Fall brings plenty of opportunities to decorate your home for the holidays. Before the sparkle and snow dust of Christmas, or even the natural textures and neutral tones of Thanksgiving, there's Halloween.
You might be itching to get creative with Halloween decorating ideas, incorporating pumpkins, cobwebs, skeletons, and spiders into the interiors, as well as your outdoor decor. Still, you don't want to get so stuck into Halloween that you miss the opportunity to indulge in fall decor ideas.
I asked a panel of holiday enthusiasts and interior designers when they think is the right time to start decorating for Halloween. Some people say September, others say October, but all agree that the final decision is down to you, your style preferences and your time constraints.
When can Halloween decorations go up?
Between pumpkin carving and party planning, there's plenty to fit into your seasonal schedule. Take the hassle out of the holiday by working out when you're going to start decorating. To save you time and money shopping, I've even picked out a few of my favorite decorations from the best places to buy Halloween decor.
Wait until fall
Carrie McCabe, co-host of the paranormal podcast Ain't It Scary with Sean and Carrie, displays her Halloween decorations all year round, but she understands that some people need more time to get into the holiday spirit.
Carrie recommends starting to decorate 'when it officially becomes fall on September 23. That seasonal change is a good marker that the summer is over and it's time to embrace fall holidays, like Halloween. If you want to eke out the last of the summer, you could always set up your decorations around the first weekend of October, keeping the decor limited to just one month.'
'It truly depends on your aesthetic and, above all, what makes you happy,' says Carrie. 'If that's putting up your Halloween decorations on Labor Day weekend, then go for it! Still, if you're taking a more traditional path, somewhere between the turn of the season and the start of October is a good time to start.'
Evolve your decor through the season
You don't have to put up your indoor and outdoor decorations all in one go: you could take it in stages, through the season. That's how interior designer Jasmine Crockett does it, anyway.
'Embracing the spirit of fall and Halloween, I personally opt to start decorating as soon as September arrives,' she says. 'This allows me time to savor the autumn atmosphere and relish the cozy ambience before transitioning to Christmas decorations.'
'By gradually incorporating fall-themed elements throughout September and blending in a touch of Halloween as October approaches, I strike a casual balance between celebrating the changing seasons and preparing for the festivities ahead,' says Jasmine. 'That way, I get ample time to appreciate each decoration theme and make the most of the unique charm they bring to my living space.'
One more point about decorating with pumpkins. Jasmine believes that 'both real and fake pumpkins have their perks. Real ones give that genuine autumn feel and can be used for cooking later. Fake ones are reusable and less messy: plus, they won't rot. I like to mix and match between the two to get the best of both worlds.'
These paper pumpkins look sophisticated, but they're easy to assemble and quick to store away. This would be a great craft activity to get the kids into the holiday spirit. I like them best in black, but you could shop the look in bold red or gleaming gold.
These are the sorts of subtly seasonal accents that you can repurpose throughout the year. Thanks to the range of shapes and sizes, you can mix and match small, medium, and large pumpkins and gourds to create a bespoke centerpiece.
I spotted this little sun catcher in our round-up of the best Walmart Halloween decorations, and instantly added two to my cart. It's such a cute way to make the most of the sunlight. You get the look of stained glass for far, far less.
Join your neighbors
If you're ready to get into the Halloween spirit, go right ahead: carve your pumpkins and set out your skeletons. Still, if you're worried about jumping the gun, you might want to wait for your neighbors to start decorating. That way, you won't be the only spooky house on the block.
Flooring designer Todd Saunders thinks that 'the most popular time to put up your decorations is in the first two weeks of October. That's when most of your neighbors will start decorating, so you can enter into a little healthy competition to see whose house looks the spookiest.'
Watch for the weather
September 23 is the official start of fall, but it might not feel like fall in your home. Perhaps you're still enjoying long days and warm nights and Halloween couldn't feel further away. Homes & Gardens Content Director Lucy Searle says you don't have to act in time with the seasons: you can take Halloween decorating at your own speed.
'The change in the air and the fading light that comes with the change of the season is my prompt to put up fall decor,' says Lucy. 'That's when I start to add in Halloween decorations over time, which makes the run-up to the holiday less pressurized but ensures the house is fully decorated.'
Lucy acknowledges that, 'if your climate is warmer, the calendar is going to be the better prompt. Still, decorating for Halloween in stages, rather than all at once, can be a good way to build the excitement.'
If you're keen to experiment with DIY Halloween decoration ideas, then you'll need to factor in time for buying supplies and making your masterpieces. It's a good idea to set a deadline and work backwards to make sure you leave plenty of time to create and enjoy your decorations.
