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When you hear the name Medusa, you probably think only of the monstrous creature that turns men into stone, when in fact the story of how Medusa came to be is actually quite tragic. The idea behind the theme of our Halloween decor was to create an eerie yet beautiful final resting space for Medusa. One that’s overgrown with vegetation, and serves as more of a shrine that honors her life and legacy.

A fake skull and a mixture of faux and real flowers in a vintage paper mache bowl from Vintage Ostin provide a hauntingly beautiful centerpiece. Medusa’s decapitated skull sits on display, while the serpents that were once her hair have since turned to bones and dust. The stone corpses of Medusa’s enemies lay forever frozen in her lair. To achieve this look I used Krylon Limestone spray paint to transform plastic toy soldiers into stone. They now serve as an unexpected and fun element for our table setting. I added a few taper candle holders and candlesticks in a variety of heights, which instantly adds a bit of ominous to any room. I love the idea of using unconventional items, such as potpourri or bark/mulch under cloches to add creepy texture or interest. I got this idea from The Makerista who has a beautiful curated collection of interesting items stored in cloches.

When styling the shelves, I wanted to keep it simple and add chic elements of spook throughout. Thrifted brass candle holders and incenses surround a small Medusa bust candle to create an intimate shrine in her temple. The snake “sculpture” is actually just a rubber snake. I used the same Krylon Limestone spray paint, a cut piece from a quartz sample, and a flower vase flipped upside down to create a simple and inexpensive decor piece that looks very high end. I love the look of styling with hardbound books (which in some cases can be found free at thrift stores), and also adding creepy photos in your Halloween design. I found a collection of snake art and snake anatomy photos online - available as free downloads from the New York Public Library.