Besides Thanksgiving, Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. I used to look forward to the 31 nights of Halloween on ABC Family every single year. Hardcore. It’s partly that I love the coziness of fall and partly that I love the decorations and costumes. Now that I’ve gotten older, though, some of the decorations seems a little wack. It can be tough to find non-cheesy Halloween decorations. But they’re out there. It’s all about finding the right vibe.
Rather than the bright orange and black, Jack-O-lantern shit, I like to pick up on the more subtle, creepy components of Halloween. They key, for me, is mixing the darker, spooky vibe of Halloween with a general autumnal vibe.
And a little can honestly go a long way. You don’t have to completely deck out your whole house (unless you want to). Adding small details here and there can keep it festive without making it look like a third grade classroom.
Here are some suggestions for some great, non-cheesy Halloween decorations that you can buy to get your house looking right this year.
ouija board throw blanket
I blame it on my mom and how I grew up, but I believe that you can never have too many blankets. If I have 10 people over, I want them all to have their own blanket. That being said, decorative throws are the perfect thing to get and change out seasonally.
I’m obsessed with this one. It’s kinda creepy and seasonal, but it doesn’t necessarily scream, “I’m a Halloween decoration!”
candles
Like blankets, you can also never have too many candles. I like to light candles almost every day to make my house smell good, or just to set a vibe with unscented candles. I’ve got my tried and true mahogany teakwood burning next to me as I type this.
The good thing about candles is that they’re relatively cheap, too. So it’s super easy to get some novelty ones to give your home that a creepy, Halloween feel. I am personally feeling the skull candles vibe right now.
If you wanna go even more subtle than that, you can also just do some really cozy fall-scented candles.
cauldrons/candy bowls
Candy is arguably one of the best parts of Halloween. Even if you’re too grown for trick-or-treating, it should be mandatory to have a candy bowl in your house. But this can so easily be customized based on your decor preferences. If you want to go for a more typical looking “witch’s cauldron” that doesn’t look like you bought it from Party City, I love the idea of a brass container.
I also am really into the idea of big apothecary containers. They still have that witchy feel, but it’s a little more delicate and nuanced.
string lights
These are always the move. But especially during Halloween. This is honestly the number one non-cheesy Halloween decoration that I could think of. Moodiness/creepiness is achieved in a large part through the lighting. These string lights have the creepy vintage feel and will also give off the perfect low lighting. These can be used either in an indoor or outdoor space.
candelabras
Okay bringing it back to candles now. When you think of a creepy, old, haunted house, you think of all these delicate candelabras, right? It can’t just be me.
There’s something so effective about decorative, vintage-looking candlesticks that just scream Halloween to me. It’s high impact with minimal effort. Just stick these shits in the middle of your dining table or an entryway table and you’re good to go.
If taller candlesticks aren’t quite your thing, you can also go with some more squat candle holders that you can sprinkle in on desks, mantels, etc.
neutral pumpkins
I don’t gaf if pumpkins are a little played out. I’m gonna rock them during the Halloween season til I die. If you keep it neutral, pumpkins decor can still look super sophisticated and not basic.
And if you want to support an amazing small business, you can get some really fucking cute crochet pumpkins from the Happy Hooker. If Micayla’s work looks familiar, you’re an OG homey homie 😉
To buy some for your own home, send Micayla a DM on Insta!
bar supplies
My thing basically since the beginning of quarantine has been mixology. Sure, it may have led me to drink way too much, but all in the name of experimenting, right?
If you have a bar cart, or a bar area, this is the perfect place to make small tweaks to get Halloween-ready.
See? It is possible to get in the spirit without making your house look tacky as hell. These non-cheesy Halloween decorations will get your place looking festive but still stylish.
keep it (tastefully) spooky, and
keep it homey, homies
About me
Hey my name’s Hannah Michelle Lambert, the voice behind homey homies. I’m an LA-based designer, writer, and content strategist. I’m passionate about the intersection of productivity and creativity. I love talking about creative habits, technology, processes, and everything in between that helps me blend the Type A and Type B parts of my brain.
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