| Developing the initial layout for your village display may seem like an overwhelming challenge. Start by selecting your pieces and arrange them all on a flat surface in front of you. Then: | ||||||||||
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1. Choose the Focal Points Choose a few of your new or favorite pieces. These will be placed in two key areas: the center and the extreme left (or right). We read left to right, so most people will also view your display left to right. Once your focal points are set, it's easy to cluster a few buildings together. |
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2. Begin Clustering Rather than trying to envision an entire village display, begin clustering buildings around your two focal points, then work outwards creating other nearby clusters. Add cluster by cluster in an asymmetrical manner leaving pockets of space in between until one area is complete (later you will fill in the pockets with accesories). Then move to the next area. By working with only one cluster at a time, the task won’t seem as daunting. |
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3. Vary the Levels Now that you have clusters, you will want to separate them into different levels. Levels can effectively draw the focus up or down or towards certain areas. Buildings on top will be seen first then the eye will flow down to the lower levels. Also, these buildings are highly detailed and solid backgrounds will clarify the intricate rooftops, fences, colors, and lights. |
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4. Consider the Foreground and Background Just like a painting, the subject matter in the foreground will be considered more important that what is happening in the background. The smaller buildings and accessories will be better displayed toward the front, while the larger or flashier buildings should remain in the background or higher level. |
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5. Examine All Angles Buildings are three dimensional objects so when placing houses in a display vary the angle that they face out. Some can point towards the center. Other clusters can face away from the center. Some could even go around the bend and face another direction entirely. This kind of flowing placement adds significant interest, enticing the viewer to travel from one end to the other. |
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6. Power Up With the layout complete, you have to consider how to provide electricity to all these buildings and accessories. The Halloween series is notorious for having bulky power brick plugs which means that using a conventional power strip will allow for 3 or 4 plugs. Instead consider power strips with spaced out outlets such as the Power Squid, or a heavy duty garage power strip. If you run out of outlets consider running Department 56's Six Socket Light Set into some of the buldings instead of using the adapters, and utilize the Department 56's Lighting System for all your accessories. Make sure you have access to a good electrical outlet that isn’t shared with major appliances or electronics. Villages don't draw too much power, but it's best to be safe. |
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7. Add a Backlit Backdrop Village pieces emit very little light, so dark Halloween displays can lose much detail (and turning on a lamp always ruins the creepy fun). Consider adding a row of simple string lights behind the display to illuminate a backdrop (or wall) and bounce soft light back onto the village. This will also create depth and outline the exquisite silhouettes. LED lights are the least heat prone and thus safest to bury behind a display. |
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8. Accesorize Like any good ensemble, accessories can make or break the outfit. In this case, when clustering buildings, I suggest leaving pockets of emptier space in between. Once the buildings are in and the levels are set, trees, graveyards, figurines and an assortment of accesories will round out your display and add further interest. Trees of all kinds and sizes really help add to the eerie feel, and of course, there should always be a graveyard and pumpkin patch somewhere in the display. |
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