It’s that time of year: Halloween season! You have probably noticed plenty of Halloween decorations all over – grocery stores, drug stores, home goods stores, and more. But did you know that there are many different styles of Halloween decorating? You may only see one or two in commercial spheres, but there are in fact other ways to decorate for Halloween. Maybe you enjoy Halloween but don’t want to decorate your space with body parts and creepy faces and the like. Or maybe you are tired of putting out the same old decorations every October and simply want a change of scenery. Good news: there are plenty of classy Halloween decorations that can give your home a more chic edge this October.
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A Condensed Overview of Halloween Decorating Styles
Horror and Gore
Many people don’t like Halloween because it brings out so many creepy, horrific movies and accompanying decor. While there is enough of a cult following to support the horror industry, it’s understandable that many people are turned off by gruesome displays of…well, just about anything. But that isn’t what Halloween’s all about. There are many other Halloween styles that encompass tamer expressions and traditions. Just like with any major religion, you can’t lump it all together. The experiences and customs are widely varied. Gore is just one facet of Halloween. It’s definitely in-your-face obvious, but it’s not the only way to decorate or celebrate this holiday.
Cutesy and Child-Friendly
Gore’s opposite is cute. Think Casper the Friendly Ghost, and most elementary school Halloween decorations. These are the G-rated decorations and naturally dominate kid-friendly spaces and occasions. Cutesy can certainly be classy, depending on the materials used for decorations among other factors. It also may be one of the cheapest ways to decorate since materials are often affordable paper and plastic. You can easily find fun and affordable cute decorations at most dollar stores.
Creepy and Dark
Creepy decor is different from gory decor in that there is nothing gruesome about it, but it’s spooky. If gory decor fits horror movies, creepy decor fits suspenseful scary movies. Its ability to cause discomfort is subtle rather than blatant. This generally consists of things that aren’t supposed to be inherently scary but have become so over time in our culture. Porcelain dolls, for instance, are lovely and endearing to some. When employed in other circumstances such as Halloween decor, they can be creepy. A woman in black with a black veil covering her face could be a mourning widow in one circumstance, or a very creepy silhouette in Halloween decor. Dark and creepy decor can also be classy, if you are going for classy-creepy.
Classic and Classy
Classy Halloween loosely describes any Halloween decor that doesn’t definitively fit into any of the above three categories. So while it may employ figures that are originally ‘scary’ or otherwise affiliated with Halloween (vampire, ghost, skeleton, etc.), its representation of them is not scary. It involves all of the classic Halloween characters, but not in an overly creepy or horrific style. You’ll find black cats, bats witches, jack-o-lanterns, Frankenstein, mummies, and more. But none of them will scare you away or creep you out. They’re more for fun, a way to say – ‘hey, it’s Halloween!’ And when they aren’t displayed in a specifically child-centric way (in other words, designated as ‘cute’), they are simply classic. Classy Halloween can play on subtle spook and mystery, but not actual fear.
Classy Expression 1: Glamorous and Feminine
There are a few different ways to go classy with Halloween. My favorite way is to embrace dazzling glamor. Why not go all out feminine with Halloween? There are so many gorgeous things you can do when you acquire just the right classy Halloween decorations to evoke a sense of ‘lovely mystery’. For starters, you don’t have to stick to the traditional holiday colors of orange, black and purple. Think pink!
1. Glitter Pumpkins
Razzle dazzle your space with mini pink glitter pumpkins! These sparkly little gems would make a gorgeous mantel topper, stair step liner, or adornment just about anywhere.
2. Gold-brushed White and Pink Pumpkins
These gold-brushed pumpkins in white and pink are a fun and artistic touch to a rustic, feminine fall theme. Like many of the pumpkins in this list, they are versatile enough to cover Halloween as well as any autumn occasion/decor setup in general.
3. Pastel Mini Pumpkins
These sweet little pumpkins add a light and feminine touch to Halloween decor. Another unique bunch that you’ll probably not see at anyone else’s home!
4. Pink Pumpkin Garland
This fun and feminine pumpkin strand brings pleasant, happy energy to any space.
5. Pink, Orange and Black and White Checked Pumpkin Wreath
Hang this decadent wreath on your front door for all-out extravagance! Black-white checked ribbon and pink and orange bows? You got it. Hot pink pumpkin? Present. Multi-coloured pumpkin with bling-lined stripes? Couldn’t do without. You can’t go wrong with this show-stopper.
6. Pink, Black and Sparkly Silver Halloween Confetti
These confetti pieces include sparkly silver ‘Boos’, black stars and witch hats, and pink stars and bats. Perfect for a pretty pink Halloween party!
7. White Ghost Beverage Napkins with Gold Eyelashes
These ghost-shaped cocktail napkins are extra cute because of the gold-glitter closed eyelashes. What a fun and feminine addition to your party supplies.
8. Pink or Orange Wooden Pumpkin Decor
Add a pretty pale pink pumpkin trimmed in white to your lovey pink Halloween decor. Or, opt for orange with black trim. Very basic and classy!
9. Pink and White Ghost Garland
This cute strand of pink and white ghosts could also count as cutesy decor because it is so soft and playful, yet it’s classy enough for any Halloween occasion.
10. Pink, Black and Gold Moon and Stars Garland
Pale pink, black, and shiny gold colors pop in this adorable but totally classy garland that could even feature outside of Halloween.
11. Pink Velvet Pumpkin with Flowers and Pearls
This little centerpiece pumpkin is truly a glamorous and feminine one-of-a-kind treasure. A queen of classy Halloween decorations, it would soften and bedazzle any Halloween space.
12. Dusty Pink Velvet Pumpkin
Your more ‘everyday’ version of the fancier pumpkin above, this velvet pumpkin is soft and subdued. It’s perfect when you aren’t going for bold colors but want to play on the season’s shadowy undertones that come along with the shortening days.
13. Pink Bewitched Sign
This fun and pretty wood sign with lovely pastel colors is perfect for a playful and feminine look! With a nod to Samantha (Bewitched), it offers a clean-cut and fresh approach to Halloween.
14. Pink and White Pumpkin Mug
While this mug could be used as decor, it is simply a fun pink way to enjoy your morning coffee for the Halloween season!
15. Door Corner Witch Silhouette
This simple and classy silhouette of a witch riding a broom with black cat in tow is an easy way to spruce up any door frame for Halloween. It comes in black, gold, gray, silver, or white.
16. Lacy Bat
This gorgeous and unique lacy bat comes in eleven different colors, including pink! With that many options, it could fit into basically any Halloween decor scheme you use.
17. Pink Lace Table Runner
Pink lace adds a perfectly feminine touch to any decor, and would easily complement a more feminine Halloween look.
18. Pink Victorian Lace
Not only can you drape lace over a table for a glamorous look, but you can also hang it across windows, bookshelves, from the tops of doorframes, or anywhere else for a dramatic touch of elegance.
19. Hocus Pocus Sign
This gorgeous Hocus Pocus sign in light pink, orange and white with gold accents is a beautiful addition for creating a light and happy look! It is so crisp and clean that it looks like it came out of a pastry shop. It is especially appropriate for fans of the Disney movie, Hocus Pocus (and my first memory of Sarah Jessica Parker).
20. Bewitched Mug
This Bewitched mug is another fun vessel for enjoying your coffee this Halloween season, especially if you are a fan of the old TV series!
21. Bewitched Sign in Pastel Colors Against Black
This sign is just like the one listed above except instead of a pink background, this sign has a black background for a fun, night-time version.
Classy Expression 2: Sophisticated Elegance
Another beautifully class way to decorate for Halloween is to learn more toward elegance and sophistication. Think of how you would imagine a Halloween ball at a grand estate. Such classy Halloween decorations may employ more black and white or metallic hues. Themes could incorporate mask displays, elegant black lace, or glass.
1. Orange Venetian Mask
This beautifully painted authentic Venetian mask displays perfect ‘pumpkin colors’ with bright harvest orange and glittered green and gold embellishments. If you love Venetian masks, you can easily use them for a fantastically unique Halloween decor scheme.
2. Sparkly and Metallic Masquerade Masks
Display a classy and elegant masquerade mask to adorn your Halloween decor in any of seven stunning colours. You could hang them from windows or arrange them on a table or mantle for a dramatic and mysterious look.
3. White Masquerade Mask
This beautiful white handmade masquerade mask is a perfect complement to a black and white decor theme. It also comes in black. Together, the black and white masks would create a clean and stunning contrast as a centerpiece or anywhere else for dramatic effect.
4. Black Masquerade Mask
This simple and beautiful black mask is another great piece for black and white decor, but is versatile enough to complement any classy decor theme. The great thing about decorating with masks is that you can wear them for costume parties as well!
5. Gold-Trimmed Black Masquerade Mask
This beautiful and sparkling mask adds a pop of glittery gold for a gorgeous touch of glamor.
6. Black Lace Parasol
This gorgeous black lace parasol is a fun and unique way to add sophisticated style this Halloween!
7. Custom-Painted Pumpkins
These gorgeous pumpkins come in black, white and more with beautiful hand-painted embellishments.
8. Stained Glass Spiderweb Dreamcatcher with Bat and Hanging Stars and Moon
An elaborate stained glass piece resembles a traditional dreamcatcher with a copper web and bat and hanging pieces of stained glass in the shapes of stars and a moon. This is a top notch gorgeous and classy Halloween decoration.
Classy Expression 3: Fun and Funky
Fun and funky classy Halloween decorations are nice enough to be classy but not necessarily fancy or exquisite. Simply put, they are just fun!
1. Hocus Pocus Cauldron Sign
Very similar to the cake-like Hocus Pocus sign, this one also employs playful light pink and orange but overlays a black cauldron for a fun focus on cauldrons.
2. Halloween Witch Door Wreath
A fun and extravagant pop of Halloween’s traditional colours of orange, black and white debut in this busy and fabulous door wreath. This wreath spares no expense with its multitude of pumpkins, bobbles, and all kinds of fun ribbons.
3. Customizable Skeleton Family Halloween Sign
Proudly showcase your happy haunted skeleton family (which could be anyone from fabulous you to multiple members) on a custom-made wall sign! Select from a number of sizes to fit any space in your home or workspace.
4. Felt Ball Halloween Garland
This more subtle and simple garland features plain felt balls in autumn colours of white, orange, dark orange, black and gray. It’s perfect for a more natural-looking decor style and for a quieter, calmer look.
This discussion merely scrapes the surface of all the ways you can decorate for Halloween. There are so many other classy styles. We haven’t even touched upon country/farmhouse style decor, among others. But hopefully these classy Halloween decorations give you some ideas and inspiration for a fresh take on the season! It may still be late September, but October is just around the corner. Get a jump start on some fun decorating now!