Products you buy through our links may earn us a commission. Oh, and if something's out of stock, oops, it was there (and all prices were accurate) at time of publication.
I’m the type of person who starts browsing Halloween decor in July and has those spooky ambient YouTube videos playing by Labor Day. There’s no Halloween aesthetic I don’t love — give me all the 12-foot Skellys — but I’ve been impressed by how chic the seasonal decor has become in recent years. To that end, these are just a few of the many Halloween (or Halloween-adjacent) decorations that’ve caught my eye this year. If you’re anything like me, you will be keeping at least some of this stuff out well past October 31.
The best pumpkin spice candle…
Let’s begin at the beginning. I’ve been on a decades-long pursuit to find the best pumpkin candle, and I’m pretty sure this is it. It’s not overly sweet, truly spicy, and has incredible throw — it’s the kind of candle that permeates the air with cozy fall goodness as soon as you walk in the door, even when unlit. If you’re not a pumpkin spice person, I see you, I understand you, and I give you this delectable, fresh-yet-spicy Apple Picking candle, instead.
An unexpected fall fragrance…
Don’t get it twisted: This is not a pumpkin candle. It’s a pumpkin seed candle. It smells nothing like a saccharine baked good, especially as it’s combined with sandalwood and patchouli to mellow things out. It’s warm, creamy, smooth, and ultra-sophisticated. Think fall in Northern California.
A nostalgic paper chain…
Rifle Paper Co.’s Halloween collection is one of my favorites this year, but this paper chain is a standout. It comes with precut paper strips in five cute designs — like pumpkin-studded gingham and a Beetlejuice-esque green-and-black stripe — that you can piece together and hang like a garland. This would be a fun activity to do with your kids, but I forced my boyfriend to do this with me as an evening activity and we had a lovely time. Really brings you back to your elementary school days.
A twinkling tabletop tree…
Last year, I became fixated on finding a Halloween tree that would fit on a bookshelf, and I’m so proud/relieved to have found this one. The branches are flexible, so they can be styled however you want, and it’s coated in glittery black paint and spangled in winking lights. It looks like it was unearthed from The Nightmare Before Christmas. I decorate mine with wooden ornaments, which are sadly sold out. These are similar, and these are also quite cute.
Hand towels for your Halloween party…
I can’t resist a cute ghost. I also can’t resist a festive tea towel. I love the idea of setting these out in your guest bathroom if you’re hosting a Halloween party, but I’d use these as kitchen towels, too. I had a very hard time narrowing down just two items from Pottery Barn’s A+++ Halloween collection, so go ahead and browse the rest here.
The chicest Halloween rugs…
If you’re dedicated to making your home a Halloween wonderland, get yourself a piece from Ruggable’s Halloween collection. The doormats are adorable and a little lower-commitment than a full-on rug (check out this cottagecore patchwork design). If you’re goth, you’ll keep this witchy design rolled out year-round. I’d like an invitation to your house, please.
Some witchy taper candles…
As soon as I saw these taper candles, I knew they had to be mine. I literally deliberated for days about whether to get these, the spiders, or the squiggly ghosts, but there’s something ‘90s-whimsigoth about this dusty purple color that I couldn’t resist. Willow Rosenberg would approve.
The felt garland I reuse every year…
This here is the pride and joy of my Halloween mantel. I’ve been using it for the past two years, and it’s probably the piece of decor that gets the most compliments in my home. It’s decorated in handmade-inspired, high-quality felt icons, and it has a nostalgic, arts-and-crafts vibe that somehow doesn’t feel twee. It’s worth noting that Anthropologie/Terrain's Halloween collection is notoriously good, and I own several pieces that I use year after year. Do not miss the Mystic Icon Juice Glasses.
A plush pillow for a touch of whimsy…
I’ve seen many plush or boucle ghost pillows from designer sites, and this Etsy one looks identical for less than $30. It’ll add a touch of whimsy to your couch or bed over the Halloween season, but it’s the kind of thing you can use year-round and no one will blink an eye.
A vintage-inspired patchwork pillow…
This year, I’ve been drawn to decor with a vintage vibe — anything that makes me feel like I’m living inside the 1949 animated version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow — and this patchwork pillow caught my eye. I love the muted autumnal colors combined with the quilted design. Just note that this is the cover only, so you’ll need to buy the insert separately.
String lights for a spooky lit element…
These 20-foot jack o’lantern string lights are a festive alternative to your regular, non-jack o’-lantern string lights. They can be used outdoors or indoors, are battery-operated, and have eight modes, including steady light and flashing patterns. If I had a banister to my name, I’d wrap these around it.
Some flameless pumpkin candles…
I mentioned wanting flameless pumpkin candles one time, and this listing popped up on my Instagram about a minute later. I’m too charmed to be freaked out. I have this set of two sitting in my cart — I think the waxen material looks more elevated than a plasticky finish. I’ll probably end up getting two sets and dotting them around my house. I love that I can keep them out right through Thanksgiving.
And a flameless skull candle…
This flameless skull candle brings me back to my emo teenage years. (But I’m still just emo enough to keep this out all year long.) West Elm consistently rolls out some of the chicest Halloween decorations every year. I also can’t stop admiring Angela Deane’s tongue-in-cheek yet genuinely beautiful collection and this just-weird-enough spiked nut bowl.
Slightly spooky candleholders…
H&M has a limited Halloween collection, but there are some sleeper hits here. These flower-shaped candleholders don’t read overtly Halloween, but I could see them as set decoration for Tim Burton’s version of Sleepy Hollow — there’s something haunted-colonial about the look of them. Mix and match them with the taller version for a cohesive tableau.
Wayfair’s Practical Magic 2-inspired collection…
I think we’re all adult enough to admit that we love Practical Magic as much for the interior design as we do the actual plot. Which is why I’ve been browsing Wayfair’s Practical Magic 2 capsule collection since Labor Day. The pieces here aren’t kitschy movie tie-ins — instead, it’s a multi-designer curation of furniture and decor that could comfortably live in the Owens’ New England Victorian. Some of my favorites include these owl bookends, velvet pintuck pillows, and a literal cauldron you can use in lieu of your regular cast-iron pot.
Affordable wall art that looks antique…
I’m really inspired by people who switch out their art seasonally, and this print is motivating me to become one of them. The witch illustration looks like it was pulled from an antique tome, and the black striped matting has just a hint of Tim Burton energy. I can’t believe how affordable it is, too.
Glass pumpkins with Tuscan Wine Mom vibes…
When in doubt, get the glass pumpkins. They’re a timeless autumn decor staple that reminds me of the suburban homes of my youth — and I mean that as a genuine compliment. I really love the slight tint to this set of two, which makes them feel unique, and the warm golden stems are an elevated touch. The best part is that you can keep these out through Thanksgiving. Or even Christmas. Who’s counting?
A kid-approved throw blanket…
Imagine my delight when I discovered that my five-year-old niece and I have the same Halloween blanket. Is the cartoony design made with kids in mind? Perhaps. But I can confidently say this is the most deliciously soft, smooth, and lightweight (read: doesn’t make you sweaty) throw blanket I’ve ever had, and I’ll use it happily for many Halloweens to come.