Tasteful Exterior Halloween Decor
image via Grandin Road
Halloween is upon us, and it’s going to look quite different this year. I still haven’t figured out what we’re going to do about Trick or Treating – perhaps doing an outdoor scavenger hunt type thing with some kids from Henry’s school. It’s so sad, just breaks my heart, Henry LOVES Halloween! Last year was so amazing… I was 8 weeks pregnant with Emma and stuffed myself into a Black Widow costume and had thought about how fun it would be with the baby and Henry together this year. DAMN YOU COVID. As stupid as it sounds, I’m really hitting my saturation point with this whole mess. I’m just so tired.
Anyways, I feel like since I’m not sure what Halloween holds for us, I will try to make our house really festive for the kids (Henry). I’m almost at the point that I would buy a giant yard inflatable just to see him get excited. Luckily there are some really pretty decor options out there that aren’t cheesy, but rather cute and stylish! I rounded up some options here, and I’d love to hear what you guys are doing for your Halloween plans?!
1. // 2. // 3. // 4. // 5. // 6. // 7. // 8. // 9. // 10. // 11. // 12. // 13. // 14. // 15. // 16. // 17. // 18. // 19.
Browse:
Haha, we just purchased a light up ghost holding a lollipop and a skeleton that yells “Happy Halloween” at you when you walk by. I don’t think I would have ever done this if I didn’t have a 5-year-old. Kids make things more fun :). As for trick-or-treating, we’re still going to do it, but more responsibly. Many of our neighbors are going to do driveway trick or treating – i.e. put out a decorated table at the end of your driveway and top with individual treats (we’re doing little cans of soda, but you can do little bags or tiny cups with goodies inside). This way, kids can still trick or treat, but they’re not digging into a candy bowl and can theoretically socially distance themselves – since they’re not creating a bottleneck at your front porch.
yup, caved and bought the (most tasteful, hah) blowup for my kids a few years ago and THEY LOVE IT! their joy about it is infectious and now I love when it is up. you will not regret it.
I know this may not be a popular opinion, but maybe it’s ok for kids to experience disappointment so they can develop resiliency. Both my small children missed bday parties and other events bc of covid and they didn’t seem to mind that much because we celebrated life in other ways. We won’t celebrate Halloween this year but will go apple picking (outside, physically distanced) instead and make a pie. Maybe we can recalibrate the meaning of celebration and do it a different way. Just thinking through this with you.
Totally agree. Kids are remarkably resilient, and disappointment is part of life. I think most commenters here (and Erin) would likewise agree, given the way everyone’s proposing alternative ideas and ways to be festive. We can be irritated about the way Covid has interfered with life, but also find other ways to celebrate – like the many great ideas above!
We just did a car parade at the senior living complex that was fall themed, and it reminded me of how much the older population (who may not have a lot of social contact in normal times) has been affected by this situation. Normally for Halloween they have trick or treat and children come inside, but not this year. It would be fun to have the littles dress up and decorate the cars and do a parade for them – a feel good thing for everyone!
LOVE THAT IDEA!!! FUN FOR ALL AGES!!!
29 years ago, when we built the house we are still in, the neighborhood had so many school age children and Halloween was so much fun. Since I am a designer, every holiday got an over the top display and that was especially true at Halloween. One year I made multiple 6′ tall ghost figures with just balloons for heads and long white gauze fabric draped over the balloons as bodies. My husband strung fish line quite high up on our 2 story white house and we hung them at different heights along the line. We positioned a green flood light at them. We figured they’d look scary blowing in the breeze. What we didn’t realize was that the flood light caused very spooky ghost shadows to dance against the white siding, from the ground all the way up to the roof of the house. So, instead of 6 ghosts, we had 12 flying all over. Even the adult neighbors walking the trick or treaters around said it was one of the coolest displays they had ever seen. I want those days back!
Love it thank you
So much complaining. Try looking at the glass half full.
Seems like there is little complaining and lots of good ideas of how to make Halloween fun this year? Plus, I think it’s okay to admit we’re not all Pollyanna all the time, and that things are hard right now for lots of people, not just parents. It’s even okay to mourn the small losses (cute baby Halloween costumes! Trick or treating!) and then move on to make the best of things (decorations that will make everyone happy). And children take cues from parents, but they also have their own low moments. My four year old is in a different ‘social distance’ group at preschool from her best friend this year, and has struggled with it. And that’s okay, that’s part of life. She’s learning from disappointment, and I don’t think it’s okay to dismiss sadness as simple complaining. Heck, 20% of her life Covid has existed. It’s a lot. And it’s okay to get down about it sometimes.
So true. Children take their cues from their parents.
We have a 5 and 3 year old. We don’t feel comfortable trick or treating this year so I am planning an evening of family fun :) I talked my girls into those fuzzy fully body onesie pjs instead of costumes this year so we could all snuggle up together and watch a Scooby Doo movie at the end of the night. We also plan to hide candy in glow in the dark easter eggs (I found easter eggs that have small glow sticks in them on Amazon), maybe do a craft and cook a spooky theme dinner.
Super creative ideas!
I’m not embarrassed to say I’ve already started decorating. Every year we add to our front yard display; skeletons climbing the house, a bigger graveyard, colored lights up lighting the house, fog machines! Last year, my husband and I built a mausoleum complete with interior lighting and fake stained glass windows. I’ve set out all sorts of gothic do-dads, books, black candles in brass candleabras, dried flowers, skulls, fake snakes and spiders and cobwebs on my mantles and my boys LOVE it. It’s victorian and creepy and just great fun. When else can you indulge that kind of otherworldly magic? We need it now more than ever, no?
Other neighbors have gotten in on the gig dressing up their houses. One has a ghostly projection pass her windows. Another hangs Harry Potter-style candles from her trees. Everyone sets out jack’o’lanterns the night of Halloween. It’s such fun and a great escape. While we will probably let our guys trick or treat, we still enjoy a front yard bonfire and cocktails with neighbors and chili and pumpkin carving and games a few days before. It’s all about enjoying the season as the month unfolds. Such a magical time of year!
Also, if you like a good scare read the ghost stories on Jezebel each year. You’ll never be the same.
Thanks Erin! This is great & something fun to look forward too! I bet Henry will love decorating & Emma will enjoy watching :)
This was exactly what I’ve been looking for! Thanks for the recs! First Halloween with a kid – probably just going to all dress up and make fun cocktails… maybe I’ll make a fun dinner if I don’t feel too lazy/tired
My kids are past the trick or treating age (17, 22, and 25), but all at home bc of Covid. We’ll have seasonal decor out until the day before Halloween, then going all out, complete with a lawn blow up of skeletons riding in a wagon. I want to make it fun for the neighborhood kids! Erin, don’t worry about being classy. Your kids are little for a short time. Just have fun!
I vote you embrace a pumpkin bounce house ;)
One of my friends just went absolutely bananas with pumpkins last year and I’m feeling it. Like, just buying an absurd amount of pumpkins. Too many pumpkins. Everywhere. Why the hell not
Why the hell not, indeed!
Strongly recommend also purchasing the squirrel & chipmunk deterrent to glaze them with. I went all out with waaaay too many pumpkins & gourds on our front lawn last year & the wildlife. Didn’t buy the glaze that the Wilson’s Farm staff recommended, as I didn’t recall any bites taken out of our gourds & pumpkins in years past- 100% regretted it. By Halloween it looked like a compost heap, it was a sad sight. Nobody needs to buy mounds of pumpkins twice or see sad pumpkins this year. Just sayn’!
Ha! Thanks for the tip!
Oops- the wildlife considered it their personal buffet!
I tend to go with seasonal decorations … cork wreath with orange grosgrain ribbon and fall leaves, needle felted pumpkins in a basket. But when we get nearer the day, I’ll go full out mummy front door (crepe paper and giant felt eye balls) cobwebs and ceramic pumpkin with candy corn and rubber mice slithering in and out. It should be said my door is inside since I live in a senior condo residence.
Tasteful until I go batsh*t.
Lol Patricia!
Going full out. I bought one of the Grandin Road wreaths with skulls on it last year and I’m now going full with skeletons gravestones in a ghost inflatable that will come out at night and glows purple. It is a stark contrast to the only all white/same tone Christmas lights and solo wreath I will allow in the front at Christmas . 😆
What about having a Halloween float for your family? Or, if you don’t have a hay wagon, borrow someone’s pickup truck, dress up in your costumes, jump in the back and drive and honk thru the neighborhood, waving with big smiles on your faces? Then zip home for chili/pizza/burgers and then dig into games and candy!
Deb for Prez! This is a spectacular idea.