Don’t panic! Even if Halloween is just around the corner, you can still create a festive atmosphere with these quick and easy decorations.
Transform Your Hutch for Halloween
Capture a last-minute dose of Halloween style in a display case, hutch, buffet, and sideboard. Go wild with the holiday decorations and gather all your favorites in one place. Or, tuck in a few subtle nods here and here for an understated style.
Add a Boo Crew to Your Mantel
Make room for a boo crew on your fall-inspired mantel with this group of adorable ceramic ghosts. These fun little creatures make a big holiday splash while just taking up a corner of a mantel and you don’t have to rearrange your existing decor.
Scare Them With Skeletal Decor
Display some spine-tingling companions around your home in unexpected places, like sitting on a living room chair. A life-size plastic skeleton from the party store can easily become a focal point of Halloween decor in a pinch.
Make a Halloween Scene on a Shelf
Swap out a few items on a shelf with seasonal touches like a bowl of faux pumpkins, seasonal gourds, and even a collection of Halloween figurines. Whatever you have on hand can instantly give your home some last-minute Halloween ambiance.
Pair Pumpkins and Mums
Display pumpkins and mums side-by-side on your porch for a less spooky style that’s just as festive for the season. This type of seasonal porch decor will last through the Thanksgiving holiday without having to lift another finger.
Add Lights to Foraged Branches
Scout out your backyard for a big branch to hold white or orange string lights for a quick decor idea. Surround the lit-up branch with spiders climbing the walls and a broom nearby to call in the neighborhood witch. Hang a witch’s hat from a pendant light to transform your house into a fright fest in one afternoon.
Make a Pretty Holiday Banner
Branch out from orange and black with a pretty rainbow banner to bring a stylish touch of Halloween into your home. A DIY multicolored banner screams Halloween while staying with the room’s signature hues.
Create a Small Halloween Vignette
Create a warm, comfortable seasonal vignette that can last past the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays. Group a small pumpkin, a candle, and an autumnal landscape, and for Halloween, add a pumpkin votive or ghost luminary to set the scene.
Set a Haunting Table
Mix your everyday china with holiday paper goods for an affordable Halloween table. Top a charger or large dinner plate with a themed paper plate and black plastic utensils for the quickest, easiest holiday table decor.
Make Your Home Batty
Adorn glassware, stemware, and even simple plastic cups with these little toy bats from the party store. Add these little flourishes around the house for a quick scare. It’s a fun activity for little ones who want to get involved with Halloween decorating.
String Up a Holiday Garland
DIY a simple ghoulish garland in one afternoon for a quick holiday touch. Get creative with a homemade banner made with scrap paper cutouts of bats or ghosts or pick one up at your local craft store—bonus points if you score it during an end-of-season sale.
DIY an Easy Ghost Wreath
Spray paint a simple grapevine wreath black to create a blank canvas for a spooky Halloween door decoration. Hot glue a squad of mysterious wooden ghosts to complete the look. This wreath craft takes just a few minutes of hands-on time to complete.
Add Spooky Googly Eyes
Place oversized googly eyes on your home’s exterior and tree trunks to give a subtle but scary nod to the holiday. Grab one set or a few to ensure all the trick-or-treaters know someone’s watching over them.
Group Mini Pumpkins on Your Table
Turn to your grocery store when looking to create some charming last-minute Halloween vignettes. Grab a bag of mini pumpkins and cluster them around your dining table. It’s a perfect last-minute Halloween decorating idea when the pumpkin patches are empty.
Dress a Porch With Faux Pumpkins
Faux jack-o’-lanterns save the day when the inventory is low for real pumpkins. They aren’t messy, won’t attract squirrels, and they can be used year after year. Plug in the lighted pumpkins for a fun decorating party on the porch.