Charming to Chilling: A Guide to Halloween Decorating Styles

It’s coming! The witching season will soon be here, when neighborhoods are “haunted” by ghosts, ghouls and gourds of all shapes and sizes.

Given Americans’ fascination with Halloween, it’s no surprise we love setting a spooky scene with Halloween decorations. According to the National Retail Federation, about 73% of American households decorated for Halloween last year. That’s even more than the 69% of consumers who decorated in 2022. Over all, Americans spend millions of dollars on Halloween costumes, candy and decorations.

Just walk through any big box store to see why. Those giant witches and skeletons are strangely compelling.

If a particular door wreath or Halloween inflatable has caught your eye, you’re probably already aware that Halloween decor falls into distinct styles from

 kid-friendly and cute to ghastly and gruesome.

What are your favorite Halloween decorations? Do you prefer a subtly spooky touch? Or do you decorate for full-on fright factor with all-out gore?

Below, we’ve outlined a few different approaches to decorating for Halloween. See which one appeals to you and explore our full range of Halloween decor to find many more examples of outdoor Halloween decorations, Halloween wreaths, lights and indoor autumn decor that fit your particular style.

Decorate your door with a colorful Halloween wreath or fun door wrap and put lighted Halloween silhouettes in the window. Hang a Halloween flag from the front porch and set cheerful path lights along your walkway as an invitation to trick-or-treaters.

Set a raven on your porch rail. Hang Halloween flags featuring eerie images. Window silhouettes with bat or black cat images send out a soft but spooky glow, as can a Halloween projector. Enhance the mood with orange or purple Halloween lights or novelty lights featuring skeletons, spiders or bloody eyeballs.

For maximum creep factor, any Halloween decoration that appears decayed, blood covered or downright evil is a win. Hideous Halloween figures are the obvious go-to, but don’t overlook lights, Halloween trees and some strategically placed props to create a setting that induces absolute terror.

Almost any creature you can envision is featured in animated Halloween decor, including possessed pumpkins, zombie vampires, evil clowns, werewolves and tree men with glowing eyes.

Start with black Halloween candles and black wreaths. Intensify the ambience with a Halloween lantern or purple lights. Halloween pillows and throws are soft reminders of the season, while signs and wall art add a touch of fun.

Start with black Halloween candles and black wreaths. Intensify the ambience with a Halloween lantern or purple lights. Halloween pillows and throws are soft reminders of the season, while signs and wall art add a touch of fun.

Some people are ready to put up their orange and black decorations any time of year; others prefer to keep Halloween decorating limited to a few weeks. That being said, there is no definite time that’s considered acceptable to decorate for Halloween. The holiday just doesn't generate the same controversy as “Christmas creep.”

In fact, according to YouGov, 43% of Americans begin decorating for Halloween between October 1 and 15. Another 21% decorate sometime between October 16 and 30. Conversely, a significant number of respondents (13%) start setting out the jack o’lanterns and other Halloween decor sometime in September.

In northern regions, seasonal changes seem to naturally inspire a change in decor. It isn’t uncommon to see Halloween decorations pop up a full month or more before the actual October 31 holiday.

What decoration makes you instantly think of Halloween? Some people are inspired by witches and black cats, while others appreciate more macabre decor.

According to one recent poll, the top 10 most popular Halloween decorations in the United States are:

1. Pumpkins

2. Corn stalks

3. Skeletons

4. Black cats

5. Witches

6. Tombstones

7. Spiders and spider webs

8. Crows

9. Bats

10. Ghosts 
    

If you think you’re seeing more and more Halloween decorations every year, you’re not wrong. Halloween is second only to Christmas in decoration sales.

Why do so many people enjoy decorating for Halloween? Maybe it’s because Halloween doesn’t evoke the same strong emotions as other holidays. Unlike your Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, which might come with a side-serving of uncomfortable family issues, Halloween is meant to amuse. The decorations, costumes and candy, trick-or-treating and even haunted houses are mainly for entertainment. That could make Halloween a more stress-free holiday for a lot of people.

Plus, for people who love to decorate their lawns, it doesn’t hurt that October weather is generally more favorable for outdoor decorating.

On the other hand, maybe it all comes down to the fact that Halloween is just for fun!

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