Halloween Decor Ideas for a Traditional, Spooky Vibe

I tend to go for a traditional, elegant, and spooky approach to Halloween decor rather than a cutesy vibe. I want it to feel like my house is really abandoned!! Imagine if my home had been left untouched for 150 years…that’s the look I’m going for. We’re talking cobwebs, spiders, bats, ugly pumpkins with warts, lots of candlesticks, old dusty books, dim lighting. It’s giving Addams Family. The Caspar mansion. You get the picture!

I’ve been hard at work collecting all of the best Halloween decor this year. Find my picks here or shop by your favorite retailer:

And if you’re looking to set the scene around your house, I rounded up some classic Halloween looks for your front porch, your interiors, and your table that will be hauntingly memorable this season. (Don’t forget to stick around till the end to save my favorite fall and Halloween films!)

Halloween Table

There’s something incredibly fun about a Halloween tablescape. I like to do charcuterie boards with a dark side: think mummies (pigs) in a blanket, candy apples, caramel popcorn, veggie platters and more. Drape in some string lights, votives, and skulls, and it’s the perfect amount of spooky & sweet.

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Halloween Indoors

My overall Halloween decor is usually very minimal. Some black and orange taper candles (the drippier the better), some stacked pumpkins (real and fabric), black vases with fall stems, and a ghost garland across the mantle. It doesn’t have to be over the top to evoke a mysterious mood.

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Halloween Front Porch

I’m not much on front porch decor—that is until it’s fall and Halloween. I mean, it’s totally the CLJ moody vibe, am I right? My faux pumpkins are the new superstars of the stoop, and these cute ghosts always make me smile. A few tall black lanterns add height and flickering light…it almost makes this homebody want to leave the house just to come home to this setup.

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Halloween Frame TV Art

If you have a Frame TV this is guaranteed to be the easiest way to decorate for Halloween. You can go more literal with spooky bats or a haunted house or I also love incorporating more subtle nods to the season with moody florals or a vintage still life.

Not-So-Spooky Halloween Movies

I love watching movies that remind me of a season. This is the list we put together of some that will take you from fall into Halloween (but nothing too scary, please!)