How to Level Up Your Halloween Decor

When it comes to Halloween decorating, some of us tap into an understated, autumnal vibe: a pumpkin or two on the porch, an elevated, harvest-hued wreath on the wall, an overflowing bowl of candy corn on the counter, and we call it a day. Others? We go all out. Think cobwebs in every corner, witches and warlocks conspiring on the mantel, and enough jack-o’-lanterns to rival the local gourd patch—the more, the scarier.

No matter where your personal Halloween decor aesthetic falls on the haunted house spectrum, there’s an endless supply of unique, handmade Etsy finds ready to help you bring your particular eerie vision to life. Click play to watch one front porch go from subtly seasonal to scream-worthy in three increasingly spooky stages, then head to the comments and tell us how you decorate for Halloween.

Get the look

If you’ve spent the whole year just waiting for October to roll around, announce your enthusiasm with a four-foot tall wooden sign that offers an extra-warm welcome to trick-or-treaters (and anyone driving by). No porch space to spare? Try a mini, monochromatic felt pennant flag that skews more collegiate-cute than creepy. And speaking of cute, this surprisingly sparkly bat wreath—featuring hand-cut glitter-foam versions of everyone’s favorite flying mammal—more than earns its front door billing. 

This charming hanging ghost, with its throwback rickrack trim and adorable felt tote, can be embellished with rosy cheeks, retro specs, or a jaunty mustache—plus your choice of dozens of colors of bow—to become the ultimate personalized poltergeist. A made-to-order wooden “Trick or Treat” sign, available in four frame stains, is the kind of timeless seasonal flourish you’ll be proud to pull out year after year. Searching for something a little spookier? Turn up the fright factor with a steel skeleton-arm lawn ornament—complete with a handy metal spike for digging into the closest patch of grass—then dangle a pair of handmade muslin witch boots in a dimly lit corner and wait for an unsuspecting soul to stumble across them. 

A perennial favorite, these luxe velvet pumpkins, sold in sets of four, come in 31 shades (plus leopard print and buffalo plaid), so you can mix and match your way to a truly one-of-a-kind display. And don’t be fooled by their realistic resin stems: There’s no expiration date in sight, so you can safely keep your pretty patch on display into November and beyond. 

Photographs by Paul Kim.

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