Throughout my late 20’s, I often shyed away from decorating my home for Halloween because the decorations I could find were–well–a bit tacky and geared more towards kids than adults. Over the past year though, I’ve been noticing skulls showing up in interior design as fun, non-holiday, cheeky accessories, and am really liking the trend. So this year, with Halloween just around the corner, I’ve hopped on the skull party train and created a skull vase for my home.

What I love about this project, is it adds a spooky (yet tasteful) touch, and it could really stay in my living room all year long, (just remove the pumpkins and place it on a stack of books) and it’s an affordable project. The styrofoam skull was on sale at my craft store for $4.99!

I used faux succulents that tuck right into the top of the skull, so it’s super easy to create and even easier to maintain, as you won’t need a green thumb to keep the succulents looking great. The finished project captures the essence of Halloween without going over-the-top tacky. Here’s how it’s done!

Materials:

Styrofoam skull (available at craft stores)Metallic gold spray paintSerrated knifeVariety of faux succulentsScissors

Step 1. Carve a 1.5″ diameter hole about 2″ deep on the top of styrofoam skull with a serrated knife. This will be the spot where the succulents will tuck into the skull. Be careful not to cut yourself.

Step 2. Apply a few coats of gold spray paint to the styrofoam skull. Allow to dry between each coat, and make sure to work in a well ventilated area.

Step 3. Arrange succulents in the hole on the top of the skull. Trim stems to appropriate shorter length, and poke the stem wires deeper into the styrofoam to secure into place. Use a variety of types of succulents for added interest.

And that’s it. Simple as simple can be! Set out the skull in your living room or office and enjoy.