Attention craft and party stores of America: your Halloween decorations need a serious makeover. We’ve been over the kitschy orange, black garland, inflatable ghosts, and rubber spiders *not subtly* falling from the trees for a while now. Admit it. Most of the time, we spend way too much time and money buying Halloween decorations that look cheap and smell like old warehouses. When done best, chic fall décor ideas are simple with a thoughtful layering of textures, textiles, and colors, and that includes Halloween decorations.
Decorating your home for costume parties and trick-or-treaters is fun and exciting, but it’s also time-consuming and can get expensive quickly—especially if you’re trying to keep up with all the holiday overachievers on your block. But here’s the thing: Halloween decorations don’t have to be tossed in the trash come November 1.
This year, we’re removing the pressure to transform our homes into full-blown haunted houses, and are opting for décor that will last throughout the Fall season.
From not-so-spooky curb appeal to beautiful fall tablescapes, we’ve rounded up our favorite finds and tips for Halloween décor that will make your home feel festive and fun, while still remaining sophisticated and cozy. Trick or chic? Scroll on for some serious Halloween eye candy.
image by hannah haston
Pick Your Palette
When shopping for décor, choose a cohesive fall color palette (such as bright whites, pastel yellows, and soft greens) and stick with it throughout. A clean background with a few pops of fall color and fun accents make decorating for Halloween easy and affordable. The best place to start is with curb appeal that is sure to one-up your neighbor.
Pottery Barn Artisan Ceramic Owl
Let this wise old owl protect you from spooky spirits. Its neutral shade easily blends with all color palettes.
Pottery Barn Faux Modern Pumpkin Vase Filler
Cream and sage-colored faux pumpkins add a bit of flair without overpowering the scene and can be reused every season.
image by free people
Glow String Lights
When done right, string lights aren’t just for dorm rooms and man caves. Place some around your porch plants, along your front door, or on top of other exterior décor to add a subtle sparkle. We love twinkle lights—they’re simple and elegant, so you can light up the inside or outside of your home with a pretty orange glow.
Target Room Essentials Extended LED Fairy Lights
We love this battery-operated option, it gives just the perfect amount of twinkling glow.
West Elm Simple String Lights
Elevate the look of string lights with these simple, yet elegant, rounded bulbs.
photo by Kristen Kilpatrick
Heirloom Is the New Black
Just because it’s autumn doesn’t mean your house needs to be orange and black. Decorate with white pumpkins, gourds, and mums rather than the traditional pumpkin route. Fairytale, or “Cinderella”, pumpkins (the flat, lighter-colored varieties) are great for a more modern feel, as they’re less traditional than your standard round, orange variety.
Since real pumpkins and gourds can get very pricey, faux options can be a great alternative, as they come in multiple sizes, and can be used year after year. They provide a woodsy nature vibe when mixed in with the rest of your pumpkins on the porch, and add a textured look to your indoor decor.
Pottery Barn Terracotta Pumpkins
These chic terracotta pumpkins were hand-carved and have a gorgeously timeless artisanal aesthetic.
Pottery Barn Handwoven Rattan Pumpkin
If you prefer a more rustic look, then take a look at these rattan pumpkins.
image by molly culver
Find New Heights
We recommend incorporating small side tables, garden stools, or apple crates into your front porch décor to create different levels for pumpkins, twinkle lights, and greenery. They’re also perfect for placing jack-o-lanterns or candy bowls on the night of Halloween.
Project 62 Marble Top Round Table
The criss-cross steel legs of this marble table add mid-century modern vibes. It’s a classy way to add some dimension to your holiday styling.
Project 62 Gino Turned Drum Accent Table
The drum shape of the table is as functional as it is stylish, and the black base adds to an overall haunted look.
image by molly culver
The Perfect Fall Wreath
The inspiration for Camille’s Halloween front porch decor started with a pretty natural wheat wreath. The neutral color and organic texture created the perfect focal piece for her front door. If you’re looking for a fun craft project, we suggest picking up some beautiful fall foliage from your local farmers’ market and creating your own. Here are some tips for mastering the DIY wreath.
Afloral Dried Grass and Grain Grapevine Wreath
Add this natural grapevine hoop wreath to your front porch. It’s adorned with dried grasses and grains in a natural color and includes oats, flax, and Phalaris grass.
CB2 Faux Pampas Taupe Wreath
The fanned-out motif gives this wreath a romantic, yet still very autumnal look.
image by hannah haston
Fresh Flowers
Freshen up your front porch pots with bright flowers—sunflowers, dahlias, or orange marigolds are great picks for fall. Since they require lots of sunlight to flourish, make sure you choose a spot that gets maximum light throughout the day. Check out our tips for creating the perfect arrangement in our fall flower guide.
The Bouqs Sunstone Bouquet
This moody arrangement features sunflowers, succulents, chrysanthemums, and more. It’s a magical, glowing feast for the eyes.
Urban Stems The Gold Rush
How dazzling are these gorgeous golden stems?
image by kristen kilpatrick
Light the Black Flame Candle
Flickering candlelight makes everything feel more special, and on Halloween, it adds a necessary spooky element too. We love the look of a mantle decked out with different types of candles in varying heights to create an inviting glow that’s visible as soon as trick or treaters (or party animals) walk through the door.
Diptyque Baies Candle
Invest in a statement candle from luxury brand Diptyque. It’s a mysterious and moody addition to any room.
Crate & Barrel Black Taper Candle
Get those haunted mansion vibes going with black taper candlesticks.
image by kailo chic
Dress Up Your Bottle Service
If I had to choose one thing to decorate inside my home (besides the fireplace mantle), it would be the bar cart. I mean, the life of the party needs its own costume too, right? Once your cart is decked out in true All Hallow’s Eve style, it’s time to pour yourself one of our favorite Halloween cocktails.
Target Threshold Metal, Wood, and Leather Bar Cart
This elegant bar cart is the perfect space to store your spirits as well as a bit of seasonal décor.
Pottery Barn Skeleton Hand Highball Glass
Get yourself a few of these standout glasses for a real seasonal impact that doesn’t feel too corny.
image by Melanie Grizzel
Fearful Florals
For a floral display that’s truly to die for, create custom poison labels and adhere them to empty glass bottles and jars. Then fill the bottles with dead and dried-up blooms… an arrangement that’s as easy to make as it is scary! We love these on a mantle, window sill, or spread out across a dining table with some surrounding greenery. Make your own with our free printables and DIY instructions here.
Tip: these also make amazing party favors for guests at roughly no cost at all. Pick your poison wisely.
Assorted Vintage Glass Bottles
Pick up a stack of vintage glass bottles like these to glam up your floral arrangements.
The Sill Linum Burgundy Bouquet
Add these moody, autumnal, and whimsical dried flowers to your glass bottles.
image by craftberry bush
Small Pumpkins for Small Spaces
The mini pumpkin is my ultimate go-to when looking for an inexpensive and easy way to add small accents of Halloween spirit throughout my home. Stack them in a large bowl or glass vase for your coffee table, or place them on top or next to vintage books on a bookshelf. We love imagining all the spooky ways we could style glass cloches.
Crate & Barrel Tilt 11” Glass Bowl
This tilt adds a bit of intrigue to an otherwise simple glass bowl.
Lights4fun, Inc. Glass Cloche with Wood Base
It doesn’t get more chic than a glass cloche, pop a pumpkin or even a skeleton hand in one for a more elevated Halloween appeal.
image by kate lesueur
Eat at Your Own Risk
A perfectly decorated table is the final touch that will tie all of your Halloween décor together. Want to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve in the chicest, most adult way possible? Look no further than this to-die-for black-on-black dinner party concept from a couple of years back for one of our Halloween parties. Even if you don’t love Halloween, there’s no denying the gorgeousness of this dark and moody scene.
Pottery Barn Mason Modern Stoneware 8-Piece Dinnerware Set
You’ll find yourself using these dark dishes more often than not, regardless of the season.
H&M Washed Linen Tablecloth
How lovely is this timeless linen tablecloth from H&M Home? It’s durable, easy to clean, and beautiful.
image by laura alexandra
Freaky Favors
Finish it off with an extra spooky touch and position wax-dipped roses at each place setting. We’ve got step-by-step instructions for this eerie yet easy DIY here.
Natural Soy Wax Chips
These soy wax chips go a long way, so you can make a whole bunch of these creepy flowers.
Black Wax Dye
This concentrated liquid candle dye will come in more handy than you think!
Happy fall, y’all! If all else fails, do as Morticia would do.
