The student news site of Amarillo High School

The Sandstorm

The student news site of Amarillo High School

The Sandstorm

The student news site of Amarillo High School

The Sandstorm

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Haunt your House

Evaluation on Halloween Decorations
Haunt+your+House

As Halloween inches closer, so does the time to decorate lawns and houses for trick-or-treaters and parties. Some advantages and disadvantages of popular decorations include:

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Signs

Pros:
– Easy to assemble
– Not messy
– Reusable
Cons:
– Might use energy and batteries
– Sometimes pricey

 

Sign decorations ensure an easy assembly process with no mess, which one can utilize annually. Electric and non-electric signs both have a high initial cost while electric signs also require the investment of energy and batteries
Although electric signs attract trick-or-treaters more often to a doorstep, non-electric signs can still prove efficient.

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Candles


Pros:
– Cheap price
Cons:
– Does not last long
– Messy
– Can often blow out

 

Candles as a decoration provide a cheap price and a ghost-like ambiance. However, candles do not last long. They can also make a mess and often blow out if left out in the open. Despite this, they aid in the Halloween spirit.

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Hanging Decorations


Pros:
– Not messy
– Easy to position
– Reusable
Cons:
– Can block entrances

 

The advantages of using hanging decorations include an easy assembly process with no mess which one can put to use each year. Different types of hanging decorations include decorations that hang from strings, sticky backings, or banners. Hanging objects often get in the way of doors or windows.

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Pumpkins


Pros:
– Cheap
– Many ways to decorate
– Possible social activity
Cons:
– Messy
– Does not last long

 

Pumpkins make a fun activity for family and friends, whether painted or carved. Placing a candle into a carved pumpkin brings it to life and allows trick-or-treaters to enjoy them, while painted pumpkins allow people to enjoy them during the day and bring a cleaner approach to the festive mood. However, they can become messy when taking out the seeds and rot after around a week. The infinite possibilities to carve a pumpkin fits every person’s needs.

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Window Clings


Pros:
– Easy to assemble
– Easily Accessible
– Cheap
Cons:
– Non-reusable
– Hard to see from far away

 

One can arrange window clings in multiple ways on windows or glass doors, but only as a one-time use. Rearranging them will gradually cause the loss of their adhesive property. These decorations come cheap and easy, but might not attract trick-or-treaters due to their small size.

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Lawn decor


Pros:
– Reusable
– Easy to assemble
Cons:
– Can get destroyed
– Sometimes use energy

 

Lawn decor comes in many forms, including stakes that go into the grass, props that lay on the grass, and yard signs. All of these ensure quick and easy assembly and sometimes have the ability to light up, which uses energy but also attracts attention. However, if a trick-or-treater does not notice the lawn decorations, they can get trampled on and end up destroyed. These decorations can come out of the attic year-by-year without requiring a replacement.

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Inflatables


Pros:
– Easy to assemble
– Reusable
Cons:
– Pricey
– Deflate

 

Inflatables ensure a non-labor-intensive assembly; a person can place the product on a flat surface and then inflate using an electric or foot pump. These decorations can deflate if put in an environment with low air temperature. Inflatables are reusable and popular, but also costly. Trick-or-treaters often enjoy inflatables during the day, but also can at night.

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String Lights


Pros:
– Reusable
– Attracts people
Cons:
– Use energy
– Tricky to assemble

 

One can reuse string lights every year and during the Christmas season. However, they are tricky to assemble and use energy to power. They often get tangled, but attract trick-or-treaters.

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Spider Webs


Pros:
– Easy to assemble
– Energy efficient
Cons:
– Non-reusable
– Messy

 

Spider webs can work as decorations for both day and night. These webs ensure easy assembly and use no energy. However, a person can only use them once. Spider web decorations placed up in trees and down in bushes can create a spooky atmosphere.

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Animatronics


Pros:
– Attract attention
– Reusable
Cons:
– Pricey
– Use Energy

 

Often fascinated by their realistic appearance, children and parents gravitate toward animatronics. One can reuse the animatronics every year, but they are an expensive investment and do use energy. These decorations have the ability to instill fear in trick-or-treaters and lean into the horror aspect of Halloween.

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About the Contributor
Axel Willis
Axel Willis, Writer
I have been on Newspaper staff for two years now and I focus mainly on theatre stories since I am the Vice President of Drama Club. Outside of school I work and hang out with my dogs. :)