Living SpacesNo. 6066 · The 2026 edition
The Crafty Lumberjacks' NYC Apartment Is Haunted Perfection
Step into a spooky New York City apartment where every corner tells a tale of the macabre. This space transforms ordinary rooms into eerie sanctuaries, perfect for a Halloween gathering that lingers i
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at hgtv.com.
Discover how to turn a bustling NYC apartment into a haunted haven. Learn to arrange dim lighting, strategically place cobwebs, and set up atmospheric soundscapes to create an immersive experience. The guide covers transforming entryways with fog effects, decorating living areas with vintage horror props, and crafting a dining space that feels like a scene from a classic thriller. With tips on using mirrors for ghostly reflections and arranging furniture to enhance the chilling ambiance, this tutorial ensures your Halloween party achieves an authentic, spine-tingling atmosphere without needing
About this
Join HGTV Handmade's Crafty Lumberjacks, Dennis Setteducati and Andrew Boza, on a room-by-room tour of their Queens, New York, apartment transformed for Halloween. The gallery highlights DIY decor like a haunted hotel hallway, a psychic/fortune teller Halloween tree, upcycled coffin wreaths, dollar-store sconces, and a laboratory-themed bathroom. It offers inspiration for budget-friendly, whimsical Halloween decorating in a small apartment.
The plan
- Commit to a room-by-room Halloween makeover, including unexpected spaces like the bathroom and hallway.
- each year — Each year, build a hallway 'experience' around a new theme, such as a haunted hotel or mad science.
- two months — Plan and decorate a Halloween tree well in advance; the Craftys spent two months on theirs.
- Let the Halloween tree's theme guide the surrounding living room decor.
- annually — Reuse decorations annually and let new themes change how you display them.
- Raid family basements for vintage art and other items that can become creepy decor.
- For homes with little ones or an aversion to gore, choose a lighthearted, whimsical approach.
- If you lack a yard for a fake cemetery, bring gravestones inside.
- Stock up on dollar-store plastic bowls and other cheap items for DIY decor.
- Upcycle leftover craft project extras, such as coffin wreaths, into new displays.
- Rethink Christmas decorations for Halloween purposes.
Decoration ideas
- Skull door decoration with light-up eyeballs and bug-infested bones.
- Haunted hotel hallway with purple lighting and a bellhop skeleton holding room keys.
- Faux curtained window made from a repurposed canvas frame, acrylic sheets, and splattered paint.
- 'Guests' tray table with a guestbook, skeleton key, and 'no smoking' signage.
- DIY wall sconces made from dollar-store plastic bowls cut in half, painted, and lit with battery-powered tea candles, plus spiderwebs.
- Vintage painting covered in cobwebs.
- Halloween tree with handmade ornaments.
- Psychic/fortune teller-themed Halloween tree decorated with craft store tarot cards and skeletal fortune teller fingers.
- Base of the Halloween tree styled with battery-operated candles, a book of spells, and a handmade Ouija board.
- Lighthearted skeleton in a chair for a non-gory vibe.
- Two coffin wreaths framing the sofa with skeletons (eyeballs included).
- Bowl of wind-up Halloween toys on the coffee table.
- Ghostly globe made by flipping a plastic Christmas ball, adding alcohol ink, and inserting a skull.
- Rat skeleton hanging on black garland on a door.
- 'Zombie prom (Judy)' garland as a reusable staple.
- Mad scientist skeleton emerging from a vintage TV set.
- Bat skeleton hung on a mirror.
- Laboratory-themed bathroom with 'poison' viles and menacing tinctures.
- Kitschy kitchen with orange pumpkins and vintage cut outs.
- Black and copper mugs hung in the kitchen, including a Moscow Mule mug and a Murder, She Wrote mug.
- Cat's food station decorated with Halloween headstones.
- Entry with classic orange-and-black decorations, mad scientist, and a swag garland.
Activities
- Watch the 'Halloween Handmade Home' video tour.
- Let guests play with the bowl of wind-up Halloween toys.
- Sign the Halloween guestbook.
- Watch the how-to video for making a hanging coffin wreath.
- Watch the how-to video for making Halloween headstones from cereal boxes.
- Add a cat to your decor scene for a whimsical accent.
More photos
Photos hosted by hgtv.com.
