From Spooky Cute to Classic: 10 Easy Halloween Door Decorating Ideas That Wow
Transforming your front porch into a frighteningly festive Halloween display is easy and affordable
The breeze is crisp, the leaves are turning gold and orange, the scents of cinnamon and pumpkin fill the air…there are so many reasons to love October. And the month’s main event — Halloween — is around the corner which means it’s time to decorate! This year, you are guaranteed to gather oohs and ahhs from visitors, trick-or-treaters and passersby alike thanks to our collection of wow-worthy Halloween front door ideas.
Whether you like to go all out for the spooky celebration or keep things simple with classically festive style, we have you covered. We spoke to design bloggers and style experts for their best-ever Halloween door ideas. “Seasonal decorating doesn’t need to be complicated or pricey,” says design pro Melanie Habibzadeh of SimpleMadePretty.com. “All it takes is basic craft-store supplies and a little creativity to set up a cute Halloween entryway.” Keep reading for easy tips, tricks and inspiration for a dazzling Halloween doorway!
For a bright and modern Halloween doorway
Updating the expected Halloween hues with complementary cool blues creates a stylish vignette. “This pop-of-color porch is easy to set up,” says designer Jennifer Hadfield of TaterTotsAndJello.com. Here, a wreath form wrapped in orange ribbon (with a pumpkin accent hot-glued to it) and a craft-store garland are contrasted by a cobalt pot and a printed navy outdoor rug to anchor the display.
For a simply spooky-cute doorway
“Creating this monster door has become a yearly family tradition that even our neighbors look forward to,” says design pro Stacey Blake, founder of DesignAddictMom.com. “It’s a fun conversation piece, and it’s all made from craft-store staples!” Here, pink hair (cut from poster paper), teeth (cut from foam board) and jumbo googly eyes are affixed to the door using poster putty. The final touches: a black washi tape mouth and scar. Tip: To weather-proof this look, spray sealant (like Mod Podge Clear Acrylic) on hair and teeth before hanging.
For a classic, autumnal doorway
Layering traditional fall elements (like pumpkins, hay bales and mums) creates tiers of texture for eye-catching depth and dimension. To get the look, stack accents on steps or hay bales on both sides of the door. “The use of symmetry makes the entry look balanced and inviting —it’s a classically beautiful fall style!”
For a fast and festive batty doorway
Sometimes less is more when it comes to holiday decorating! All it takes is a few craft-store supplies and a few minutes to toss together this cutely festive doorway. Here, a teal door is adorned with a simple wreath and paper bats that pop against the cool blue hue. “I didn’t have time to go all out, so I just added a little festive flair to our year-round decor,” says Habibzadeh. “I cut bat shapes out of black cardstock and affixed them to and around the door with painter’s tape. Quick and easy!” For added charm, layer two doormats as a fun welcome for guests and visitors.
For an eerie-meets-chic fall doorway
“This outdoor entry celebrates all the traditional style of Halloween and the fall season,” says DIY pro Danielle Driscoll, of FindingSilverPennies.com. “The wreath and garland combo sends a warm welcome, and achieving the look is easy!” (Tip: Hang your wreath with invisible fishing line instead of thick ribbon for a more streamlined look.) To add visual interest, flank the door with tiers of pumpkins on wood crates and on the ground, along with battery-run lanterns. For an eerie eye-catching glow, set a red LED light (Buy at Amazon, $37) inside your foyer.
For a scary-cute Halloween doorway
“All it takes is a few craft-store and farmstand staples to set up this spooky yet cute doorway,” says Driscoll. “This is a fun welcome for guests and trick-or-treaters!” To get the look, trace a long, jagged mouth shape out of black poster paper and cut out. Affix to the door using removable glue dots from the craft store. Then cut out two eyes and affix above the mouth, forming a face. Next, cut out a trio of bat shapes from more paper; affix around door with glue dots. To finish, wrap or drape fall garlands around your porch and line the steps with carved pumpkins.
No time to carve? Try personalizing pumpkins with a stencil and some paint, says Driscoll. “A single initial monogram looks gorgeous—and it’s a breeze to do!” Other frighteningly easy ideas: Hang scary party-store hands from the door knob and add a few battery-run lanterns on either side of the front steps.
For a traditional-meets-minimalist fall doorway
“What better way to showcase the color and abundance of the season than with a bright, beautiful autumnal doorway!” says Jeannine Rose of SweetHumbleHome.com. “Lining your front steps with gourds galore is a classic, elegant way to ring in Halloween—and it sets a warm welcome for visitors!” Rose suggests gathering a mix of real and faux pumpkins and gourds. “It’s more wallet-friendly to weave in some faux gourds—and you can use them for next year’s display or for Thanksgiving!” To do: Place 2 to 4 pumpkins and gourds on each step, starting at the top and working your way down. Fill in gaps with ivy or greenery from your yard for a full, lush look. Tip: Rub a bit olive oil on pumpkins to keep them bright and shiny.
For a scary-silly Halloween doorway
“This Halloween, spreading the festive spirit is easy with this fun monster door,” says Melissa Mills, SVP of General Merchandising at Michaels craft stores. “It’s a whimsical, welcome sight for trick-or-treaters of all ages—it’s just the right amount of scary!” To do: Affix a green plastic tablecloth to the door using masking tape and decorate with eyes, a mouth, tongue and water droplets cut from posterboard (for the free printable templates and instructions, go to Michaels.com and search “Monster Door Decor”). For silly, spirited flair, use double-sided adhesive tape to attach a fuzzy “eyebrow” snipped from black craft faux fur. Finish by flanking the door with faux pumpkins and a colorful pumpkin topiary.
For a whimsically rustic Halloween doorway
“This modern farmhouse ghost vignette was so easy and inexpensive to put together,” says designer Hadfield. Here, a door is dressed up with bats (snipped from scrapbook paper) and craft-store garlands. A rustic DIY stenciled wood sign and ghost mat, plus a mix of pumpkins, lanterns and potted mums further the eek-chic look. The “fab-boo-lous” touch? DIY ghosts! To make each, attach a Styrofoam ball to the top of a tomato gardening cage. Then lay a white sheet on top and glue felt eyes and a mouth onto the fabric.
For a lovely, layered seasonal doorway
“I just love decorating for fall,” says design pro Lisa Rocco, @ASimplyStyledNest on Instagram. “For this porch display, I showcased a natural wreath made of dried stems and flowers—I always say, the bigger the wreath, the better!” The key to her look: creating ‘tiers’ of decorations on the steps leading up to your door. This adds a dimensional, layered effect that will stand out from the street! To do: Place pumpkins and mums on each step. When choosing florals and gourds, Rocco suggests a variety of hues for visual appeal. “To finish, top a chair with a comfy on-theme pillow. It’s such a welcoming vignette!”
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
For more savvy Halloween tips and ideas check out:
21 Halloween Costume Ideas That’ll Win You a Prize at Any Party
How To Outsmart ‘Scary’ Halloween Stains
