5. Haunted Mirror Gallery
Create a chilling, optical illusion in your hallway or entryway by designing a gallery wall of haunted mirrors. This concept plays on the classic horror trope of reflections that aren’t quite right. Collect a variety of ornate frames from thrift shops—don’t worry about the colors, as you can spray paint them all in matte black, antique bronze, or distressed pewter to unify the collection. To give the mirrors an aged, ghostly appearance, use a spray bottle filled with a half-and-half mixture of water and vinegar, spray the glass, and then lightly apply a coat of looking-glass spray paint.
Once dry, the mirrors will have a beautiful, speckled, antique mercury-glass effect. For a truly spooky touch, print out faint, black-and-white ghostly portraits or skeletal figures. Carefully tape these images to the back of the glass before reassembling the frame, so they appear to be trapped inside the mirror, faintly visible through the distressed silvering. Hang the mirrors close together down a dimly lit hallway, and light the space solely with flickering wall sconces to create a disorienting, spine-chilling walk for anyone who dares to pass.