Each October 31st, I hand out 500 pieces of Halloween candy. Two hours of constant trick-or-treaters can be a little overwhelming, but my neighborhood has embraced the celebration by going all-in on outdoor Halloween decor to make the night even more fun for the kids. Some homes have classic Jack-o’-Lanterns and pumpkin lights, while others lean into the Halloween inflatables, and—to my own delight—some homes have groups of skeletons scaling their house or climbing in windows.
If you too are delighted by creative Halloween decor—whether you want to be inspired to attempt a spooky scene yourself or just appreciate the effort some people put into decorating, keep scrolling. We’ve gathered some of the most fun Halloween outdoor decorations that are more spooky than scary for the littlest of trick-or-treaters, and included links to shop if you want to recreate the look yourself.
Classic Halloween Front Porches
Add Halloween details to your fall front porch to welcome treat-or-treaters this year. Pose skeletons, spiders or crows among and fall essentials like pumpkins, hay bales, and corn stalks.
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Giant Skeleton Scenes
Giant skeletons took over neighborhoods in 2020 with the release of the Home Depot 12-foot giant skeleton. We needed a little extra joy back then, but the trend of oversized Halloween (and other holiday) decor has continued, with the OG skeleton, affectionately known on social media as “Skelly,” selling out early each year. While we keep an eye on restocks, here are some other giant skeleton options to add to your outdoor Halloween decor.
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Funny Skeleton Displays
My personal favorite Halloween decor trend over the last few years is using poseable skeletons! Decorating with skeletons can unleash creativity, as shown in these examples with skeletons doing unexpected everyday tasks like watering plants and taking a “hot” yoga class.
Source: Grandin Road
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Giant Spiders
Massive black spiders can create subtle spooky vibes on your home’s exterior. Mix up the sizes of the spiders or choose one statement spider to complete the creepy-crawly look.
Source: @jlgarvin
Source: @raven.vasquez
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Witch-Inspired Displays
For homes with covered porches, floating witch hats are competing with decal bats for the best minimalist Halloween decor—thanks to social media. And we can’t help but love the eerie look they create.
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Outdoor Halloween Inflatables
While holiday inflatables might be polarizing, the options for creative and unique Halloween inflatables have exploded in recent years. You can find your favorite creepy characters from nostalgic movies, wholesome Halloween inflatable options, and even Disney villains. Here are some of our favorites.
Source: Kathy Sisson
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Cute (Not Creepy) Scenes
For the littlest ones this Halloween, choosing an outdoor Halloween display that’s more cute than creepy might be best—like this DIY-Halloween scene from It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Scatter pumpkins and choose your favorite Peanuts character(s) to feature. Or just choose classic Halloween characters like Jack-o’-Lanterns, black cats, and friendly ghosts.
Source: Kathy Sisson
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Kids’ Halloween Playhouses
Because Halloween is really about the kids, consider outfitting their favorite play space with some not-too-scary decor like bats, pumpkins, Halloween-themed doormats, and more.
Source: @katebarnesphotography
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