divide your house into heaven and hell. You can do it by rooms, or, as it is usually done, you can have hell on one floor and heaven on another (first floor, second floor, or first floor, basement). Instruct your guests to dress up as angels or devils, or many other naughty or nice Halloween costume possibilities.

In the ?hell? room/floor, decorate with fiery red, orange, and yellow colors. Play loud, upbeat music, and you can even plug in a few heaters to give the room a hell-appropriate temperature. Serve scandalously red cocktails like a Bloody Mary, and provide an assortment of devilishly delicious foods. In your ?heaven? room/floor, decorate with white and gold colors, some dry ice (for a cloud-like effect) and play peaceful classical music for your Halloween costume party guests. Serve delicious, creamy beverages, like White Russians, and provide light, airy foods, like angel food cake and whipped cream. Of course, your Halloween costume party guests can bring their own foods and drinks, which can create a lovely variety of flavors and options. This Halloween costume party theme is a great option if your friends have trouble deciding on a Halloween costume!