The Best Halloween Decorations of 2023
Get your home and yard ready for the spooky season with these cute and creepy Halloween decorations.
Photo: depositphotos.com
Halloween provides an opportunity to go all out with decorating, whether your aesthetic is slasher film, gothic horror, classic Halloween, or fall harvest. With so many products on the market, however, choosing Halloween decorations can be overwhelming. While you can find great options at Halloween stores, it’s easier than ever to shop online. Before making a purchase, learn about some of the most important features to look for when shopping for Halloween decorations—and discover some of the best options on the market for both the interior and exterior of your home. Make your house the spookiest on the block with this list of picks for the best Halloween decorations of 2021.
Photo: homedepot.com
1. Gemmy 8.5 ft. Dragon Airblown Halloween Inflatable
Inflatable holiday decorations have exploded in popularity in recent years, and Halloween is a great opportunity to try them out. This 8.5-foot-tall fire-breathing dragon inflatable from The Home Depot is sure to turn heads in your neighborhood. It has glowing red eyes, and its wings are animated to flap menacingly. It’s easy to set up because it self-inflates in seconds and comes with stakes and tethers to ensure it stays in place.
Get the Gemmy 8.5 ft. Dragon Airblown Halloween Inflatable at The Home Depot for $199.00
Photo: amazon.com
2. Theefun Fog Machine
Add a spooky atmosphere to your front yard on Halloween night with the Theefun Fog Machine. The machine creates dense, odorless smoke at distances of up to 10 feet. It features fixed-color LED lights so you can create the perfect mood depending on your Halloween theme. Control the lights and fog using a remote control from inside your house to freak out trick-or-treaters as they come up your walkway.
Get Theefun Fog Machine at Amazon for 52.99
Photo: amazon.com
3. Coogam Halloween 3D Bats Decoration
What’s creepier than the fluttering of bat wings? This colony of 3D bat decorations will add a subtle spookiness to your Halloween decor. The set includes 60 stickers in four varying sizes to create a dynamic visual effect. Apply them to a smooth, flat surface either indoors or outdoors using the adhesive strips that come included in the package. They’re easily removable and won’t cause your paint to peel.
Get the Coogam Halloween 3D Bats Decoration Amazon for $11.99
Photo: amazon.com
4. DII Black Spider Web Tablecloth
Transform your dining room to set the scene for a spooky meal with this spiderweb tablecloth from Amazon. It’s made from machine-washable polyester and features an intricate spiderweb pattern with spiders lurking amid their webs. With the right placemats and scary centerpiece, your table will look like it belongs in a haunted house. The tablecloth measures 54 by 72 inches and is designed to fit standard rectangular dining tables.
Get the DII Black Spider Web Tablecloth at Amazon for $9.99
Photo: homedepot.com
5. 24 in. Gryphon Statue
Going for a gothic horror look for your yard this Halloween? Consider getting your very own gargoyles to complete the picture. This gryphon statue from The Home Depot is completely weather resistant and is made from durable concrete. It has a realistic aged finish and is heavy enough to stay in place without being secured to the ground. Its dimensions are 2 feet by 9.45 inches, and there’s no assembly required.
Get the 24 in. Gryphon Statue at The Home Depot for $29.98
Photo: potterybarn.com
6. Pottery Barn Pumpkin Shaped Stoneware Mugs
Does your perfect Halloween involve snuggling up on the couch to watch a scary movie? Complete the experience with a Halloween-themed concoction served from a pumpkin-shaped mug. These stoneware mugs from Pottery Barn come in both white and orange and are sold individually or as a pack of four. They’re both microwave and dishwasher safe and have a capacity of 18 ounces each.
Get Pumpkin Shaped Stoneware Mugs at Pottery Barn for $12.50
Photo: amazon.com
7. Maoyue Hanging Lighted Witch Hat Decorations
Light up your lawn or patio with these cheerful LED witch-hat string lights. Since they feature a range of bright neon colors, they’re perfect for creating kid-friendly Halloween decor that won’t frighten your little ones. There are eight lighting modes, and the bulbs are dimmable, allowing you to create the exact atmosphere you want. Use the remote control to change the colors, or set a timer to turn off the lights automatically. Since they’re waterproof, they’re safe for outdoor use.
Get the Maoyue Hanging Lighted Witch Hat Decorations at Amazon for $32.99
Photo: amazon.com
8. Lansian Halloween Decoration Changing Face Picture Frame
Upgrade your artwork this Halloween with something a little more spooky. This set of three 3D photos will make your home feel like a haunted mansion. When viewed straight on, they’ll simply look like vintage black-and-white portraits. If you change your angle, however, you’ll be faced with a terrifying ghoulish image. Each picture measures 15.2 by 10.4 inches and features an ornate plastic frame.
Get the Lansian Halloween Decoration Changing Face Picture Frame at Amazon for $17.79
Photo: anthropologie.com
9. Capri Blue Pumpkin Clove Jar Candle
Decorating for the holidays often focuses on visuals, but don’t forget about your other senses. Add to your home’s Halloween scent scape with Anthropologie’s Capri Blue Pumpkin Clove Candle, which comes in a cute pumpkin-shaped vessel that you can reuse when the candle is finished. The 19-ounce candle features a buttery pumpkin spice aroma with additional notes of orange zest, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Get the Capri Blue Pumpkin Clove Candle at Anthropologie for $34.00
Photo: amazon.com
10. ATDAWN Halloween Black Feathered Crows
Sinister black crows make for a timeless Halloween decoration, and this six-pack of realistic-looking feathered versions is a great choice for either indoor or outdoor decorating. Their feet feature bendable wire, so it’s easy to attach them to a tree branch, banister, or fence. While they work well as decorations, they can also be used as part of a creepy Halloween costume. Each crow measures 4.72 inches tall and 9.44 inches long.
Get the ATDAWN Halloween Black Feathered Crows at Amazon for $15.99
Photo: homedepot.com
11. 5 ft. Hanging Plastic Posable Skeleton
The Home Depot’s 5 ft. Hanging Plastic Posable Skeleton is a classic Halloween decoration that won’t go out of style. It’s made from lightweight material so it can easily be hung either indoors or outdoors. All of the skeleton’s limbs are movable and posable, so you can set it up in either a scary or silly position. Its eyes glow red and are powered by three AAA batteries.
Get the 5ft. Hanging Plastic Posable Skeleton at The Home Depot for $29.98
Photo: target.com
12. 9″ Teal Lit Pumpkin with Happy Face
Is your home equipped to cater to trick-or-treaters with allergies? If so, make sure to put a teal-colored pumpkin outside as part of the Teal Pumpkin Project to let parents know that you’ve got non-food items to offer their little ones. This version from Target lights up using three AA batteries and has an inviting, smiling face. Foodallergies.org has some great ideas for non-food treats to offer, like bubbles, notebooks, glow sticks, and more.
Get the 9″ Teal Lit Pumpkin with Happy Face at Target for $10.00
Photo: wayfair.com
13. The Holiday Aisle Dreher Bat Indoor/Outdoor Throw Pillow
Looking to keep your Halloween decorations more cute than creepy? This throw pillow from Wayfair features a subtle black bat pattern on a white background that perfectly suits a neutral aesthetic. The pillow comes in three sizes and the cover is water resistant, so you can use it either indoors or outdoors. The pillow cover is already filled, so there’s no need to buy a separate insert.
Get The Holiday Aisle Dreher Bat Indoor/Outdoor Throw Pillow at Wayfair for $59.99
Photo: amazon.com
14. Vinkor Flameless Candles Set of 9
Flickering candles create an eerie atmosphere for trick-or-treaters, but it’s often difficult to keep the flames lit all evening. These flameless candles are battery-powered and can be set on a timer so they turn off automatically. They come in a set of nine varying sizes, and each candle features ivory-colored wax and a warm amber flame. Use them to light up your porch or add mood lighting to your entryway.
Get the Vinkor Flameless Candles at Amazon for $23.99
Photo: amazon.com
15. DII Halloween Printed Dishtowel Set
There are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween without adding scary or gory accents to your home. This printed dishtowel set features three fun, Halloween-themed prints to add a pop of holiday theming to your kitchen. This set features a black-and-white buffalo plaid, orange and black stripes, and a pumpkin print, but there are also a number of other spooky colors and patterns available. They’re made from 100 percent cotton and are machine washable for easy maintenance.
Get the DII Halloween Printed Dishtowel Set at Amazon for $15.99
Photo: amazon.com
16. Nobie vivid Halloween Doorbell
If you’re planning the perfect haunted house or fright-filled trick-or-treating experience, this creepy doorbell will be the cherry on top of the cake. At first glance, it looks like a regular vintage doorbell, but when you press the button, a terrifying green eye appears and spooky sounds seem to emanate from within. Installation is easy with a mounting hole on the back, and it simply requires three AAA batteries to operate.
Get the Nobie vivid Halloween Doorbell at Amazon for $26.99
Photo: homedepot.com
17. 7 ft LED Spellcasting Witch
The Home Depot is known for its over-the-top Halloween decorations, with the chain creating innovative products every year to help shoppers have the scariest house on the block. This 7-foot-tall spellcasting witch is motion activated and utters three different phrases whenever it senses that someone is near. Her movements and audio are synced up, so it looks like she’s searching through her spellbook to find the perfect hex to cast on unwitting passersby.
Get the 7ft LED Spellcasting Witch at The Home Depot for $179.00
Photo: potterybarn.com
18. Ghost Shaped Stoneware Serving Platter
Halloween ghosts can be either creepy or friendly, and this stoneware serving platter is more winsome than wicked. Pottery Barn makes a whole collection of ghost-shaped dishware, and this piece is perfect for displaying holiday treats or storing change to give to trick-or-treaters collecting donations. It measures 14.5 inches wide by 16.5 inches high and is both microwave safe and dishwasher friendly.
Get the Ghost Shaped Stoneware Serving Platter at the Pottery Barn for $59.00
Photo: amazon.com
19. GIFTEXPRESS 2-Pack Halloween Black Flamingo Skeleton
Flamingos on your lawn typically signify a birthday or other celebration, but these have a sinister twist. They’re painted black and white to look like the undead versions of the cheery pink birds. Their vinyl-covered metal stakes secure them into the ground, and they’re completely weatherproof, so they can withstand even the harshest Halloween weather. They come in a pack of two and measure 24.5 inches high by 13.5 inches wide.
Get the GIFTEXPRESS 2-Pack Halloween Black Flamingo Skeleton at Amazon for $22.99
Tips for Choosing the Best Halloween Decorations
Before you start shopping for Halloween decorations, there are a few important considerations to weigh.
- Theme: While it’s tempting to just buy any product that strikes your fancy, it’s prudent to establish a theme for your Halloween decor before pulling out your credit card. That way, you’ll be able to establish a cohesive look and ensure that everything you purchase goes together, from your Halloween outfits to your decor. Themes vary widely and include popular options like Fall Harvest, Family Friendly, Scary Cemetery, Haunted House, Ghosts and Ghouls, and Classic Horror. Try to pick a theme that’s timeless so that you can build on it with new decorations every year.
- Sets vs. single pieces: Once you’ve chosen your theme, it’s time to start searching for products to fulfill your vision. Whether you’re shopping for lawn decorations or throw pillows, it’s possible to purchase either sets or individual pieces. One advantage of going with a set is that you won’t have to worry about matching or coordinating disparate products, while buying things one by one lets you exercise a bit more creativity.
- Indoor vs. outdoor: When shopping for Halloween supplies, it’s important to distinguish between indoor and outdoor products. While some decorations can be used in both interior and exterior spaces, be sure to review manufacturer guidelines before making your purchase. This is especially pertinent if the piece involves electronic elements.
Our Verdict
After reviewing our guide, you’ll feel well informed when shopping for Halloween decorations for your home. These recommendations for the best Halloween decorations cover a variety of types and styles to best suit your needs. We recommend the Gemmy 8.5 ft. Dragon Airblown Halloween Inflatable for anyone looking for a show-stopping lawn inflatable, while we think the Pottery Barn Ghost Shaped Stoneware Serving Platter is an adorable pick that could easily become a family heirloom.
How We Chose the Best Halloween Decorations
While it’s easy to assume that all Halloween decorations offer similar performance, a number of factors affect their functionality. Several years of experience covering products for the home as well as extensive product research went into choosing our final curated selections. We reviewed over 100 Halloween decorations and weighed a number of practical considerations when making our recommendations.
- Variety: Unlike many other types of products, there’s a nearly infinite amount of variety when it comes to Halloween decorations. We aimed to include products that would suit different themes as well as a mix of indoor and outdoor decorations.
- Reviews: Since so many Halloween decorations are only available seasonally and change from year to year, it can be difficult to find products with more than a handful of ratings or reviews. Still, we did give priority to products that were well reviewed, and, when reviews weren’t available, we made sure to showcase decorations by reputable brands that consistently put out high-quality products.
- Value: We took into consideration the fact that Halloween decorations are only on display for a few weeks each year, so shopping on a budget is essential for many households. We only included products that offered great value and were high quality enough to withstand several years of use.
FAQs
While you now know more about shopping for Halloween decorations, you might still have some questions. The following are answers to some of the most common questions about how to choose Halloween decorations and decorate for Halloween.
Q. When should I start decorating my house for Halloween?
There’s no right time to start decorating for Halloween, but most people typically begin putting up Halloween decorations at the beginning of October.
Q. How can I decorate for Halloween in a classy way?
Halloween decorations don’t have to be scary or gory. There are many ways to subtly incorporate a Halloween theme into your existing home decor style. Swap your regular throw pillows, tea towels, or welcome mat with products featuring pumpkins, black cats, or bats. Maintain your home’s color scheme while adding some Halloween flair by choosing items like white ceramic pumpkins to decorate with.
Q. How long should I keep my Halloween decorations up?
Most people choose to take down their Halloween decorations by mid-November because that’s when it’s time to start decorating for the holiday season!
Q. How do I incorporate Halloween into my wedding?
Those planning a Halloween-themed wedding have endless possibilities when it comes to incorporating the theme. You may choose to make your decor dark and spooky, use pumpkins and gourds as decorative accents, or even invite guests to come in Halloween costumes.
