Most of us love the holidays.
Whether it's the decorating, feasts or hosting a killer holiday party, it's an exciting time of year. And for those who are especially into decorating, Halloween is a major holiday.
The National Retail Federation says Americans will spend about $9 billion in 2019 on Halloween items. So, more likely than not, you're getting prepared for Halloween just like the rest of us!
But for those of us who live in an apartment building, there are definitely some limitations to the decorations we can put up. Because you don't necessarily have a front yard, your holiday decorations are usually displayed indoors.
Most likely, it's not that big of a deal. You've probably learned by now how you can decorate for the holidays just as impressively as a homeowner but in different ways. In case you need a few pointers, there are a few decorating tips we can give you that will help you avoid problems.
When you get comfortable living in your apartment, it's easy to forget what you can and can't do. Most of the time, nailing things into the wall will damage the wall, and that breaks the terms of your lease. Often times, people hang many things on their walls without thinking about what the walls will look like when everything is taken down.
Try to keep in mind that your Halloween decorations will only be displayed for around a month (maybe even less), so nailing decorations up on your walls isn't worth the possible damage — no matter how big of a party you're planning! Your landlord will make you pay for the damage.
Another decorating idea that is probably not allowed is anything involving paint on your walls. Unless you're prepared to purchase the color of your walls and repaint over the decorative areas, it's a good idea to stay away from painting!
It's a hassle to paint for such a short-term holiday and will be expensive to fix. If you want something Halloween themed on your walls, go for removable wallpaper.
One of the biggest staples of Halloween decorations is the pumpkin. Statista reports that in the U.S. alone, pumpkin production is roughly a $180 million industry. Even light decorators still go out and buy at least one pumpkin.
You might be into carving it with friends or family, or maybe you just leave it out on your counter or at your front door as a celebratory decoration. A recommendation you should consider is to buy fake pumpkins.
Often times, pumpkins are left out far too long. They start to become rotten, which attracts flies, maggots and mold. Not to mention the odor. If you're in an apartment building, the last thing you want is to walk past your neighbor's door and smell a rotting pumpkin.
Fake pumpkins are usually very affordable, re-usable and made to look life-like. If you won't consider purchasing fake pumpkins even for those reasons, at least set a reminder as to when you should throw away the real pumpkins.
Some balcony decorations are probably alright, but stay away from displaying anything frightening or inappropriate. Some residents might be offended by zombie-like dead mannequins. Same things as to ghosts or hanging themed lights outside.
Use those decorations to scare and impress your indoor guests! It will work just as well and without the headache of a bothered neighbor — trust me. If you have a balcony, we know it can be tempting to go crazy with the decorations, but it's likely not allowed in your lease agreement.
This probably goes without saying, but we thought we'd include it anyway. Candles might give your decorations an extra spooky glow, but it just takes one child in a long costume to accidentally cause a really big problem.
As fun as it can be to decorate your apartment for Halloween, remember that you likely have a lot of rules of what you can and can't do as a renter. To avoid any conflict or fines, keep your decorations indoors and don't make any permanent changes to your apartment while decorating!
Linzi Martin has been a freelance writer for over five years. A Florida native, Linzi resides in Delray Beach, where she works as a content marketer and writer for small-to-medium sized businesses around the globe. Her work has been featured by the Porcaro Law Group, VoyageMIA and The Connect Magazine, just to name a few.