There are many things that you can do to build a scary table for Halloween. Determine the theme of your scary table. Is it to be used for a children’s party or an adult party? Is it based on a certain monster or will it be a specific scene such as a graveyard theme? Purchase the items that you will be using on the table such as spiders, snakes or tombstones.

Gather a couple of small boxes. The boxes will be placed under the tablecloth for a bit of height. Purchase a large piece of black or purple material that will fit on the table that you will be using for your party. You could choose other colors but these two colors will have the greatest impact on your scene. Make sure you do not pay a lot for the material as you will be cutting it up. You want the material to look like it has been attacked by an animal’s claw. Fold the material in half and cut a thin jagged line in the center. Unfold the material and view. Refold the material in a different way and repeat. Do this a few times so that you have the look that you want to achieve for your Halloween tablescape. Lay the small boxes towards the end of the table. This will be an area where no food will be put. Lay the material on your table and over the boxes. Take a step back and view the results. You should have a couple of raised areas in the back and a table that looks like a monster has been pawing at it. Adjust the material or make more claw marks where needed.

On the raised areas on the table put a larger spider, severed hand or some tombstones. This will overlook your food and give you a focal point. Use black plates for your food presentation. Make sure you do not cover the claw marks made in the tablecloth with the plates.

Additional items that can be used for decorating are black or red worms around the plates or partially on the plates so that it looks like they are coming from the food. You could do the same thing with the spiders or ants. If you have a graveyard theme put some small fingers around the area.

Do not light up the area with an overhead light as it will ruin the impact of your Halloween scene. Intersperse real candles throughout the table scene to give it a spooky effect. Use battery operated tealights for a child. They can be purchased at any store.

Step back and view your overall effect and adjust where needed. Your imagination has no limit. Have fun setting the table and have a spooky Halloween.