Subtle & Stylish Halloween Decor Ideas

My birthday is October 30th, and as an almost-Halloween baby, I’ve always felt kind of like Halloween is my holiday, moreso than any of the others during the year. As much as I love Halloween, though, I’m not really the biggest fan of your typical Halloween decor. Some of it can be over-the-top and just, well, ugly.

So instead of going for guts and gore, I always try to decorate for Halloween in a way that’s more evocative of spooky season than in your face about it. I like the decorations that sort of blend in with the rest of the decor until you look closely. I’m also a sucker for all the viral aesthetic decorations (you know those bats that everyone puts all over their Anthropologie mirrors.)

If you share my view on Halloween decorating, or you’re simply looking for new halloween decorating inspiration that’s fun and festive while maintaining an element of style, I’ve rounded up 10 ideas that exude the kind of Halloween vibes I’m looking for.

1. Add slightly creepy wall art

My favorite holiday decorating ideas in general are ones that elude to the vibe of the holiday, as opposed to the more obvious, theme-y ideas. Which is why I love this one from Jess Hurrell. She added artwork that feels just a liiiittle bit creepy to her mantle, along with pumpkins and candlesticks, for a vignette that subtly nods to Halloween.

2. Create a monochromatic look

Don’t love orange? This porch decorating idea shows that you can still create a Halloween scene without it.

3. Light up your bats

At this point, we’ve all seen these bats, and there’s a good chance you have a collection of them already. What I think makes this look a little extra is 1). the way they are spread across the entire front of the home, and 2.) the landscape lighting, which uplights the bats and makes them look eerily reel. If you don’t have existing landscape lighting, try inexpensive solar lights.

4. Hanging witches hats

Hanging witches hats also went viral a few years back, but I still love the way they look. I found this image on the Anthropologie website — they sell a black vine version that’s a little more elegant, and will likely last a lot longer, than the popular nylon version.

5. Sit a skeleton in the entryway

This super simple entryway idea is easy to customize to your own decor. All you need is a skeleton, a plush pumpkin (I’ve seen them everywhere in all the colors and textures this year), and a throw.

6. Go for “abandoned house” chic

There’s nothing inherently creepy about a white sheet and a large, barren branch, but if you style them right you can achieve this abandoned-house chic look.

7. Fill a bowl with skulls

I love how Sara Lorton created a mini installation with her skeletons and butterflies in a bowl. If you’re not quite as artistic, just use plastic skeletons as filler for bowls and hurricanes around your house.

8. Decorate with a vintage vibe

This little vintage Halloween setup is adorable. The mix of antique-inspired details, the star garland and the black-and-white color scheme create a sophisticated, old-world take on Halloween decor.

9. Spook up your fall porch

I always revamp my fall porch decor for Halloween by carving our pumpkins and adding in skulls and skeletons, which feel like what the homeowner did, above. The monochromatic skeletons pop against the rich orange pumpkins creates a festive yet balanced display.

10. Perch crows on bare shrubs

There’s a lot going on in the photo (in a good way!), but the idea that caught my eye was the crows perched on the branches in the planters. I mean, why not give your dead summer planters or dormant hydrangeas one last hurrah?

Shop my favorite Halloween decor

Subtle & Stylish Halloween Decor Ideas