Halloween Decorating Ideas
The best Halloween houses are not the ones with the most stuff, they are the ones that build a mood room by room. Work through the space the way your guests move through it, from the front door to the party room, and every pound of decoration earns its keep.
Here is how we style a home for Halloween, plus a simple colour scheme that ties the whole thing together.
Zone by zone
- Front door and path. This is the photo everyone takes. A hanging prop, a scene setter across the door and a couple of outdoor lights do most of the work. Add cobweb stretch and a few carved or no-carve pumpkins on the step.
- Hallway and stairs. Drape cobweb along the banister, run string lights up the rail and hang a few bats or ghosts at different heights so the eye travels.
- Party room. Pick one feature wall for a scene setter or backdrop, then build a balloon cluster or garland in front of it for the photos.
- Windows. Silhouettes and glow-in-the-dark shapes read brilliantly from the street after dark.
Pick a palette and stick to it
The classic Halloween scheme is orange and black, warmed up with purple and a hit of slime green. Choose two of these as your main colours, then use the other two as accents. Keeping to a tight palette across balloons, tableware and props is the single easiest way to make a home look styled rather than thrown together.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I decorate?
Indoor decorations can go up in the first week of October and stay looking fresh. For anything outdoor, the last week or so before the 31st is safest, as wind and rain take their toll on props and cobweb.
What is the cheapest way to make a big impact?
A scene setter or backdrop on one wall covers a huge area for a few pounds, and stretch cobweb goes a very long way. Add lighting and you have transformed a room without a big spend.
Start the look with Halloween decorations, then add scene setters & backdrops, lights and outdoor decorations.