Get in the Spirit!
Halloween is going to look quite a bit different this year. The coronavirus pandemic has put the kibosh on costume parades and door-to-door candy hunts in many communities across the nation.
In fact, according to the latest research from Morning Consult, 47% of families will be canceling their usual holiday parties altogether this season, and that includes Halloween celebrations.
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While your annual Halloween bash might be postponed to 2021, you can still bring the spooky vibes in a number of other ways. We fully endorse stocking up on all your favorite fun-size candy and planning a scary movie marathon. But there’s no better way to bring the spirit of All Hallows Eve to your home than by decorating.
To help you in this frightening endeavor, we’ve gathered a whole host of festive and stylish (and weird) items. No tacky decorations here! Just seasonal accessories that’ll stand the test of time and can get you and your family into the bone-chilling Halloween mood this year. After all, you need a break from the real-life scares of 2020, right?
Outdoor decor
Spirit Halloween
Ana Cummings of the eponymous design firm recommends maximizing your Halloween decor by placing it where it’ll get the most attention.
“I like to decorate the pathway and garden beds that lead up to my house, especially with gravestones and hands and bones sticking out of the dirt,” she says.
Check out these faux headstones ($49+, Etsy) made out of styrofoam and painted to resemble the real deal. Stick these skeleton hands ($11.99, Target) in your front lawn. We also love the look of luminary bags ($6.99, Spirit Halloween Headquarters) lining an entryway.
Skull planters
Lowe’s
Continue your decor efforts in high-traffic spots just inside your door, such as the foyer, a hall table, or in the family room. These skulls planters ($8 each, Lowe’s) are ideal picks since you don’t have to fuss over the low-maintenance succulent plants they hold. Instead, you’ll be left with lots of extra time to cook up some Halloween treats.
Purple pumpkin
Grandin Road
Sure, pumpkins are usually orange, but for something a little more sophisticated (and a lot stranger), look to darker shades like purple and black.
“Purple and green colors are great stand-alone options this year or as add-ons to the traditional orange and black scheme,” says Caroline Harmon, Lowe’s trend manager.
A lavender gourd ($39, Grandin Road) like the one above is covered in resin beads and gold accents. Consider getting several to line a window, or make one the centerpiece on your dining table.
Ghost doormat
Pottery Barn
How smart is this spectral door mat ($39, Pottery Barn)? Just step on it, and it’ll stay lit for up to 20 seconds, allowing you time to drop your bags and find your keys. Plus the all-natural coir material is genius for trapping dirt. And it’s mold- and mildew-resistant.
Plaid pumpkin throw pillow
Bed Bath & Beyond
Gingham is one of the most endearing fabric designs, so make this blocky pattern a part of your throw pillow collection. This soft pick pairs nicely with solid accessories in similar shades, and the cover removes easily for spot cleaning ($35, Bed Bath & Beyond).
Serving tray
World Market
There’s something chic yet gothic about this gold mirrored tray ($29.99, World Market) that makes it an ideal piece to incorporate into your decor during October. Place it on a coffee table with your favorite woodsy scented candle, or pile it up with baked goods to serve your family while watching a movie on Halloween night. We also love this tray ($39, Society6) featuring illustrations of bats, cobwebs, and other quintessential Halloween images.
Bat tablecloth
Wayfair
The polka-dot background saves this table cover ($43, Wayfair) from being too on the nose, which means you can use it beyond this sweet season and into the fall. You’ll appreciate a choice of four sizes to match your table needs, and the turquoise color doesn’t scream “Halloween” the way an orange one might.
Harvest wreath
The Home Depot
Adorn your front door with a wreath made of greens and natural branches. We love the one above dotted with tiny orange pumpkins.
You can also upgrade regular store items to make them appropriate for the autumn holidays with a fast coat of paint or glitter.
“I’ve seen grapevine wreaths sprayed black with twine webs on the inside,” says Cummings.
Pumpkin light
Lowe’s
For something different in your Halloween tableau, try this glowing trio of pumpkins ($23, Lowe’s). Plug it in and watch their faces glow. And the best part? No messy cleanup or candles are required to make these jack-o’-lanterns smile.