Halloween gives you a chance to get creative and turn your house into a spooky sight. You can go for different looks - a creepy old house, a fun place for kids with goblins, a scary bloody scene, or a nice autumn theme.
Here we show you four different ways to decorate for Halloween, each one aimed to help create the right scary mood for trick-or-treaters and guests.
We'll also give you some tips to keep your outdoor Halloween decorations both fun and safe.
Abandoned House Theme
The abandoned house theme is a go-to pick for Halloween giving your place a creepy haunted vibe that both fascinates and frightens guests. This idea is all about making your home look like a deserted spooky place, with spider webs, lights that flicker, and an overall feeling of things falling apart.
Setting Up the Scene
To transform your house into an eerie empty dwelling, begin by paying attention to spots like windows, porches, and entrances. Here are some key things to think about:
- Cobwebs and Artificial Spiders: Hang cobwebs on windows and door frames, and put artificial spiders around to scare people. Take a look at this set of Halloween decorations to find the right spiders and webs for your design.
- Broken-Glass Stickers: Stick broken-glass decals on windows to make them look shattered.
- Dark Lighting: Switch out porch lights for black lights or yellow bulbs to make a dim spooky glow that adds to the creepy mood.
- Boarded Windows: Put wood pieces across windows to make them look boarded-up, like the house has been empty for a long time.
- Dead Plant Arrangements: When the first frost kills your summer flowers, collect the dead stems to create eerie arrangements that add to the abandoned look.
- Flickering Electric Candles: Set up flickering electric candles in the windows to mimic the glow of candlelight in a house that's thought to be haunted.
For a detailed list of objects that can enhance your Halloween decor, refer to our guide on what objects are used during Halloween to decorate.
🔆 Key Takeaway: The abandoned house theme suits people who aim to create an eerie, ghost-like appearance. You can turn your home into a spine-chilling sight that embodies the spirit of Halloween by using basic decorations such as spider webs, cracked-glass stickers and spooky lighting.
Kid-Friendly Goblin House
For families with small children or those who like a less scary approach, the kid-friendly goblin house theme mixes fun decorations with just enough spookiness. This theme focuses on making a welcoming and exciting environment that kids will enjoy.
Crafts and Decorations
Get your kids to help with the decorations by including simple enjoyable crafts and ornaments. Here are some suggestions below:
- Pumpkin Carving and Painting: Let your kids carve or paint pumpkins to spruce up your porch. This lets them get creative and puts their own stamp on your Halloween setup.
- DIY Ghost Decorations: Make simple ghost decorations with bed sheets or plastic drop cloths. Hang these spooky spirits from tree branches or porch railings to add a fun eerie vibe.
- Jack-o'-Lantern Scarecrows: Build scarecrows using old clothes, straw, and silly hats then top them off with jack-o'-lantern heads for a goofy twist.
- Black Light Porch Light: Switch out your regular porch light bulb for a black light. This creates a cool glowing look that fits right in with the goblin house theme.
- Homemade Paper Decorations: Cut out shapes from white paper to make decorations for your front porch. You can hang up bats, ghosts, or even some friendly goblins.
- Halloween Tree: Put together a Halloween tree using orange and black streamers. Add strings of orange lights and hang up Halloween-themed ornaments you've made yourself.
- Inflatable Decorations: Put up inflatable decorations like this 6ft Inflatable Halloween Pumpkin Display Set with LED Lights to create a standout centrepiece.
🔆 Key Takeaway: The goblin house theme works well for families who want to create a fun festive vibe. When you get kids involved in making decorations and picking playful elements, you can make Halloween fun and unforgettable for everyone.
Gory Scene
If horror movies excite you or you like a good scare, you might love the gory scene theme. This theme aims to create a chilling unsettling atmosphere that sticks in the minds of all who visit.
Setting the Scene
To build a gory scene, mix creepy props disturbing visuals, and spooky sound effects. Here are some ways to bring this theme to life:
- Tombstones: Colour pieces of wood or cardboard to look like tombstones and place them across the lawn to make a fake graveyard.
- Skeletons and Ghouls: Set up skeletons, ghouls, and monsters in different poses around the yard to give the feeling of a spooky graveyard.
- Creepy Props: Add rats, spiders, and other scary critters to your decorations to make the atmosphere more chilling.
- Scary Figures and Silhouettes: Stick scary-looking figures or shapes on trees to create an unsettling effect.
- Old Furniture and Dolls: Put old broken furniture and spooky dolls together to build a frightening scene that looks like it's from a horror movie.
- Smoke Machine and Sound Effects: Set up a smoke machine for a foggy eerie vibe and play creepy sounds on a stereo to create the right atmosphere.
🔆 Key Takeaway: The bloody scene theme suits folks who enjoy a good fright and aim to create a scary Halloween setup. By mixing spooky props disturbing visuals, and eerie sounds, you can transform your house into the ultimate haunted spot.
Harvest House
If you like a more classic and snug approach to Halloween, the harvest house theme gives a warm festive vibe that celebrates autumn's beauty. This theme works great for those who want to blend Halloween elements with autumn charm.
Autumnal Decor
The harvest house theme aims to bring in natural rustic features that create the atmosphere of a classic autumn harvest. Here are some suggestions to kick things off:
- Bales of Straw: Put straw bales around to create a country, farm-like feel. You can place these in your yard or use them as seats.
- Cornstalks and Scarecrows: Set up cornstalks along your path or porch and put scarecrows in key spots to get that classic fall look.
- Pumpkins and Gourds: Spruce up your space with pumpkins and gourds of all shapes and sizes.
- Corn and Harvest Decor: Add dried corn, wheat bundles, and other harvest-themed items to boost the rustic vibe.
- Orange String Lights: Hang orange string lights and a "Boo" sign to give your entrance a warm glow and greet visitors.
- Combination of Spooky and Cosy Elements: Blend scary items like ghosts or skeletons with warm, cosy decorations to attract both Halloween enthusiasts and autumn admirers.
🔆 Key Takeaway: The harvest house theme adds warmth and a festive autumn vibe. By using natural rustic elements, you can set up a snug and welcoming space that showcases the beauty of autumn.
Halloween Decorating Safety
Halloween decorations should be fun and creative, but safety must come first. No matter which theme you pick, you need to make sure your decorations are safe for trick-or-treaters and guests. Here are some crucial safety tips to remember:
Strategic Lighting
- Low Lights: Halloween thrives on darkness, but you need dim lights to show visitors the way. Think about using pirate path lamps or other lighting that lets people see while keeping things eerie.
Clear Walkways
- Keep Walkways Clear: Make sure all walkways don't have decorations, and stick down any power cords well to stop people from tripping. If you've got low decorations or wires hanging from trees in your garden, use tombstones or straw bales to build a barrier and keep visitors safe.
Fire Safety
- Avoid Open Flames: Battery-powered candles serve as a great substitute for traditional candles and work well inside jack-o'-lanterns. Solar or plug-in spotlights can create eerie shadows and light up paths without posing a fire risk. Never leave lit candles unattended even when placed inside a pumpkin, and skip bonfires if your neighbourhood sees lots of trick-or-treaters.
Safe 'Tricks'
- Keep 'Tricks' Fun and Safe: If you have scary characters, surprise goblins, or hanging spiders, make sure they don't touch or trip anyone. It's better to pretend to trick than to risk hurting or scaring someone.
🔆 Key Takeaway: Putting safety first makes sure Halloween is fun and nobody gets hurt. When you follow these safety tips, you can set up a spooky scene that's both exciting and safe for all.
In Summary
Halloween decorating gives you countless chances to be creative and have fun. You can choose from many styles: a spooky abandoned house, a playful goblin home, a chilling gory scene, or a cosy harvest theme.
There's a Halloween look that suits everyone. Just remember to decorate to make sure Halloween is enjoyable for all.