25 Halloween Porch Decor Ideas for 2023

Jun 19, 2023

These decorating ideas are so stylish it's scary.

Halloween porch decor is paramount—especially if you pride yourself on your on-theme holiday schemes. So if you want to really lean in this year and go big on your decorations, you've come to the right place. We've scoured the internet in hot pursuit of the best outdoor Halloween ideas, and we did not come up empty-handed. So no matter what kind of dwelling you're decorating—a house, a townhome, or an apartment—you'll find some good inspiration here.

We just want to preface our picks by saying that while plenty of our ideas ahead are classically Halloween (read: spooky), a lot of them are actually quite charming and not scary at all. Before you lose interest, hear us out: Halloween doesn’t have to be eerie! So if you're someone who likes to break out the decorations the moment October 1 hits, feel free to opt for something a little more stylish than ghosts, ghouls, and other traditional Halloween motifs. Think sunset-colored flowers surrounded by dried corn husks—more harvest than horror.

Otherwise, go all out and create something terrifyingly on-point, and if you need some inspiration, keep scrolling. We've got all of the scary stuff you'll need to make your front porch the most macabre one on the block. Think everything from pumpkins donning incredibly realistic faces to a family of skeletons lounging on the front steps. So go ahead and get in the spooky spirit because Halloween is practically upon us. Make your house the scariest of them all with these top-notch ideas.

Blogger Liz Marie is famous amongst the internet's crafty crowd for her iconic and elaborate Halloween decorations, and this scene is hardly an exception. Before you rule this one out because you don't have time to carve and paint so many pumpkins, rest assured that Marie didn't either. She bought a bunch of cheap pre-lit jack-o'-lanterns and painted them white. That's it! Brilliant.

Another famed crafter? Brittany Watson Jepsen, otherwise known as The House That Lars Built. As you can see, this festive Halloween garland collection is not something you can throw together in a few minutes. So if you have time and want to create a real "wow" moment on your porch in time for the holiday, peep the tutorial (linked above!) and get to work! The touches of pink make it less expected and we think a little more elegant.

Another The House That Lars Build idea that takes a less on-theme approach is this series of florals accented with a select few pumpkins. Just head to your local nursery the week before Halloween and snag florals within an established color story.

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Otherwise, go for a more traditionally scary approach and include all of the classic Halloween motifs, including carved pumpkins, faux spider webs, bats, and floating ghosts. You can go as big or small as you want, so start thinking about what will work best on your porch.

If you don't have a full-fledged porch but want to get on the Halloween decor fun, you can opt for a simpler setup. Grab a few pumpkins and arrange them around a pot of mums and some harvest corn—done!

If you want to really lean into the fall theme, create a dedicated autumnal porch-scape complete with pumpkins, stacks of hay, warm-toned florals, and, of course, a scarecrow. There's really no need to sacrifice beauty when it comes to Halloween porch decor.

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If you have an affinity for plants, feel free to create a little jungle on your front porch. Because you'll probably leave this on display for a while, opt for dried florals and plants that will last through the end of October.

If you like the ritual of pumpkin carving (and using the "guts" to whip up a tasty pie or snack), make a few jack-o'-lanterns and arrange them on a bench or the floor by the front door to greet visitors and trick-or-treaters.

This is an interesting take on pretty-ugly because, well, it combines elements of both looks. The flowers and pumpkins on this Halloween porch are beautiful, but then the cobwebs and skeletons are quite creepy. Why not mix the two?

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We're employing the famous phrase for our Halloween porch decor this year by way of a scarecrow that's more charming and cute than scary. We're crediting his friendly vibe to the smile on his pumpkin face and his jolly outfit.

A skull on a set of spider legs? Terrifying. If you want to create the ultimate Halloween look (read: very scary), something like this will certainly do the trick. Our suggestion? Make a few and arrange them on the lawn leading up to the door.

You know the House Beautiful editors love a festive wreath. Williams-Sonoma is one of our favorite outposts to score the best on-theme wreaths because every season the bevy of wreaths on offer get better and better.

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If you live in a townhouse or apartment with a sizable stoop, go the minimal route that embraces fall-friendly flowers and produce like pumpkins. Your home may not be the scariest, but it will probably be the prettiest.

Hosting the scary soirée this year? Set the tone with a party-ready setup: jack-o'-lantern-accented bunting and a crowd of happy-faced pumpkins.

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There's something bucolic and carefree about these porch decorations, which feature fresh flowers and adorably tiny pumpkins. If you are short on time this year, this is a good solution to your decor problems. You can throw this together in a matter of minutes.

Well, not actually. Instead, create the illusion of the dead with a family of skeletons lounging on your porch. Go all the way and surround them with a few tipped-over pumpkins.

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Full disclosure, this giant spider that sticks to walls and windows is horrifying, so if you want to keep things simple this year without eliminating the scare factor, it's a good option.

If there's one image that comes to mind when we think about Halloween, it's pumpkins. They're a low-effort and high-reward decoration because they're perfectly on- heme, but don't actually require you to do much (unless you want to carve them, which isn't necessary). Just make sure you get enough to create a solid decor scheme. The more, the better. For an extra accent, paint a few matte black.

If you have the time and patience to actually do something with your pumpkins, go wild and carve some extremely intricate faces. Otherwise, use clay as a prosthetic and go really wild.

We all have memories of carving pumpkins as a kid, so embrace the nostalgia and carve your own this year. If this one is looking a little too intricate for you, you may want to consider buying a few stencils and a kit to perfect your craft.

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Jessica Cherner is House Beautiful’s associate shopping editor and knows where to find the best high-low pieces for any room.

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