Halloween Party Decorations: Indoors and Out

Decorations can make or break a Halloween party. Follow our guide to spectacularly spooky party décor and plan an All Hallow’s Eve to remember.

Outdoors

Jack O’ Lanterns

The most iconic Halloween decorations is the jack o’ lantern. Instead of spending backbreaking hours carving them by yourself, host a pumpkin carving weekend. Invite your friends or family over and share scary stories and cider while you each carve your own masterpiece. The more, the merrier!

Expert Tip: Carve the pumpkins a week or two before Halloween; any longer and they will likely rot by the 31st.

Ghastly Graveyard

Front yards make ideal cemeteries for Halloween. Go as elaborate or as simple as you’d like with your graveyard -- it's guaranteed to make a big impact to passers-by. To save money, create your own graves:

1. Buy a few large pieces of foam core presentation board from your local art store.
2. Spray paint the foam core a medium gray hue.
3. Draw the shape of the grave onto the board and write fake epitaph on each one.
4. Using masking tape, glue a wooden or metal stake into the back so the grave will stay put in the front lawn.

Complete your graveyard with scary details:

• Pile pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns by the graves.

• Light candles in glass lanterns and hang them from trees or place them on the ground, illuminating the epitaph on a grave.

• Buy a large (12-inch diameter) foam ball. Place large swaths of cheesecloth over the ball to create a ghostly figure. Using fishing line as thread, sew through the top of the foam and cheesecloth and hang the ghost from trees in your yard so they can blow in the wind.

Place a skeleton over the candy table as the server. Photo via Martha Stewart.

Indoors

Creepy Candy

Create a creepy, crawly candy bar so trick-or-treaters or party guests can enjoy their treats:

1. Place varying sizes of glass apothecary jars on a buffet table.
2. Fill the jars with scary looking candy such as candy eyeballs, black string licorice, gummi worms, black jelly beans, etc.
3. Label the jars by calling the candy something creepy; for example, the black string licorice as rat tails, the black jelly beans as bat droppings, candy eyeballs as ogre eyes. For the gummi worms, crush a small box of Oreos or chocolate cookies to create “dirt” and fill 1/3 of the jar. Then, place the worms on top of and sticking out of the “dirt” and label the jar “Dirt and Worms.”

Create a killer Haunted House

Candelabras and Cauldrons

Create a creepy haunted mansion vibe for the rest of your interior décor:

• Candelabras: Place candelabras around your home and dim or turn off most of the lights to cast an eerie glow. You can find these for cheap at a local thrift or overstock store. Be sure to use black or red candles for an extra-creepy effect.

• More Lighting: For additional lighting, buy old lanterns and light them with thick pillar candles or place candles in hurricane vases. Finally, drape spider webs around the lanterns or hurricanes, making sure that the web is far enough from the flame not to catch fire.

• Cauldron: Create a cauldron centerpiece for your tables by placing dry ice (handle with thick gloves) at the bottom as well as a battery-operated outdoor light. Add some large fake bones sticking out of the top and spider webs draped over the cauldron.

• Flowers: Finish your decorations by placing groups of flowers and decorative sticks and twigs in dark vases and jars. Add a thin film of spider web across the top for a spooky touch.