By Susan Condon Love
Newhouse News Service

Halloween ghosts have competition this year.

Skulls. Glittery skulls. Black skull candles with ruby eyes. Skull candle holders. Skull platters, glasses, decanters, placemats, doormats and coasters.

We aren't talking a small boney blip on the retail scale, either.

Halloween sales for 2008 are expected to reach $5.77 billion, up 14 percent from last year, according to the National Retail Federation's annual Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.

"Like other interior design trends, decorating themes for Halloween are inspired by the fashion industry," said Pamela Bayer of Pamela Bayer Interiors in Hudson, Ohio. "Clothing makers have been showing skulls and crossbones year-round on everything from T-shirts to scarves. Skull attire is featured in magazines like People and Glamour, and it's not just vogue for rock 'n' rollers."

Bayer loves some of the more interesting tabletop decorations, including light-up skulls. She also favors decorative skull banners and flags, and skull key chains. She's fond even of skull and crossbones confetti.

"Thanks to the wildly popular 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies, skulls have gone from scary dangerous to scary cool, even scary funny," she added.

"Another trend we've seen develop over the past several years (thanks to Martha Stewart) is a profusion of Halloween window silhouettes - spiders, skeletons, bats and cats - as well as window posters," said Diana Hudson Kresnye of Devine Designs in Chesterland.

"You can make these with the kids or buy these at local craft stores. They are typically window clings that can be trimmed to fit your window and are easy to remove and reuse."

"Light from an ordinary household lamp shines through window posters in an eerie way and makes for a fun and easy way to transform your home from Beaver Cleaver to the Munsters."