I love Halloween, but I don’t appreciate the tacky decor that often comes with it. Covering every square inch in bright orange, electric purple, neon green, hairy spiders, and cheap witch hats is just not my aesthetic. That being said, I do enjoy adding a creepy element to my decor and when displays are done tastefully (and in moderation) they can provide an elegant and festive accent to your home. I personally think that sticking with a cohesive, neutral color scheme is best for keeping the decor elevated. I prefer to use natural elements, tones of black, and metallic accents (silver, gold and copper / rose gold as replacements for “orange” items, such as pumpkins).
Additionally, even though I am sharing a variety of items in multiple categories, please don’t feel pressure to decorate every inch of your home… these are all just ideas for you to mix-and-match as they work best for your space and style! As they say, less is more, which is actually a good rule to live by in general.
You may remember this post that I shared last month with my autumn decor picks which were more geared toward the season as a whole (including more of a harvest / Thanksgiving aesthetic), but I didn’t get the opportunity to really go into much detail with my Halloween choices so I wanted to dedicate a whole post to it!
DOOR / WINDOW / WALL DECOR
WREATHS
I LOVE a front door wreath. They give great curb appeal and provide a festive first impression upon entering your home. If there is only one thing you swap out throughout the year, I think it should be a wreath because they are just so festive and everyone has a front door, even if it’s inside an apartment building! If you have space above a bench in your entryway, a side table, or even above a bar cart, these are other great places to swap out an art piece with an indoor wreath or a decorative wall hanging.
Since I am limited on storage space (though I would love to have a wreath for every holiday!), I usually just replace the bow on my faux boxwood wreath with a ribbon that matches the season or holiday… but in this case, I am actually using my favorite autumn outdoor wreath from last year that will remain on the front door for the season. For the month of October I just add a bow made of black wired ribbon to give it a slightly spookier vibe. If I had the space for wreaths for every season, I would definitely get one of these minimalist black wreaths because I think they’re so creepy and cool!
…
WREATH GEAR / TIPS
If you’re looking for a wreath hook, this is the one that we use for our front door. I also hang the whole wreath on the hook as opposed to using the loop provided on the wreath; I personally think it gives more stability and a better look.
If you are hanging a wreath indoors, I suggest these suction cup hooks for interior windows and these damage-free hooks for your walls. *Please note the weight limits on each hook option before purchasing your wreath!
When my two favorite faux wreaths are not in use, I keep them in this plastic storage bag and it’s the perfect size. It’s really only during the winter season that both items live in this storage bag, otherwise one of the wreaths is on the front door. That being said, they both fit comfortably and I could even fit a third wreath in there if I wanted to (don’t tell my husband — haha)! I love that it’s clear, the zipper goes all the way around, and that it has handles; I highly recommend it for storing your seasonal wreaths, (especially if they are stuffed into a closet) to protect both your garments and the wreaths!
*Top Tip: Prevent insects from moving into your wreaths each year by spraying them with an insect repellant before hanging them up outside. I recommend using a more natural option if you can find one because it’s possible that the chemicals in other products may damage the integrity and colors of your wreath.
In the event that some little buggers still made it into your wreath, give it a blast with a hairdryer (on the cool setting) to shake them loose before putting your wreath away for the year (otherwise, your storage bag will end up as a bug cemetery 😬).
…
FRONT PORCH
The front porch is really a highlight of the Halloween holiday because of the trick-or-treating aspect so incorporating some festive elements to add to your curb appeal is highly encouraged. I love the look of a mix of different sized hurricane lanterns, real and faux pumpkins, as well as some seasonal potted florals and creepy elements like “spider webs” or some vinyl bat stickers that flutter in the breeze.
ACCENT PILLOWS
This is another example of why I prefer to keep my year-round home decor very neutral — I like to have the ability to add in festive accents, whatever the occasion. Our couch, chairs, and pillows are all neutral colors so it’s very easy to mix in a few festive pillows, depending on the holiday or season. I try to keep in mind that I want an array of textures and sizes to add visual interest when I am shopping for both year-round and seasonal pillows.
*Top Tip: The easiest way to accomplish the seasonal pillow decor is to get pillow covers and just swap them out with inserts instead of buying actual pillows (especially if you’re pressed for space like I am 😅). It’s also recommended to get covers that are one to two inches smaller on each side than the pillow insert because it makes for a plumper pillow!
I typically just look for traditionally shaped pillows, but I found so many fun holiday-themed accent pillows in cute novelty shapes that I couldn’t resist including them here too!
All of these Halloween-inspired pillows would pair well with the others that I picked for the autumn season.
TABLETOP DECOR
FLORALS / GREENERY
I love a floral arrangement to add a little “zhuzh” to a space (faux florals are great for reusing for multiple seasons so spending a little more on realistic flowers / greenery is a worthwhile investment). These can make a statement, such as a centerpiece on a dining room table or a larger arrangement on a coffee table, or create a more subtle ambiance with smaller arrangements sprinkled around your home on end tables or even on shelves!
Something that I like to do to maximize my use of faux florals is to keep stems in basic colors such as white and deep red to repurpose in arrangements throughout the year. For example, I add in pink flowers for Valentine’s day, blue flowers or berries for patriotic holidays, and even some greenery for the Christmas season!
However, fall is a little different for me in this aspect. Yes, I could create an arrangement of flowers in seasonal colors, but instead I choose to use branches of autumnal leaves because I feel like they are just so quintessentially “autumn”!
If you’re a minimalist, bare sticks and branches are great decor for this time of year as well. I especially love this black vase that is reminiscent of the shape of a cauldron, but with a smaller neck which can be more conducive for creating arrangements.
If you prefer to stick with florals (as a fellow flower-lover, I totally get it), one of these beautiful Halloween-inspired arrangement ideas would be perfect for displaying in your home!
…
DINING
In addition to a dining room floral arrangement or tablescape centerpiece there are other elements that can contribute a festive flair. The table runner, linens, napkin rings, glassware, serving trays, crockery, and even charger plate options make a statement to add to your home’s seasonal decor.
I don’t necessarily suggest having festive items for ALL of these elements at once, but just as suggestions to adjust your existing table decor. Maybe you already have a set of classic (and versatile) napkin rings, but could use some festive napkins; or maybe you need a special serving tray or two depending on the specific food needs of the holiday. If all you want to do is add a charger underneath your dinner plates, that could add just the right amount of interest to make the meal feel special! I love this natural cheesecloth table runner because it looks almost like it could be used for mummy wrappings!
I think a simple arrangement of candles is sufficient as a centerpiece for this holiday… just pair some festive candlesticks in a fun color (maybe black or a deep orange!) with classic candlestick holders in varying sizes or use a long statement pillar candle display. You can fill the bottom tray of the pillar candle base with your choice of items (some sparkly black rocks, small skulls, even a bed of moss would be cool!) or just leave it empty for a chic, minimalist look. I ended up just using some leftover “spider webs” between our candlesticks and then sprinkled a few fake spiders on the web… don’t overthink it!
…
MISCELLANEOUS
In this situation, “tabletop” could obviously be regarding the dining room table, but it could also apply to sideboards or entryway tables, coffee tables, or even end tables. Don’t underestimate these locations — every little piece adds something to the overall effect. Decorative items could be wooden carvings, textured fabric or glass pumpkins, candy in a beautiful display jar, candles, or the occasional festive knick knack.
I think a great way to display these decorative bits-and-bobs is on a raised serving tray, cake stand, or a tiered tray which makes them look a bit less haphazard and more intentional. Don’t try to cram everything onto them either… look around your space and see what areas / surfaces might benefit from a little zhuzh-ing up with festive items — spread your decor around!
Personally, because this time of year is so cozy I tend to add more candles than usual, scented and otherwise, to my decor. In this case, depending on the styling of the candle it can certainly add to the creep-factor, especially if it’s in an interesting shape or has dramatic drips down the sides!
Searching for even more decor inspiration? Click here for additional Halloween front porch and interior decorating ideas.
If you’re looking for an adult Halloween activity, last year I put together a list of great wine and candy pairings that are best enjoyed for movie date nights at home, hanging out with friends or even just binging Stranger Things by yourself!
I also have an entire Pinterest page of Halloween-inspired recipes to serve at your next party.
Happy haunting, friends!
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
Leave a comment...