While winter holidays have long been considered the main decorating events of the year, Halloween is finally starting to get the hype it deserves. Giant skeletons sell out months in advance, apple cider donuts hit grocery shelves as early as August, and piles of jack-o’-lanterns are stacked sky-high on every porch before fall officially starts.
But Halloween decor isn’t always the most sophisticated, and sometimes you want to get festive while still keeping your space high-style. This begs the question: Can you seamlessly incorporate terror into your everyday design?
To get some ideas on how to get the perfect amount of pumpkin for your place, we spoke with Kit Graham from The Kittchen on her top tips for a fun yet refined fall feel.
Kit Graham is the founder of The Kittchen, where she writes about food, travel, decorating, and more
Spooky and Sophisticated Halloween Decor Ideas
If you’re a fan of full-on fanciful decor, we see you and hear you. Feel free to deck the haunted halls with bones and witches to heart’s content. But if you’re just wading into the world of Halloween decorations or aren’t keen on turning your home into a Spirit Halloween for the month of October, start small.
“Something as simple as adding some cobwebs or perching a spider on a picture frame has a big impact without overwhelming your home decor,” Graham says. “If you have a television that displays artwork, pick something spooky. Changing the art on my television is a favorite way to change decor seasonally.”
Edmund Barr
Be Choosy About Where You Decorate
Remember that decorating doesn’t have to be an all or nothing approach: If you know that you’re hosting a formal dinner that focuses on the food, skip doing up your dining room. Don’t want spiders dangling behind your head during a Zoom meeting? Leave your office untouched.
“You can be selective with which areas you decorate,” Graham says. “If you don’t want to feel overwhelmed, you can opt to just decorate the outside of your home. Put tombstones in flowerbeds, hang spiders from windows, or add a spooky wreath.”
Add Small Surprises
Ghoulish design can also haunt unexpected places. Graham has simple ideas for creating surprise spooky spots, like the bathroom, where she suggests using lipstick to write a creepy message on a mirror and putting faux bloody handprints in the shower. For an easy DIY project, make a construction paper witch hat and place it on the mirror so that when someone washes their hands, they transform into a witch.
Make Your Own Halloween Decor
Sophisticated decorations don’t need to be expensive: Get creative with crafting your own. It’s also an opportunity to spend quality time and have some fall fun with loved ones.
“My daughter and I made a simple ghost garland with construction paper,” Graham says. “It’s an easy, kid-friendly craft that makes for fun Halloween decor. You can also cut ghosts out of construction paper and tape them onto framed art in your home—giving the illusion that the ghost is part of the photo or painting. It’s subtle and silly—kids love it.”
Remember, it’s about quality over quantity. As Graham says, “You don’t need to decorate your entire home, and even just a few bats or spiders will help put your home in the Halloween spirit.”
