If you’re one of the thousands of people planning a Halloween party this year, there are a few essential Halloween party decorations no self-respecting haunted house can be without.

Pumpkins: Nothing says Halloween more than a good old Jack-O-Lantern. Big ones, small ones, carved ones and whole ones, the more pumpkins you have, the better your home will look. If you’re throwing a party for adults in which there will be cauldron brew available, forego the traditional candles and use battery-operated LED lights in the pumpkins instead. Your homeowner’s policy will thank you later.

Halloween-Colored Decorations: Halloween, like Christmas, has a specific color scheme. Green, orange, purple and black are the color-template of choice, so stock up on balloons, streamers and accessories in those colors. In addition, opt for the Halloween napkins, plates, cups and plastic-ware so your party offers the full compliment of spooky goodness.

Strobe Lights: One will do. Any more and you may risk someone going into a conniption. But strategically placed, strobe lights can add definite level of creepiness, whether outside in the yard or inside on the dance floor.

Ghosts: No haunted house is complete without ghosts! Use white bed sheets and hangers to make as many spooks as possible. Hang them from the trees or from your ceiling. Cover your furniture with white sheets to give your home that spooky, neglected look. As an added bonus, they’ll help to keep your furniture clean if one of your friends has a little too much cauldron brew and gets a little clumsy with their appetizer tray!

Spooky Music: Add just the right touch of atmosphere with a great soundtrack. There is a large assortment of wonderful Halloween-themed CDs available. From horror movie soundtrack compilations to compositions created just for the holiday, pop one of these discs in your home stereo, turn off the lights and you can instantly transform your home into a haunted house extraordinaire.