Yeah, we know it’s a tad early to be thinking about Halloween but almost feel late to the party, given that the stores are crammed with everything spooky. Here’s what we found….
For anyone who has been waiting impatiently for spooky season, fear not: It’s nearly time to break out the carved pumpkins and candy corn. And if your Halloween decorations are in need of a budget-friendly upgrade, we have you covered. We tapped a DIY blogger, an entertaining pro, and an interior decorator to see how far they could make $100 stretch. Here’s what they bought, from silly skeletons and ghost projectors to a terrifyingly tasteful charcuterie board.
Meet the experts:
Molly Madfis, blogger and design content creator in Connecticut
Meg Quinn, charcuterie board stylist in California
Arlyn Hernandez, interior decorator and design editor in California
If you want something classically creepy: Lean into pumpkins, ghosts, and skeletons.
Madfis loves a playful yet traditional approach to Halloween decor. “I’ve been wanting to get a whole bunch of generic trick-or-treat baskets and hang them all over the trees in our front yard,” she says. “I drove by a house with them everywhere and was obsessed, especially with lights inside!” A ghost projector rounds out her front yard, while inside, she recommends vintage-inspired skeletons for kids’ bedroom doors—“so cute to use year after year!”—and leans on spooky dripping taper candles for an easy, understated way to decorate living spaces.
Shopping list:
Plastic Jack-o’-Lantern Trick or Treat Pail, $20 for 10 at Walmart
Homemory Flickering Flameless LED Tea Lights, $6 for 12 at Amazon
Halloween Rotating Ghost Projector, $20 at Amazon
Spooky Drip Taper Candles, Set of 2, $26 for 2 sets at Terrain
Vintage Halloween Jointed Skeletons – Set of 3, $16 at Bonjour Fête
Total: $88
If you want to bring a little boo to your cheese board: Invest in a spooky serving piece.
Quinn knows a thing or two about leaning into a theme—her skeleton charcuterie board went super viral last year—so it’s no surprise she’d use her $100 budget on this skeleton marble board. “Cheese boards are my go-to for hosting (because no cooking required, duh),” she says. “My pick is the perfect Halloween-ready serving piece because it sets a spooky tone right away when topped with ‘fleshy’ salami and prosciutto.” To really nail the eerie vibes, she likes to layer in this lace spiderweb table runner. “Drape it over a dark cloth to create the perfect base for serving boards and appetizers,” she recommends. For a final touch, she also likes these burgundy candle holders, which can stay out through Thanksgiving and into the holiday season.
Shopping list:
Marble Skull Cheese Board, $60 at Williams-Sonoma
Crawling Halloween Spider Lace Table Runner and Mantle Scarf, $20 at Target
3pk Burgundy Halloween Glass Taper Candle Holders, $20 at Target
Total: $100
If you want to keep your decor contained: Deck out your door.
While you’ll find a few scattered pumpkins and a paper bat or two inside my home come October, I tend to keep the bulk of my Halloween decor to my front door. In my past life pre-motherhood, I liked something a bit more elegant, but now, it’s all about lighthearted ghosts and cheeky doormats. This ghost string light is on clearance and so fun to hang around your front door frame (or even inside along a fireplace mantel or your front window). IKEA’s new Halloween collection is great and super affordable, so I’d pick a black leaf wreath for a touch of cool, and then get silly on the ground with a Hey, Boo welcome mat.
Shopping list:
Lit Ghost String Lights, $38 at Pottery Barn
KUSTFYR Artificial Wreath 23 ½”, $15 at IKEA
Hey, Boo Halloween Ghost Outdoor Coir Welcome Mat, $33 at Michaels
Total: $86
Arlyn Hernandez, realtor.com