37 Elevated Halloween Decoration Ideas for the Spooky Sophisticate
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Halloween decoration ideas are meant to give you the heebie-jeebies—but not because they’re tacky. If you’re a design lover in search of a more upscale look for the holiday, you’ll want to create a spooky yet chic atmosphere that goes beyond hot-glue-covered candy corn and cottony faux cobwebs. Instead, channel vibes that are more wickedly stylish than batty.
As Louisville, Kentucky, interior designer Bethany Adams recommends, “Think more about creating a mood [as opposed to] a literal scene. Avoid plastic and instead use the things around your home that you already own, but repurposed and grouped in a way that feels spooky or autumnal.” DIY influencer Christine Higgs embraces the season’s decor with neutral colors and layers—not an overabundance of black spray paint.
According to Pinterest’s latest Halloween trend report, “vintage Halloween” is a popular theme in costumes and decor, with the search for the phrase rising 50%, while “disco Halloween decor” is up 175% from last year. The report also showed that ’70s and ’90s decor is making a comeback, as is “boho Halloween.” Our point: Think outside the jack-o’-lanterns. Even if a Halloween party is not in the books for you, you can create haunted house vibes by loading up on candles. There’s no shortage of hauntingly stylish options on the market—Voluspa just launched their Wicked collection, which features an emerald Elphaba-inspired home fragrance.
To help you on your way, we’ve gathered more than two dozen Halloween decoration ideas that run the gamut from pumpkin displays and darkly festive wreaths to Addams Family–approved tablescapes or black-and-orange floral designs that are anything but cliché. Read on for 37 creepy-chic Halloween decor ideas that are bound to make you scream—in delight!
Photo: Courtesy of Hudson Grace1/37Haunt your coffee table
Set a classic black-and-white scene by stacking coffee table books, then arranging a tasteful display of haunted objects around them. Consider adding a ceramic skull or a crystal votive for an elegantly spooky atmosphere. A smudge stick can contribute to the tableau’s look while also filling your home with a serene sage scent.
Photo: JL Jordan Photography2/37Stack heirloom pumpkins
Save yourself the effort of lugging a wagon full of unwieldy pumpkins and opt for the little heirloom version of the winter squash instead. These pastel-hued gourds are easily arranged one on top of another, so they work well as a stacked display—or solo with their own urn planter pedestal, as Adams did here. Adding a few hurricane lanterns to your outdoor Halloween decorations amps up the glamour in the late hours when trick-or-treaters arrive.
Photo: JL Jordan Photography3/37Curate candles and crystals
Consider a crystal-and-candle display with items across a range of shapes and sizes. “Crystals are naturally abstract in size, so I like to place them where they most balance out the candles,” Adams says. “These giant minerals are a fantastic backdrop to the candlelight—when it gets dark outside, the light reflects and refracts in the crystals and it is truly gorgeous.” One important thing to note when decorating with large minerals or crystals: Reach for a package of sticky felt pads (the kind made for furniture legs) to prevent scratches on your table top.
Photo: Drew Michael Scott4/37Amp up pumpkin decorating
DIY’er extraordinaire Drew Michael Scott of Lone Fox took Halloween crafts to another level with a starry night pumpkin, offering a unique twist on the classic jack-o’-lantern. “Rattan stars are a perfect option for a carved pumpkin because they bring a whimsical vibe that instantly elevates the look, giving it a more dreamy aesthetic compared to traditional designs,” Scott says. “The best part is that it’s a faux, carvable pumpkin that can be reused year after year.”
Photo: Fernando Kabigting of FDK Florals / Asmite Gherezgiher.5/37Elevate the orange-and-black palette
Brooklyn studio FDK Florals uses vibrant blooms, like these sunny marigolds arranged on ceramic pedestal bowls by Mondays, to create a refined Halloween tablescape. It’s as if the pieces are having “an effortless conversation” during a spooky gathering, FDK Florals owner and designer Fernando Kabigting says.
Photo and Styling: Meghan Mcneer6/37Channel Beetlejuice
In search of offbeat Halloween ideas? Look to cinema. Photographer and stylist Meghan Mcneer did just that by pairing a Beetlejuice-esque pinstriped tablecloth with a whimsical assemblage of foods. Opt for evocative colors, textures, and shapes; Mcneer’s edible centerpiece oozes with vibrant wine reds, blue cheese, and witch finger grapes. She placed everything on two black cutting boards and rounded out the display with pumpkins, a black cat, a crystal ball, and digestif glasses that functioned as vases to keep the flowers low.
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Photo: Laura Jenkins7/37Call in the birds
Leave it to Atlanta-based interior designer Laura W. Jenkins to invite “a stately raven of the saintly days of yore” to her Halloween party. She set a chillingly stylish tablescape with the bird, a black-and-white ticking stripe runner from Target, and a vintage vase filled with eucalyptus leaves and willow branches for an overall effect that is both spooky and pretty. “The decor is approved by my eight-year-old and is elevated enough for adult dinner parties,” she says.
Photo: Fernando Kabigting of FDK Florals / Asmite Gherezgiher8/37Make flowers supernatural
Floral bouquets can have an air of mystery if you pair the blooms with a medley of artful ceramic vases. Asmite Gherezgiher, owner and designer of the floral studio Asmite in Brooklyn, arranged some seemingly uncomplimentary pieces to set an otherworldly mood for the month of October. The rounded Mondays New Moon vase and spindly branches might not be the most obvious pairing, but that unexpected juxtaposition is what makes it such an entrancing scene.
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Photo: Teresa Boyd9/37Design with a bite
Halloween costumes can apply to table settings. This setup by interior designers Teresa Boyd and Helena Finkelstein of Olive Hill Design Company evokes Little Shop of Horrors: dining edition. The faux fly traps sit in a moss base yet don’t skew too kitschy, as the black napkins, brass candlesticks, and deep plum tablecloth elevate the entire design.
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Photo: Drew Michael Scott10/37Bring branches in
Search your front yard for branches—the more awkward, the better. Scott found some with leaves still attached and arranged them in a large vessel. To further enhance the eerie design, he added faux feathered crows and used black wire to create a spiderweb pattern.
Photo: Patricia Burke11/37Go dramatic with life-size skulls
For DIY Halloween decorations that can’t be missed, opt for skulls as the focal point for each place setting. You can find these on Amazon, the Dollar Store, or really any place that sells Halloween party decor. To make the setup a little more refined, prop the skull up on a vintage-looking book and you’ve got a vignette suited for a witches reunion.
Photo: Christian Bruno & Nancy Roche12/37Plush pumpkins
For diehard pumpkin fans, here’s a squishy squash you can actually cuddle. Make your own pillowy patch by following a TikTok tutorial from content creator Christine Higgs.“I wanted to come up with an easy way for my followers to create [pumpkin pillows] in the comfort of their homes as a fun fall craft.”
To usher in autumn with this DIY Halloween pumpkin, start with a rectangle of fluffy fabric (22-by-11 inches will make a small pumpkin silhouette). Use a tapestry needle to sew a running stitch along both of the long edges. Fold your fabric in half, with the fluffy side facing in, and stitch along the short edge. Pull the two tail threads on one edge and tie them shut. This is the bottom of your pumpkin. Stuff the pillow, then tie it shut. Guide the jute twine under the pillow. Bring it to the top, cross the string over, and wrap it back around the bottom of the pillow. Continue this step to create pumpkin grooves, altering from the top and bottom of the pillow—kind of like wrapping a present. Tie the twine tight when you finish. For the stem, cut the unicorn horn and use a glue gun to attach, then hot glue the jute twine to cover the foam. A small burlap square glued on top of the stem is the final touch.
Photo: JolieQ13/37A ghostly candle arrangement
A haunted house vibe doesn’t have to be creepy; in fact, this DIY project with wine-bottle candle holders can work as both a centerpiece or a fireplace mantel arrangement. Gather as many white tapered candles as you can find and place into clean wine bottles. Empty soda bottles and even glass sauce containers will do too. The varying sizes give this display depth. If you want to make it extra spooky, weave in a few spider webs between the bottles.
Photo: The Craft Aisle14/37A snake Halloween wreath
Sonia Spalvieri and Caverleigh Tuer of The Craft Aisle prefer a Halloween wreath, especially one covered in snakes, to the Christmas variety. Spalvieri says, “The snakes blend in eerily well with the grapevine and slowly become more obvious as you get closer to the door. It's like a trick-or-treat for the eyes!” You can make this charmer under $20 by hot-glueing rubber snakes to a grapevine wreath, then going to town with exterior black spray paint to make this craft a coveted outdoor Halloween decoration.
Photo: Madeline Harper15/37Lay out a moss table runner
Create a woodsy vibe with a table runner made of moss. Austin–based designer Anastasia Casey, founder of The Identité Collective, used the single greenery element to focus on the simplicity of candlelight. “Keep the color palette neutral and earthy, allowing the vibrant fresh moss set against the table’s wood tones to speak for itself,” she says.
Casey used pre-cleaned moss for her tablescape. But if you plan to bring some from the outdoors, make sure it is dry and free of creepy crawlies (unless that’s the spooky effect you’re going for!). For a seamless moss runner, Casey first placed craft paper on the table, measuring the size of the runner she wanted. Then she used a spray adhesive to glue the moss to the paper. You may need more than one moss layer for depth, dimension, and a realistic effect. Add in pillar candles of various sizes and heights to echo a wooded terrain.
Photo: C.Harder for Greentree Home Candle16/37Jet black candlesticks
Allow to holiday to bring you over to the dark side—aesthetically, of course. A collection of black candles makes for a chic addition to your Halloween party decor. Mix rope and cone taper candles with a fluted pillar—like this array from Greentree Home. Pair the black candlesticks with brass candle holders for an antique spin.
Photo: Aurelie Erikson17/37Bubbling cauldron
“Come, we fly!” Aurelie Erikson was inspired by the witches of Hocus Pocus when she made a decorative boiling cauldron. But instead of an evil green elixir, this pot is filled with strategically placed iridescent glass ornaments that resemble bubbles.
Photo: Uneek Photography18/37A pumpkin-centric centerpiece
John McClain, Los Angeles interior designer and author of The Designer Within, chose to celebrate the harvest and Halloween season with a not-so-spooky scene of abundance: Pumpkins and gourds of varying heights and textures mingle in a ghostly cloud of smoky tulle to create a tablescape. McClain used glass kitchen canisters as candy cloches and a perfect place for a pop of the iconic candy corn. “Even Adonis [in the background] gets in on the fun by wearing a cheeky mask," he adds.
Photo: C.Harder for Greentree Home Candle19/37Focus on the fireplace
A fireplace is often the focal point of any room, and that’s perhaps why it’s especially important to put Halloween decorations in this part of the house. Employ a half dozen hurricane candle holders (you can always paint the ones you already have with black spray paint), fill with votive candles and pillar candles, and place them just outside the hearth. For an extra touch of woodsy vibes, line Greentree Home twig taper candles along the mantel.
Photo: April Amoroso20/37Monochromatic bug bottles
Dare you say these creepy-crawly containers look…chic? Their monochromatic paint disguises the fact that they’re actually plastic bugs glued to bottles. “This idea came to me when I saw a similar bug-themed Halloween decoration for $20,” says influencer April Amoroso. “I knew I could create a similar look for less money.” The bug bottles are a perfect way to decorate for a Halloween party. Place the spooky prop on a mantel, bookshelf, or entryway table. To make a bug bottle, all you need is a hot-glue gun, black spray paint, a vase, and of course some plastic creepy crawlies. Just hot-glue the bug to the vase and spray-paint the whole piece.
Photo: Isabella Strambio21/37Macramé pumpkin holder
Carve ’em, paint ’em, or…hang your pumpkins! Artist Isabella Strambio shows that a macrame pumpkin holder is an easy DIY project that requires a natural cotton cord, a wooden ring, and a bit of finger dexterity. Once Halloween is over, says Strambio, use the holder as a plant hanger for year-round boho decor.
Photo: Joy Fuller22/37An abstract pumpkin
TikTok content creator Joy Fuller was inspired by a metal-framed propagation station, a darling of boho decor. Her budget-friendly creation that looks like a Picasso-created pumpkin, made with supplies from Dollar Tree, still looks high-end. Fuller used orange yarn for a truly autumnal look. She also chose a faux succulent so the home decor can stick around beyond the holidays. To make a faux propagating piece, she painted the wreath form with Hazelnut chalk paint by Waverly Inspirations to mask the original green hue. Then she wrapped the wreath with yard and hot-glued the ends in place. After painting the wood base, she attached the form, also with hot glue, and let it set. Choose a small pot with a floral and adhere to the center of the form with (you guessed it) more hot glue.
Photo: C.Harder for Greentree Home Candle23/37Embrace amber tones and gilded details
If orange and black aren’t your jam but you still want to tap into the Halloween spirit, curate a cocktail bar station filled with golden tones (and plenty of spiked cider). This is the time to pull out heirloom glassware or take a trip to the nearest antique store or flea market. Add a few Greentree Home beeswax votives to give your display a dose of spooktacular charm.
Photo: Natasha Breen24/37Employ dry branches
Out of Halloween decoration ideas? No problem. Gather all the pumpkins in the house, but make it interesting by pairing them with a display of dry, leafless branches for a spooky twist on the holiday staple.
Photo: Evbokia Spure25/37…Or opt for dried flowers
Dried flowers create a truly macabre Halloween display. But that doesn’t mean you have to resort to something that looks like it grows along side your compost. Look for black craspedia or noir faux eucalyptus stems to give your display a bit of panache. In a pinch, look through your yard—most plants are probably on their way out for the season. Pair with a sleek vase so the display still looks sophisticated.
Photo: freemixer26/37Play with ornamental grasses
Trim and place ornamental grasses in a bowl. To make the display more Halloween than fall, implement chic black grasses like Black Bunny tails, which also come in a smoky gray so you can create an ombré effect.
Photo: Andreas von Einsiedel27/37Charm with a chandelier
No haunted house is complete without a statement chandelier, especially if you can create something use black spray paint to give it that creepy factor. YouTuber DIY Karem makes an impressive chandelier with Dollar Tree finds that include wire bowls, plastic beads, and votive candles.
Photo: Madeline Harper28/37A woodsy tablescape
Casey created a table design inspired by the rich color tones of fall with moody autumnal florals at the very center of the scene. Dark red dahlias, fresh pomegranates, and bosc pears made the tablescape enticing and played off the color palette in the perfect way. The matte black finish on the dining chairs completed the Halloween party decor.
Photo: Calynn Rosano29/37A celestial Halloween wreath
Influencer Calynn Rosano proves that the season’s home decor doesn’t have to be petrifying—it can be pretty, too. This starry wreath combines spiderwebs, dried sprigs, and a sparkly ribbon. Hang it on your front door for a cheerful way to greet guests at a Halloween party.
Photo: Jordan Schultz30/37A decorative dough-bowl centerpiece
Party decorations don’t have to be spooky. Jordan Schultz showed off her centerpiece tutorial on TikTok. She created this fall centerpiece in a wooden dough bowl to intertwine the season with home decor. The trick is in layering foliage like eucalyptus leaves and hydrangea stems on the bottom (faux foliage will work great here). Then add a twine-wrapped pumpkin in the center and candlesticks on each side, also topped with a gilded mini pumpkins.
Photo: Rox Van Del31/37A decoupage ghost vase
Take a cue from Rox Van Del and add ghost cutouts to a thrift-store vase. Start by using drywall mud and paint to create the textured look. Then adhere the cutest ghoul silhouettes with Mod Podge. The subtle Halloween design is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to indulge in cheesy party decorations.
Photo: Rachel Larmour32/37Bat wall installation
Multi-size paper bat cutouts can cascade on any wall—be it in the entryway next to the Halloween candy bowl or as part of your outdoor Halloween decorations. Rachel Larmour folded the card-stock creatures in the center to give them a 3D appearance. She then attached the bat family with double-sided sticky foam pads. If you don’t have time to fold a dozen paper bats, stock up on plastic bat cutouts on Amazon.
Photo: Julie Sousa33/37Spiderweb pendant with string lights
What looks like a project that could involve an electrician is actually just a combo of $5 items from Target and battery-operated twinkle string lights found on Amazon. DIY influencer Julie Sousa made these spiderweb pendants, getting creative with some decorative globe objects and placemats that she used as a makeshift lampshade, which fanned out thanks to lollipop sticks (a new use for leftover Halloween candy, perhaps?)
Photo: Kalli Levasseur34/37Set a spooky vignette
Sometimes a Halloween DIY project is more about home decor than crafting. Select a designated spot and work it with accessories. Here, Kalli LeVasseur adorned the fireplace with a pumpkin-filled hearth, a black muslin mirror wrap, and a ghostly garland. Adding a skeleton to the setup is a bonus treat.
Photo: Nikki Le35/37Terra-cotta-style jack-o’-Lantern
A posh terra-cotta pumpkin can cost upwards of $100. Influencer Nikki Le has a DIY solution that cost her a fraction of that price: She went to Michaels and bought a $15 ceramic jack-o’-lantern, then coated it in a mixture of acrylic paint and baking powder to achieve that earthy terra-cotta texture.
Photo: Adrienne Brown36/37A paper scroll wreath
Here’s a boo-kish take on a Halloween wreath by Adrienne Brown. “I enjoy upcycling old paperback books and including them in projects,” Brown says. “Here, rolled pages make the perfect wreath that can fit in with all types of Halloween decorations.”
Photo: Macy Blackwell37/37Glowing porch ghost
For an outdoor Halloween decoration, see how influencer Macy Blackwell turns a tomato cage into a light-up ghost on TikTok. She says, “These little ghosts remind me of the Peanuts gang when they’re in costume in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”
