Instagram story viewer> @houseofphyllis> Posts

Phyllis Finnegan | Creator| Frisco, TX

@houseofphyllis

18K

followers

1606

following

✨ DIY • Decor • Style • Lifestyle
Porch Styling | Fashion | Travel | Entertaining
Year-Round Seasonal Living 🤍
📩 Collabs: [email protected]

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

The Halloween costume that made everyone stop and look twice. 🐎🔥

Meet the Headless Horseman—one of my favorite Halloween costume transformations ever. 🐎🖤

When I created this look, the costume itself was completely new. The only element I repurposed was the head prop I’m holding, which came from a previous costume and was reworked to complete the illusion.

The final result was dramatic, unexpected and guaranteed to make everyone look twice.

Would you wear this to a Halloween party? Save it for costume season and send it to the friend who still has no idea what they’re going to be.

Halloween, Halloween costume, Halloween costume ideas, costume ideas, DIY Halloween costume, adult Halloween costume, Headless Horseman costume, unique Halloween costume, scary Halloween costume, creative Halloween costume, homemade Halloween costume, Halloween DIY, Halloween inspiration, spooky season, Halloween party costume by @houseofphyllis

57

32

17 days ago

Welcome to the Dead and Breakfast. Your room is ready. Checkout is another story. 🗝️

It all started with a “Dead and Breakfast” sign I purchased just after we moved to Texas in June. I’ve been waiting ever since to build an entire Halloween entrance and yard around it.

In my head, it was an old inn with a past: black roses climbing the arch, ravens watching from the branches, lanterns lighting the path, and a skeleton ready to check in the next guest. I found another piece at At Home that belongs in this story too—but you’ll meet that one later.

So I dressed for my first shift, picked up the duster, and rang the bell. When the lights came on, the Dead and Breakfast finally felt open.

This is the beginning of my Dead and Breakfast series. Come back for the step-by-step build and individual reels of the decorated areas throughout the yard. There’s much more beyond check-in. 🖤

Would you stay for a night?

Halloween, Halloween decor, Halloween DIY, spooky season, haunted house, outdoor Halloween decor, Halloween outdoor decorations, Halloween yard decorations, Halloween front porch decor, Halloween decorating ideas, Halloween arch decor, gothic Halloween decor, skeleton Halloween decor, haunted inn, Dead and Breakfast by @houseofphyllis

320

78

5 days ago

How ADORABLE are these Dollartree Halloween lights!

ATTENTION !!!! THESE ARE NOT SOLAR LIGHTS. This about creating Halloween Stake lights using Dollartree products. I’m clearly removing the solar light and showing the stake ONLY in the video. These lights are battery operated which is why I show the cutting of the Velcro and the black switch of the ghost underneath. I’m using a Dollartree stake & DT lights to CREATE stake lights for Halloween. This has nothing to do with solar lights. They’re attached with Velcro for easy on and off access and to attach to the stake.

Super easy, budget friendly project with a big impact. The ghost and candy corn lights and stakes are from dolartree, then grab a pack of Velcro circles ($4 a pack) and that’s all you need.

Cut a small opening in the one Velcro circle to accommodate the light switch. Attach that to the bottom of the light. Attach the other full circle to the stake opening (after removing the light base) and then press the light onto the stake in place. Stake them into your grass, turn them on and watch the Halloween magic happen! So cute!

#halloween #halloweendecor #halloweendiy #autumn #fall #october #ghost #halloweenlights #dollartree taken in Mission Viejo, California by @houseofphyllis

33k

241

2 years ago

The entrance is dramatic. The service is dead. Your room is ready. 🗝️🖤

Welcome to the Dead & Breakfast! Here’s the step-by-step of how I turned our front entrance into a haunted inn—with an arch that deserved its own story.

I started with my thick black maple garlands—the ones I bring out year after year—then intertwined mossy greenery from At Home, black moss, and touches of brown moss for dimension. Hanging black ferns spill down inside the arch, with crows tucked throughout, clusters of oversized black roses, and amber leaves breaking up the black.

The lanterns needed to hang just right, so we zip-tied their included hangers to the arch’s wire mesh. That let them hang freely, like proper inn lanterns. Fairy lights woven through the arch and across the top make those layers visible after dark—and you’ll see it illuminated at the end. ✨

By the door, I added my gold candelabras from the separate DIY reel and black lanterns in two sizes. With an arch this dramatic, a few finishing touches were all it needed.

Then came check-in: a skeleton in a hat and bow tie, a guest book, room keys, and a bell to ring for service. My Dead & Breakfast sign on the other side brings the whole haunted entrance together.

Want to check in? Let me know—I’ll save you a spooky room. 🔔

Comment ARCH for links to recreate the look, and save this for your Halloween decorating inspiration.

And just wait until you see what I do with this entrance for Christmas… 👀

Halloween, Halloween decor, Halloween DIY, Halloween decorations, spooky season, outdoor Halloween decor, Halloween porch decor, haunted house, haunted inn, Halloween arch, Halloween front entrance, DIY Halloween garland, Halloween lighting, fall decorating ideas, seasonal home decor by @houseofphyllis

44

14

14 hours ago

Welcome to the Dead and Breakfast Gardens….where even the landscaping has checked in! 🖤👻

Every haunted inn needs a garden… ours just happens to come with a witch and a few guests who never checked out.

For the next part of my Halloween arch and yard series, we turned two tree beds into spooky gardens—each with its own character, but both belonging to the same haunted little inn.

Big, bare branches gave them shape, greenery and black plants filled them in, and moss covered the ground. A light-up witch claimed one corner, while a seated skeleton and hanging ghost settled into the other.

Then came my favorite part: lanterns hanging from the branches and tucked below, lights strung through both trees, and purple spotlights giving everything that eerie glow after dark.

I love how these little corners add another chapter to the Dead and Breakfast story. And next comes the step-by-step of how the haunted inn came together. 🔔

Which garden would you visit first—the witch’s or the ghost’s?

Comment GARDENS for links to the pieces you can shop.

Halloween, Halloween decor, Halloween DIY, outdoor Halloween, outdoor Halloween decor, Halloween decorations, DIY Halloween decorations, haunted house, Halloween yard decor, spooky gardens, Halloween garden decor, haunted garden, spooky outdoor decor, moody Halloween decor, haunted inn decor

#halloween #halloweendecorations #haunted #spookyseason by @houseofphyllis

35

23

2 days ago

We’re heading inside for a little Halloween magic today, but the Dead & Breakfast story isn’t finished yet! 🗝️

These haunted houses started on a napkin… now they’ve moved into my Halloween décor. 🕷️

I gave a pedestal bowl a black base and a white bowl, then cut out pieces from haunted house napkins and used Mod Podge to decoupage them inside and out. I built the pattern as I went, turning a plain bowl into a little haunted scene, one piece at a time.

You’ll see each stage come together—and the finished details at the end are my favorite part! This bowl is for decorative display only; it isn’t food safe.

Tomorrow, I’m sharing my ghost and witch tree corners before and after dark. And Friday, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step of how my Dead & Breakfast haunted inn came together!

Save this Halloween DIY, and comment BOWL for links to make yours.

Halloween, Halloween decor, Halloween DIY, DIY Halloween, Halloween decorations, DIY Halloween decorations, Halloween crafts, Halloween decorating ideas, indoor Halloween decor, Halloween home decor, haunted house decor, Halloween bowl DIY, napkin decoupage, Mod Podge crafts, DIY home decor by @houseofphyllis

30

35

3 days ago

The Dead & Breakfast graveyard is open. Check-out is permanent. 🪦

The next stop in my Halloween arch and yard series started with a little fenced graveyard. We set the large tombstone at the back, brought in a fallen limb from the trail, and hung a lantern from its branch. Then we staked the smaller tombstones at different depths so each one had its moment.

Purple spotlights gave the corners that eerie glow. Once the fog rolled through at night, the whole scene came alive—and I can’t wait to show you what’s waiting in the rest of the yard.

The easy fog machine DIY is coming later this week. Would you walk through this graveyard after dark?

Halloween, Halloween decor, Halloween decorations, Halloween DIY, spooky season, outdoor Halloween decor, Halloween yard decor, Halloween graveyard, Halloween cemetery, graveyard decorations, haunted house decor, haunted inn, spooky yard decor, DIY Halloween decorations, Halloween lighting, fog machine Halloween by @houseofphyllis

82

46

4 days ago

From rodeo cute to rhinestone cowgirl. 🤠✨

I started in a denim lace-up skirt from Altar’d State, then spun into the look I wore to the rodeo: rhinestone jeans from Landry Kate in McKinney, a hot pink bustier from Apricot Lane McKinney, and the silver ankle boots I’ve had for years.

The jeans deserved their own entrance. Which look would you wear—before the spin or after? 💖 I’ll tag the shops and try to link everything I can.

OOTD, outfit of the day, fashion, fashion style, style inspo, outfit inspo, women’s fashion, going out outfit, rodeo outfit, western outfit, western fashion, cowgirl outfit, rhinestone jeans, denim skirt outfit, McKinney boutiques by @houseofphyllis

47

38

7 days ago

The keys are waiting… would you check in? 🗝️🖤

Every Dead and Breakfast needs a wreath to welcome its guests. 🖤

I started with a grapevine wreath, spray painted it black, then attached a black glitter leaf wreath for dimension. I wove an inexpensive black garland through it and tied everything in place. The copper bow and gold key went at the top, a crow settled in below, and I made two numbered room key tags to carry the inn theme through.

The flowers were my final addition. The wreath needed a little warmth and color against the door, and they brought the whole thing to life. Would you take a room key? 🗝️

Halloween, Halloween decor, Halloween DIY, Halloween decorating, Halloween decorations, spooky season, Halloween wreath, DIY Halloween wreath, Halloween door decor, Halloween front door, outdoor Halloween decor, spooky wreath, black wreath, gothic wreath, Halloween crafts, Halloween porch decor, Dead and Breakfast by @houseofphyllis

34

38

8 days ago

Even the champagne came in costume. 🖤🥂

A chilling pour deserves a little drama.

I brought back one of my favorite Halloween party DIYs: an ice mold filled with black glitter fern leaves. The frosty white ice against the black leaves looks so striking, especially with a bottle of champagne, sparkling wine, or wine tucked inside.

You can change what you freeze into the mold to match any party, but this black-and-white version still has my heart. Would you put this on your Halloween bar? 🖤

Halloween, spooky season, Halloween party, Halloween decor, Halloween party ideas, Halloween DIY, Halloween entertaining, Halloween party decor, Halloween tablescape, Halloween bar cart, spooky season decor, fall entertaining, champagne display, sparkling wine display, wine bottle ice mold, DIY ice mold, Halloween ice mold by @houseofphyllis

51

28

9 days ago

Even the dead need somewhere to hitch their horse… 💀🐎

ur Dead & Breakfast finally has its first four-legged guest—and apparently, he plans on staying awhile. 💀🐎

This six-foot skeleton horse from At Home was already impressive, but I wanted him to feel like he truly belonged outside an old haunted inn. My husband built him a custom hitching post, carefully shaping the wood, securing it with brackets and setting everything firmly into the ground.

Once we assembled the horse, I added a real bridle and reins to bring the entire scene to life—or should I say, back from the dead. Then night fell…and those glowing red eyes changed everything. ❤️‍🔥

This is only one piece of our Dead & Breakfast Halloween display, but he may already be stealing the show.

Would you stop for the night—or keep riding? 👻

Halloween, Halloween decor, Halloween DIY, outdoor Halloween decor, Halloween decorating ideas, spooky season, Halloween aesthetic, Halloween inspiration, Halloween yard decorations, DIY Halloween decorations, skeleton horse, Western Halloween decor, haunted hotel theme, haunted inn decor, hitching post DIY, At Home Halloween by @houseofphyllis

73

37

10 days ago

The gold candelabra was pretty… but I had other plans for it. 🖤🗝️

I wanted something dramatic for the entrance to my Dead and Breakfast, so I gave these candelabras a Halloween makeover. I assembled them, spray-painted them black, secured the candles, then added burnt-orange ribbon and an antique-style key.

The key is my favorite detail—it makes the whole piece feel like it belongs at the entrance to a mysterious old inn. This is just a little peek at what’s coming together outside. Wait until you see the full entrance! 🖤

Would you have kept them gold, or gone with black?

Halloween decor, Halloween DIY, Halloween decorations, outdoor Halloween decor, Halloween home decor, Halloween decorating ideas, Halloween aesthetic, DIY Halloween decorations, fall decor, Halloween front porch decor, spooky decor, candelabra makeover, Halloween candelabra, black candelabra, Dead and Breakfast decor by @houseofphyllis

88

44

11 days ago