I’m not sure why exactly the UK has suddenly gone all extra for Halloween but I can tell you exactly where it began – the US! Anything that happens over there inevitably seems to trickle its way over to us, so as soon as I saw that ‘boo boxes’ were now a legitimately trending thing, I knew that matching Halloween pj’s for all the family couldn’t be too far behind.
Autumn is definitely one of my favourite seasons, but am I the only one who isn’t totally mad on all things Halloween-y for the entirety of September AND October?
I mean, I’m not a complete ghoul. I like a gently flickering jack-o-lantern in my window as much as the next person. Where I draw the line is kitting out the whole house, family and pets in garish Halloween tat just to pass the time until Christmas (which in my opinion, is when the real fun starts).
So if you’re anything like me and not yet ready to go all-out for this most fiendish of holidays, yet still want to demonstrate some subtle semi-support for it, then here are a few bits and bobs on the slightly classier end of the Halloween décor spectrum…
Wire words pumpkin decoration by Etsy
I love the simplicity and ease of popping a ready made enhancement onto a basic Halloween decoration and then – voila – seemingly big effort made! Plus the minimalism of wire words has always really appealed to that side of me that just loves a clean line and no fuss (which is 100% of me).
These are only £9 (dependent on number of letters) and you can have them in black, copper, silver, gold, and even rainbow, if you’re feeling fancy!
The best bit is they’re reusable, so no wracking your brains for yet another classy Halloween décor idea for next year. Just need to remember where you stored it after the 31st!
Lonely little ghost figurine by Etsy
I can totally see this little guy on the mantelpiece next to a couple of wee willie winkie candle holders looking forlornly out at me (and probably freaking me out to be honest – I’m a wuss).
At only £9, he’s cute, cheap and spooky and that’s just how I like my Halloween décor to be.
Set of 3 felted acorns from Etsy
These seemingly innocent little acorns give me an oddly chilling vibe! I think it’s the looming branches and the way they seem so purposefully placed that it’s inviting you to come closer… Or maybe it’s just that it’s late and I’m overthinking!
Anyway, these are £13.85 and come either as a mix of colours, or as natural black, natural grey or ‘perfect’ grey. Again, these are a reusable Halloween decoration, but I think you could just as easily use them from Autumn to Winter as a table centerpiece, or even hanging them on your Christmas tree.
Pumpkin spice wax melts by Etsy
Okay technically these aren’t a Halloween decoration, BUT they are pumpkin shaped so I think they can still count as Halloween decor. You just have to look at them quickly before they melt!
These particular one’s are baked with clove, cinnamon and nutmeg and sweetened with brown sugar to get that pumpkin spice smell, but you can choose from a wide range of scents including Witches Brew and Sweater Weather. Each batch is £5 for four.
Hanging witches hats from Party Pieces
Did you know that Kate Middleton’s mum Carole started the company Party Pieces out of her shed in the 80s? It’s actually one of my favourite websites for fun and original bits and bobs that can give a party that extra little bit of *spice*.
Like these hanging witches hats – have their owners gone for a quick vape? Or are they off boiling up their cauldrons ready for naughty little children? We may never know….
What I do know is that you can get three of these hats for £9.99 and they also come with handy invisible twine for attaching to your ceiling.
Pastel pumpkins by B&M
In 2021 these pastel pumpkins caused mayhem up and down the good aisles of B&M as shoppers raced to get their mitts on them. If you missed out last year then never fear, they are back again for 2022 although in-store only and, if rumours are to be believed, only available in taupe, orange and white.
I will definitely be heading down to my local B&M this week to scout the shelves because these are totally a bit of me! And at only £3 for the 8cm one’s and £5 for the 12cm, I’m gonna have to get a trolley.
Hanging bats decoration by Ginger Ray
We’ve all seen the Pinterested to heck (and quite frankly, genius) Halloween decor idea of sticking a flock of flying card bats of various shapes and sizes against your wall, but a flock of sleeping bats suspended by string? That’s new.
The black silhouette of the bats is simple and striking – especially when swaying against a late autumn breeze, faintly lit only by the moon on a dark October night…
Currently less than £6 in the sale for ten bats, plus twine and sticky tabs.
Set of three felt pumpkin decorations by Lights4Fun
You can’t get cuter than a felt decoration. Especially when it’s small and comes in such lovely dusky shades.
You could stack these up in a bell jar as a unique table centrepiece, as shown here, or arrange them across your mantelpiece with some twinkly fairy lights for a soft and cosy Halloween feel.
They’re £16.99 for three handmade felt pumpkins and come in a range of decor complementing neutrals.
Halloween treat balls by Postbox Party
Okay yes, this is a bit of a reach for Halloween decor, but if you’ve got a little monster in your life who deserves a slightly spenny trick or treat, then these spooky surprise balls are it.
They’re currently in the sale at £11.55 and there’s four of these vintage inspired characters to unwrap (maybe during a game of pass the parcel to the tune of the Monster Mash?). The top secret treats inside include friendship bracelets and very cute cat tattoos.
Orrrr, keep them all for yourself, hang them in the window and make the neighbours kids jealous? It’s a night to be bad after all.
Front door Halloween garland by Ginger Ray
If you want to keep the Halloween decorations strictly outside your front door this year then surely there can be no more of a show stopping set up than this?
There’s something a little bit chillingly beautiful about black eucalyptus, but when it’s pared with a bit of webbing and some hanging bats? Exquisite.
This £69.99 set comes with everything you’ll need to create your garland including 2 metres of webbing and twine and no less than sixty glue dots.
Why not add your own additional elements each year to create something truly unique and give those trick and treaters a door to really look forward to?
Set of three black pillar candles by Lights4Fun
Funnily enough I road tested the white version of these candles during the labour of my son whereby I wanted to create a dimly lit space in which to get in the zone. I can happily say that these candles have a lovely natural flicker to them and are the only battery operated ones I could find that didn’t have a lurid orange flame, thus adding to their super natural look.
These are hand poured real wax candles of varying heights and come in a set of three for £28.99. They have a six hour timer and you can expect up to six hundred hours of ambient candle light before you’ll need to switch out the batteries.
Display these on your windowsill along with an assortment of pumpkins and an optional sleeping cat.
‘Boo’ doormat by Lime Lace
If super simple Halloween decor is your thing then this ‘boo’ doormat wraps things up nicely. This one is £28 and made from high quality tufted coconut fibre and professional exterior paints so it will last you for many Halloween’s to come.
If this is as decorative as you want to go then you can leave as is (also perfect if you have a flat but still want to participate in the fun), or you use this as the basis of a more extravagant doorstep set up.
If you share my silly sense of humour (and live in a trustworthy neighbourhood), why not add a pair of red sparkly heels and a broom alongside it? Or some poisonous toffee apples in a basket? Or a chainsaw, mask and blood splatters? Or some lotion and-
I’ve gone too far haven’t I.
Whatever your fun-o-meter reads regarding Halloween decorations, I hope you’ve found some inspiration within this list to keep them classy and cute – or not – because that’s really the best bit about decorations. You can go big or go home or do both or do neither. Whatever suits your personal taste!
I hope you have a spine-chillingly thrilling Halloween, and once the skeletons are firmly boxed back up in your closet, and please come back again for my classy Christmas decor list.
