With Halloween fast approaching, homeowners across the country are breaking out their pumpkin carving kits, mechanical witches and 12-foot-tall skeletons. If you’re not yet set on a color scheme, though, don’t worry. From classic jack-o-lanterns to inclusive teal pumpkins, we’ve compiled some of our top porch Halloween decorating ideas for this year. Get ready for fright and delight!
Essentially, no matter who you are or what kind of decor you envision for Halloween 2022, you’re sure to find an idea that applies. Here are our top tips to consider:
Get Back to the Basics
Before you dive into decorating, you’ll want to ensure you have a truly blank canvas. After all, when it comes time to decorate for Halloween, many homeowners forget the basics behind proper yard maintenance and the tenets of curb appeal. While you’re hanging lights or placing pumpkins, don’t overlook your usual porch maintenance tasks.
For example, consider power washing the deck and siding before you get to decorating. You may also want to ensure your fall lawn maintenance is complete before placing any large or heavy decorations on the grass.
Also, don’t forget the florals! While pumpkins and ghosts are certainly eye-catching, a planter full of fall-colored mums or a vase of cattails can be equally as inspiring.
Go Organic and Understated
If you’re not interested in displaying ghosts or ghouls, consider taking a more organic approach to Halloween decorating this year. Nature-inspired decor offers a fresh and fun take on typical October options.
A parade of pumpkins of different shapes, sizes and colors could line the walkway, or add an aesthetic squash or gourd here and there for an unexpected twist. Even a simple basket of something seasonal, such as apples or acorns, could do the trick.
Add Some Color
Autumnal tones like ochre, russet, and eggplant certainly aren’t for everybody. If you’re a fan of another color palette, or if these fall-inspired shades would outright clash with your home, feel free to color outside the lines.
Options might include:
- Pastel painted pumpkins
- Stripes, plaid, dots or other patterns
- All white everything, from pumpkins to florals to furniture
- Metallic painted decor
- Gradients, rainbow or monotone
- Glitter, sequins or other reflective elements
After all, Halloween can be so much more than simply orange and black!
Experiment With Materials
In the same vein, consider getting creative with your decor materials. If you’re not interested in using skeletons or bats to tell a story, how about a more subtle approach?
Fall-inspired materials are often warm and soft or rough and nature-inspired. For example, could you utilize that excess burlap or linen fabric? Or throw some pillows with a sweater weave on the outdoor sofa. Other options might include flannel, hay, wood, stone, metal and even more organic elements, like corn husk or moss.
Highlight Your Front Door
When it comes to front porch decor, the door is often the star of the show. So, why not dress it up? This Halloween, consider giving your front door a costume to surprise and delight.
Wrap white streamers around it for a mummy motif, add googly eyes all over or, to add some personality while avoiding scaring some of the smallest trick-or-treaters, turn the door into a full-on fuzzy monster using faux fur or colorful boas!
Hang a Wreath
Looking for the quickest and easiest way to add some autumnal charm? Invest in a wreath hanger and buy or make your own unique wreath!
Popular (and beautiful) materials include brightly colored autumn leaves, burlap, dark and eerie twigs or even candy corn! You can peruse Pinterest for other inspiration, or simply repurpose some of your favorite fall materials, whether local apples or pampas grass.
Incorporate a Teal Pumpkin
Halloween can be a challenging time of year for children with food allergies. For the one-in-13 children with allergies or intolerances, a food-themed holiday could leave them feeling blue.
To promote equality for these trick-or-treaters, the Teal Pumpkin Project is asking homeowners across the nation to offer non-food toys or trinkets in addition to candy, so that all children can get a treat on Halloween night.
If you plan to join in, place a teal pumpkin on your porch so parents and trick-or-treaters will know. You can also add your house or event to the Teal Pumpkin Project’s map.
Take Inspiration from Your Favorite Movie or TV Show
Halloween comes with an array of beloved media. From classic horror movies to heartwarming autumn favorites, these works of art could provide a great jumping-off point.
If you’re hungry for ideas, consider theming your decor around one of the following Halloween movies:
- Hocus Pocus
- Beetlejuice
- Ghostbusters
- Casper
- Scream
- The Addams Family
- Halloweentown
- Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Child’s Play
- A Nightmare on Elm Street
Or turn to the TV. Other options could include Stranger Things, American Horror Story, or Sabrina the Teenage Witch!
Do It All Yourself
Speaking of Halloween-themed media, fall is also the ideal time to throw on a scary movie, make some cider and work on a craft project. Plenty of Halloween decor can easily be made in an afternoon, and you can certainly have fun doing it.
A spooky scarecrow, a collection of faux magic potion bottles, or even a fun and festive doormat could make all the cut. Invite a friend over, search YouTube for tutorials, and start creating!
Stick to the Classics
If you’re not particularly crafty, don’t have a massive decor budget or if you’re just a fan of the classics, keep in mind that you can always use the same decorations as Halloweens past. After all, you can never go wrong with the typical spooky season motifs.
Spend an evening carving jack-o-lanterns, weave cobwebs through the rafters or place one of Home Depot’s viral (and massive) skeletons in the front yard. Halloween-themed strand lights and a smoke machine will round out the display.
Our Top Porch Halloween Decorating Ideas for This Year
Ready to be the spookiest or most stylish house on the block? Simply pick an idea and run with it. The trick-or-treaters are sure to enjoy!
Published on October 24, 2022
