Halloween Décor Inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”
- Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven

As Halloween approaches, it’s time to indulge in the spooky side of home décor. Who better to inspire your haunted housewares than Edgar Allan Poe, the master of literary horror? Poe is remembered for his grim, yet romantic story-telling and use of symbolism. Here are three symbols from three of Poe’s best-known works to help summon your dark side of decorating:

SKULLS
The Golden Bug was Poe’s most popular short story during his lifetime. Story of a man who after losing his family fortune, finds a golden beetle with skull-shaped markings washed up on a beach. The man insists that the golden bug will restore his fortune, as it’s the key to finding a treasure buried by the infamous pirate, Captain Kidd. Skeletons and skulls feature prominently as the man searches a deserted island for hidden riches.   

A cement skull planter may not lead you to pirate gold, but it will bring a touch of macabre to your favourite houseplant.

RAVENS
Arguably Poe’s most famous work today, The Raven is a poem about a man mourning the death of the woman he loved, Lenore. The man is visited one night by a raven who refuses to leave his house, and will only speak one ominous word, “Nevermore.” The Raven is a timeless classic due to its themes of love and loss – we can never forget the people who matter most, even when it hurts to remember them. 

A raven figurine perched on your writing desk or mantle might conjure feelings of unease, but thankfully, it probably won’t have much to say.   

BLACK CATS
The Black Cat is an exceptionally morose short story. It explores a man’s descent into madness after killing his beloved black cat, Pluto, in a drunken rage. But the cat gets the last laugh from beyond the grave, as a series of disasters befall the man while the specter of a black cat follows him. 

A black cat doormat is a welcome sight to those who know crossing one’s path is good luck. Assuming, of course, you aren’t being haunted by a phantom feline. 

 

Image credits:

Halloween image: Photo by freestocks on Unsplash
Library image: Photo by Gabriel Kraus on Unsplash