The 18 Best Halloween Decorations for Your Home and Yard in 2022

The Halloween Corn Husk Wreath from Williams Sonoma will carry you from Halloween through Thanksgiving thanks to its fall-centered design.

 

 

 

WILLIAMS SONOMA

 

Why You Should Get It: It’s a rare wreath that screams both “Halloween” and “harvest time,” but this one does. It can stretch from Labor Day all the way through Thanksgiving and still look seasonally appropriate.

 

Keep In Mind: It should stay in a sheltered area to maintain its good looks and shape. Avoid moisture, direct sunlight, and excessive heat.

 

This wreath features dried corn husks that have been artfully painted with the hues of the season—artisanal orange and rich black—and then mounted to a dried-twig base in a stunning spiral. The result is an eye-catching decoration that speaks to the season—and beyond. It’s ideal for a front door so passersby can admire it, as well as several interior spots: on a bookcase, mirror, or gallery wall.

 

 

 

• Size: 22 inches in diameter
• Material: Dried corn husks on a twig base
• For use: Indoors and in protected outdoor areas
• Power type: N/A

Best Halloween Lights: Hyde & Eek! Boutique Incandescent Spider Web Halloween Novelty Silhouette Light

 

 

TARGET

 

Why You Should Get It: Not just another ho-hum strand of orange or purple lights, this one is creepy and crawly, and it’s versatile enough to go almost anywhere.

 

Keep In Mind: The bulbs are incandescent, so they may get hot or burn out quickly. The strand might also require an extension cord, depending on where you hang it.

 

Eerie on its own or layered with a garland, these novelty lights are a little startling—but that’s the whole point. Three glowing green spiders are perched on orange-lighted webs for a spooky display that works indoors or out—the strand is safe for both applications. Leave the lights unplugged for a subtle display, or light up the spiders and their webs for an extra dose of fright. You can hang these lights along the top of a doorway, fireplace mantle, bookcase, or front porch.

 

 

 

• Size: 70 inches long x 11 inches tall
• Material: PVC cord and glass bulbs
• For use: Indoors and outdoors
• Power type: Electric

Best for Front Doors: Grandin Road Pumpkin Luminary

 

 

 

Why You Should Get It: Two sizes and three colors let you create a pretty “patch” of these glowing pumpkins on your front stoop—or even a hearth or tabletop.

 

Keep In Mind: Put them in a covered area, such as a porch, so they don’t rust or weather. The flameless candle is sold separately.

 

We all love the look of pumpkins piled on a porch or patio, but after a while, real pumpkins start to go south. Not so with these gorgeous gourds: They closely resemble real pumpkins in shape and color, but they’re crafted of powder-coated metal for durability and longevity. These luminaries will last season after season.

 

There’s an opening in the bottom for a candle (with a real flame or flameless), and its light will shine through the gaps all around the luminary—imagine the glow on a dark October evening.

 

“What’s best about these is the ambiance they give off,” Lambert says. “They can be used with real or faux candles and would make a beautiful lit pathway up to your home or on the front porch.”

 

Keep in mind that you’ll want to keep them in a protected area if you place them outdoors, so they don’t get damaged by the elements. You’ll also need to provide your own flameless candle.

 

 

 

• Size: 14-inch diameter x 15 inches tall for the short pumpkin; 12-inch diameter x 18 inches tall for the tall pumpkin
• Material: Metal with a protective powder-coat finish
• For use: Indoors and protected outdoor areas
• Power type: A 3-inch-diameter flameless candle is recommended

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Best Welcome Mat: Pottery Barn Bats Light Up Doormat

 

 

 

Why You Should Get It: This doormat, which displays a bevy of bats silhouetted against the moon, hides a surprise: When the mat is stepped on, embedded LED bulbs light up like stars.

 

Keep In Mind: Shedding is natural and will diminish over time.

 

Yet another way to welcome trick-or-treaters to your home, this doormat nods to the season with its flock of bats sailing through the sky. And as soon as anyone steps on the mat, the sky’s “stars” light up for a fun surprise.

 

The coir mat is excellent for absorbing moisture and trapping dirt before it enters the house, and it’s an easy swap-out to celebrate the new season. Keep in mind that this rug may naturally shed at first, but this should improve as time goes on. Brush, shake, or vacuum to maintain its handsome appearance.

 

 

 

• Size: 18 x 30 inches and 22 x 36 inches
• Material: Coir with black PVC backing
• For use: Outdoors in a protected area
• Power type: Not listed

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Best Serving Bowl: Bonjour Fete Halloween Toile Round Platter

 

 

 

Why You Should Get It: Whether you use it for drinks and snacks or it serves as the base layer for a centerpiece or tablescape, this platter is both charming and a little cheeky.

 

Keep In Mind: Melamine can break if you drop it on a hard surface.

 

This platter is printed in a toile pattern, which is normally associated with long-ago scenes of country life. But this little number depicts haunted houses and spooky cemeteries, all rendered in Halloweeny orange and black. (We love an unexpected twist on tradition!)

 

Plus, it’s made of easy-care melamine that’s food safe, so it can hold snacks, candy, or desserts while it’s honoring Halloween. Just make sure not to drop it on a hard floor or it could break.

 

 

 

• Size: 16 inches
• Material: Melamine
• For use: Indoors, food-safe
• Power type: N/A

Best Garland: Glitterville Studios Bountiful Bat Garland

• Size: 72 inches long
• Material: Paper mache, natural rope, and cotton
• For use: Indoors
• Power type: N/A

Best Inflatable: Spirit Halloween 9-Foot Light-Up Jack-O’-Lantern Archway Inflatable Decoration

• Size: 108 inches tall
• Material: Polyester
• For use: Covered outdoor areas
• Power type: Electric

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Best Faux Pumpkins: West Elm Faux Pumpkins

 

 

Why You Should Get It: Available in three sizes and two colors (sage green and ivory), these faux pumpkins could definitely pass for the real thing—but they’re lightweight and will last for years.

 

Keep In Mind: Their handsome hues are painted on, so take care not to scuff them.

 

With the same irregular shapes, curled stems, and variegated colors as real pumpkins and gourds, these faux versions just might fool you. Assemble several together for big impact as a centerpiece, in a vase, or on a sideboard, or spread them across the room for just a sprinkling of fall festivity.

 

Because they look so real and their colors are so soft, they’ll mingle merrily with other fall-themed décor, lasting you the entire autumn season.

 

When packing them away as you transition to winter decor, make sure to wrap them carefully in cloth or newspaper so you don’t scratch their painted surfaces.

 

 

 

• Size: Small pumpkin is 2.25 inches in diameter x 2 inches tall; medium is 3 inches in diameter x 3.5 inches tall; large is 3.5 inches in diameter x 3.5 inches tall
• Material: Painted Styrofoam and plastic
• For use: Indoors
• Power type: N/A

Best for Mantels: Pottery Barn Lit Black Wire Pumpkins

 

 

Why You Should Get It: Constructed of fine wire but robust in appearance, these hollow lit pumpkins are sizable enough to make a statement wherever you put them.

 

Keep In Mind: You’ll need to supply your own batteries.

 

Beefy enough at 20 and 30 inches tall to serve as the only decoration on a mantel or hearth, these wire pumpkins can also mix well with other accessories thanks to their streamlined shape and black color.

 

Strung with tiny LED lights, they cast enough light to resemble lanterns when lit—you’ll just need to provide your own batteries. The pumpkins’ iron and plastic construction means they could work just as well outside, too.

 

 

 

• Size: 16 inches in diameter x 20 inches tall; 30 inches in diameter x 30 inches tall
• Material: Iron and plastic
• For use: Indoors and outdoors
• Power type: Four D batteries (not included)

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Best Vintage-Inspired: Grandin Road Vintage Halloween Scale

• Size: 17.75 inches wide x 8 inches deep x 16.25 inches tall
• Material: Iron and aluminum with an oil-rubbed bronze finish
• For use: Indoors
• Power type: N/A

Best Centerpieces: H For Happy 13-Piece Halloween Village Set with LED Lights

BED BATH & BEYOND

 

Why You Should Get It: Inserting tea lights (included) in the houses illuminates their windows with colored light.

 

Keep In Mind: When the tea lights are off, the houses are black and white.

 

Four ceramic houses and five bottle brush trees congregate into a spooky—but also quite charming—haunted village. The houses are decorated with cats, bats, and ghosts, and the trees come in black, orange, and purple. The set is freestanding, so you can arrange the houses and trees any way you want.

 

The set comes with four LED tea lights (and the necessary batteries) to slip inside each house so the windows light up yellow, orange, and purple. The lights even have a timer function so you can turn them on and off on a set schedule. When the lights are off, the houses are black and white.

 

 

 

• Size: Ceramic houses range from 4.3 to 5.4 inches long, 3.3 to 3.5 inches wide, and 4.45 to 7.9 inches tall; bottle brush trees range from 2 to 3 inches in diameter and 4 to 6 inches tall.
• Material: Porcelain, plastic, metal, and glass
• For use: Indoors
• Power type: Eight LR44 button cell batteries (included)

Best Candy Bowl: H For Happy Halloween Ghost Candy Dish

 

 

Why You Should Get It: Ghosts should be scary, but this one’s big grin makes us smile. Trick-or-treaters will be delighted to reach into its big mouth for candy.

 

Keep In Mind: This dish must be hand washed.

 

Win over every kid in the neighborhood by stashing this year’s Halloween candy in this ghost-shaped dish. As little ones reach into his mouth for their loot, they’ll probably hoot at his big smile.

 

Made of ceramic for heft and durability, this dish should last for years, but make sure you hand wash it to keep it looking nice.

 

 

 

• Size: 7.8 inches in diameter x 10.9 inches tall
• Material: Ceramic
• For use: Indoors
• Power type: N/A

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Best Lawn Décor: Grandin Road Yard Pumpkin

• Size: Small pumpkin is 27 inches in diameter x 21.25 inches tall; medium is 22.5 inches in diameter x 27 inches tall; large is 30.5 inches in diameter x 29.75 inches tall
• Material: Resin
• For use: Indoors and outdoors
• Power type: N/A

Best Kitchen Towels: Primitives by Kathy Happy Halloween Kitchen Towel

 

 

Why You Should Get It: There’s not a ghost, pumpkin, or witch to be seen on this jaunty striped towel, just happy holiday wishes and kicky black tassels—we adore the elegance.

 

Keep In Mind: Tassels can get a bit tangled in the washing machine.

 

It can be hard to Halloween-ify certain rooms—say, the kitchen or bathroom—but this cotton towel manages to bridge that gap. It’s unmistakably Halloween themed because of its orange, black, and white stripes, but it’s also subtle, sophisticated, and downright cute.

 

It’s perfectly sized to fold by the sink as well as machine washable. Remove the towel from the wash when slightly damp and “comb” the strands with your fingers to straighten to prevent tangling.

 

 

• Size: 20 x 28 inches
• Material: Cotton
• For use: Indoors
• Power type: N/A

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Best Outdoor Tree Decorations: Pottery Barn Hanging Spider LED String Lights (Set of Four)

 

 

Why You Should Get It: The combination of LED candles and creepy, crawly spiders will give everybody the willies when these lights are strung from tree branches—they look like they’re hanging in mid-air.

 

Keep In Mind: These come in a set of four. If you want a bigger impact (or your tree has wide-spreading branches), you’ll need multiple sets.

 

Designed to hang from tree branches invisibly, these ivory LED candles come in a set of four and are crawling with black spiders—they’re sure to give you the heebie-jeebies when you walk by. They can also add some spooky illumination to windows, porches, and shrubs.

 

The LED lights are battery-powered and feature a six-hour timer so you can set them to turn on and turn off automatically.

 

They’re made in a Fair Trade Certified factory where workers receive extra funds for every product sold, and those funds are used for community projects the workers themselves choose.

 

 

 

• Size: 3.75 inches long x 2.5 inches wide x 8 inches tall
• Material: Metal, plastic, and ivory LED lights
• For use: Indoors and outdoors
• Power type: Two AA batteries (not included)

Best Throw Pillow: Pottery Barn Faux Fur Spider Shaped Pillow

 

POTTERY BARNView On Pottery Barn

 

Why You Should Get It: Seeing this faux fur spider pillow out of the corner of your eye will make you do a double take—but it’s not so real that you’ll jump. It’s just the right combination of astounding and adorable.

 

Keep In Mind: If this spider gets into any spills or stains, spot-clean it with a soft, damp cloth, and air dry.

 

This Halloween pillow manages to do the impossible: It combines the words “soft and cuddly” with a spider.

 

Its body and eight legs are covered in black faux fur, and its eyes are hand-stitched jewels for an otherworldly sparkle. Whether it’s sprawled on the sofa, perched on a chair, or snuggled on a bed, this pillow is a constant reminder of the Halloween holiday.

 

Keep in mind that this pillow isn’t machine washable; you’ll need to spot clean it with a damp cloth.

 

 

 

• Size: Body is 8 inches wide x 13 inches tall; the legs are 16 inches long x 2.5 inches tall
• Material: Acrylic and polyester with polyester fill
• For use: Indoors
• Power type: N/A

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Best Window Cling: The Looking Glass Spider Web Stained Glass Window Cling

 

 

Why You Should Get It: Most Halloween window clings can tend toward the cartoonish, but this one has the elegant appearance of leaded glass.

 

Keep In Mind: The design is meant for the corner of a window or glass door.

 

In the world of window clings, this one has a leg up on the rest. Eight legs up, in fact. That’s because it depicts a spider and its web in a classic leaded-glass style—a clever take on Halloween clings, which can often look cheap.

 

This one is hand-painted, and your purchase supports a small business owner on Etsy. Please note that it’s designed for the upper-right corner of a window or glass door, so make sure that layout will work for your space before ordering.

 

 

 

• Size: 6 inches long x 5.5 inches tall
• Material: Stained glass
• For use: Indoors
• Power type: N/A

Best Candle: Anthropologie Artisan Acorn Candle

 

 

Why You Should Get It: Candles appeal to the eyes and the nose, and these acorn-shape vessels are especially beguiling. Even after the candles are gone, the containers can live on as nutty decorations.

 

Keep In Mind: Trim the wick to ¼ to ½ inch each time you light the candle, and place it on a heat-proof surface while lit.

 

Scent is one surefire way to set the mood. Fill a home with a particular fragrance, and it can absolutely transport you. These adorable Anthropologie candles come in three sizes and three scents: Leather & Leaves, a woody aromatic blend; White Pumpkin & Acorn, a gourmand spice fragrance; and Pumpkin & Sweet Vanilla, a sweet and spicy combo.

 

The candles are poured into glass or wood containers and capped with an acorn-style lid so they are decorative whether the wicks are lit or not. To get the best burning results from your candles, always trim the wick ¼ to ½ inch before lighting. Once the candles are gone, these cute containers can be used for storage and decor.

 

 

 

• Size: Small candle is 3.5 inches in diameter x 4.75 inches tall; medium is 4 inches in diameter and 6.25 inches tall; large is 4.75 inches in diameter x 7.5 inches tall
• Material: Paraffin wax, fiber wick, glass and wood vessel
• For use: Indoors
• Power type: N/A

The Bottom Line

 

If you buy just one new item to decorate for Halloween, let it be the Williams Sonoma Halloween Corn Husk Wreath. Loaded with texture, movement, and a harvest-time vibe, it combines fabulous fall hues with inky black for a Halloween-meets-autumn attitude, making it one of our favorite best Halloween decorations. Hang it on your front door now and leave it up through November.

 

What to Know About Halloween Decorations Before Shopping

Seasonality

 

Our expert, Kelly Lambert, offers two kernels of wisdom for finding the best Halloween decorations. One is to search out “décor that can be used for Halloween through Thanksgiving,” she says. “Fall items like pumpkins and wheat have a longer life,” while Halloween-specific décor lasts only until November 1.

 

“Another thing to think about is not to buy anything too trendy, especially for investment pieces,” she advises. Instead, “have core classic items that can last for years.” High-quality faux pumpkins, a handsome wreath for the door, and luminaries for the front stoop are worthy investments for the long haul. They can form the base for a Halloween display, and you can fill in with cheaper, trendier items in the years to come.

 

Size

 

Always read a product’s description to find out its dimensions. For help with how it might fit in your own home or yard, look at its photos in a real-life setting (say, a living room or front porch) to see its size related to what’s around it.

 

“The way we show our products is designed to help the customer see their scale,” Lambert notes. In general, smaller items are better for smaller displays (a tablescape, for example), while for wide-open porches or front yards, “focus on large-scale pieces that make an impact and add items with lights to create ambience,” she says.

 

Material

 

When it comes to real decorations—pumpkins, gourds, wheat sheaves, and leaves—versus the artificial kind, Lambert is Team Faux all the way. “It lasts for years,” she says, “and there’s less care involved.” Stores have upped their design game on fake greenery, gourds, and garlands, so you may have a hard time distinguishing them from their natural counterparts—which is all the more reason to go faux.

 

Indoor vs. Outdoor

 

How do you know if a strand of lights or that wonderful wreath is OK to display outside? Retailers will state the proper usage for each product, so read descriptions carefully. Plus, many stores photograph their products in their perfect places. For example, “If it’s intended for indoors, we will show it indoors, and items that are safe to expose to weather elements are shown in a yard,” Lambert says.

 

It’s also important to distinguish between décor approved for outdoor use and that meant for protected outdoor use. Protected use means these items can withstand outdoor temperature swings but not exposure to rain. They can venture outside but only in a covered or sheltered spot—say, a front porch or patio with an overhang. Those intended for outdoor use are more heavy-duty and can stay outside day and night and be none the worse for wear.

 

Your Questions, Answered

When should you put up Halloween decorations?

 

 “Typically after Labor Day is when homeowners really start ramping up their decorations for Halloween—summer’s over and school is starting,” Lambert says.

 

How long should you keep Halloween decorations up?

 

Scary, Halloween-specific gear should come down November 1, while fall-focused decor—plaid pillows, pretty pumpkins, sheaves of wheat, and harvest-type décor—can stay put through Thanksgiving.

 

Where are the best places to put Halloween decorations?

 

Hunt for the best Halloween decor, such as wreaths, garlands, faux pumpkins, and other goodies, for the front entry—it’s a top spot for all things creepy and kooky. “You can really enjoy it as a homeowner each time you pull up to your home,” Lambert says, “and this is also likely where you will get trick-or-treaters.”

 

You can also invite the ghoulish good fun indoors. Halloween tablescapes are gaining in popularity—these are displays on coffee tables, consoles, or breakfast tables. They’re smaller, more manageable, and something frightfully fun you and your family can enjoy day to day.

 

Lambert also recommends a few fiendish touches in the guest bathroom. “That room is typically overlooked,” she says, “but here you can put a Halloween hooked mat in front of the sink, and add a festive candle and either a Halloween-themed wreath or artwork on the wall.”