Create a spooky vibe

Danger zone: Fake cobwebs “make your house look a little dirty and haunted,” says Oren. A mass of them strung across a staircase or bedroom door is a clever way to let guests know the area’s off-limits.

Haunted mansion: Replace your artwork for the night with these lenticular portraits (Colonel Whiplash; $15; kmart.com), which appear to move as you walk by.

Spooky switch: Swap your regular lightbulbs for red ones, available at most hardware stores.

Refresh your playlist: “If I hear ‘Thriller’ at another Halloween party, I don’t know what I’ll do,” says Oren, who asked L.A. DJ Patrick Belton to put together a playlist that’s “a little groovy, a little indie, with a bit of goth.” Her five favorites:

• “Voodoo” by Godsmack
• “Little Ghost” by The White Stripes
• “Season of the Witch” by Karen Elson
• “Blood” by Band of Skulls
• “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins