These 10 Houses Have the Best Halloween Decorations We've Ever Seen
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There are people who love Halloween, and then there are people who love Halloween. Those in the latter group aren't satisfied with a few carved pumpkins or some corn stalks. No, they need to bring the thrills and chills, with spooky accents that pay tribute to some of the season's most screamworthy mascots, like skeletons, ghosts, witches, and more. And here's the good news: You don't need to live in an haunted 1800s Victorian with creaky floors and a few spiritual inhabitants to dress your house to the nines for Halloween. These epic houses that are decorated for Halloween make even the most charming white picketed fence abode seem dark and menacing to trick-or-treaters and guests alike.
These scary-good Halloween houses are fun to visit, but if you're not close enough for that you can draw inspiration from them for your own outdoor decor. Focus on accents that can transition from day to night, like ghosts that glow in the dark or a witch's cauldron that bubbles and brews after the sun goes down. You can even consider making simpler spooky swaps, like switching out your porch lights for bulbs that burn orange or black. Craft store items like cheesecloth (left white or dyed a menacing black) can also go a long way toward making your very own crypt as creepy as can be.
In the meantime, scroll these truly impressive houses that are decorated for Halloween if you dare. We found ghoulish homes far and wide, from Manhattan brownstones to suburban neighborhoods. Happy haunting!
Looking for even more spooky inspiration? Listen to our haunted house podcast, Dark House, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Terrifying Townhouse
Orange and black may be the go-to colors of the season, but they're not your only option for a scary atmosphere. Consider theming your Halloween decor to the exterior of your home (or, in the case of this Upper East Side home, your front door) for a spooky scene that still coordinates with your overall aesthetic.
Great Lakes Ghouls
These white ghost pumpkins created by Hudsonville, Michigan–based blogger Liz Marie prove that the easiest way to make an impact with your decor is to multiply it! Everything looks better (and scarier) in bulk. Can't find enough gourds in your chosen hue? Spray paint can help with that.
Southern Spirits
Summer-like weather shouldn't stand in the way of your haunted house. Liz Rishel, the Orlando-based content creator behind Within the Grove, certainly didn't. She dreamed up a scene in inky black paint with other spooky accents, like skeleton planters, spiders, and bats. If you're willing to lean into a Halloween-worthy exterior this year, consider painting your front door pitch black.
Western Witchcraft
If your home's exterior boasts a covered front porch, you're in luck—so many fun Halloween decorations hang from the ceiling to bring extra dimension (and screams) to your front porch. This setup by Utah-based Kara's Party Ideas involves a trio of suspended witch legs reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz.
Freaky Florida
Florida-based DIY-er extraordinaire Jenna Sue Design relied on a camp of bats to decorate the front of her home, adding an eerie edge. For maximum impact on your exterior, look to Halloween decor that can span different levels of your home's facade—not only will they look super cool from the road, but they'll make your whole home feel cohesive.
Suburban Spells
A ghoulish gaggle of witches on the front lawn will be the talk of the neighborhood. This scene pairs mannequin forms dressed in witch garb with the season's popular giant skeleton for a séance that can be seen for miles. And is that an archway of snakes (and skulls) in the background?
Washingtonian Webs
Spiders, webs, witch hats—oh my! This house decorated by Spokane-based blogger Living With Lady couldn't look creepier (or cuter) for the Halloween season, thanks to a variety of huge spiders that'll scare people streets away. Our favorite part? The giant web stretching from the upstairs window across the lawn. And the fact that you can buy the whole kit on Amazon.
California Cuteness
Not all of the best houses decorated for Halloween are scary. The L.A.-based wedding planner at 100 Layer Cake set up this picture-perfect scene. It's so cute we can just imagine passersby snapping a photo in front. Black-painted pumpkins are an elegant touch that makes this setup stand out from the (excuse the pun) crop.
Colonial Chills
What sounds better than a night sleeping like the dead? That's exactly what this sign from Virginia Beach–based Confessions of a Serial DIYer promises. The "Dead & Breakfast" signage is a playful twist on the traditional haunted house that's easy to re-create—and sure to garner a few laughs or screams.
Alarming Apartment
For the most drama—and style–consider decorating your house for Halloween in one singular shade, like the inky black seen on this apartment's front stoop. It covers the bare trees and a slew of skeletons—everything except for two big pumpkins. Take inspiration from it for a monochrome look that's scary good.
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