18. Ghostly Mirror Portrait
Give your guests a thrilling scare with a ghostly mirror portrait that seems to fade in and out of view. This clever DIY decoration uses a simple framing trick to create a holographic, haunted effect. It is a fantastic conversation starter, perfect for hanging in a dimly lit hallway, bathroom, or foyer where guests will be caught off guard by the sudden appearance of a Victorian specter looking back at them.
Find an ornate, vintage-style picture frame and paint it black or antique gold. Print a black-and-white or sepia-toned portrait of a stern, historical figure. Next, print a semi-transparent, ghostly version of the same image, or edit the photo to have hollow, glowing eyes. Place a piece of two-way mirror film (available online) over the glass of the frame, with the ghostly portrait placed behind it. When a light source is placed nearby or when guests shine their phone lights near the frame, the normal portrait will transform into a terrifying ghostly apparition right before their eyes.