Do you need help coming up with outdoor Halloween decorations that are fun and festive rather than frightening? If so, we can help!
Decorating for Halloween is one of our favorite traditions because we get tons of trick-or-treaters every year!
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Several houses in our neighborhood go all out for this one day!
I’m thinking they must rent a storage unit to house it all!
At our house, we do just enough to make our home feel festive and inviting.
If you’ve been around for a while, you know I don’t like scary or gory decor.
Instead, I usually stick to the cute and whimsical side!
However, Rich did add a touch of spooky fun with a mini graveyard in the front yard.
Front Porch Halloween Decorations
Want to see how we created a playful outdoor display that’s welcoming by day and delightfully glowing by night?
Here’s how we’ll be greeting trick-or-treaters this year!
DIY Ghost Wreath for the Front Door
Remember the cute ghost wreath I made for our front door?
It ended up being the inspiration for our entire porch this year!
If you’re new to the blog, you can click here to see how I made it.
Once the wreath was hung, it was time to add a few more ghostly touches.
Boxwood Topiary Ghosts
I love finding simple ways to transform our everyday decor for each season.
Here’s a look at our porch during summer—with our boxwood topiaries and a DIY lemon wreath.
Once fall rolled around, those same topiaries got a spooky (but still cute!) upgrade!
First, to turn them into friendly ghosts, I started by placing a white hand towel on top of each topiary (otherwise the tops of their heads looked lumpy).
Then, to save money, I draped a white twin sheet over one and a round tablecloth over the other.
Their eyes are made from black felt, and I don’t want to glue them on permanently.
So I used transparent nylon thread to stitch them securely, ensuring they’ll stay put even on windy nights.
The result is a fun, slightly spooky look that fits perfectly with our “fun, not frightening” Halloween theme!
Pumpkin Lights and Glowing Jack-o’-Lanterns
Lighting plays such a big part in creating the right Halloween mood.
And I want our porch to have a fun, welcoming glow so you can see our cute ghosts.
To begin, we hung a strand of ten pumpkin-shaped lights across the top of the front door and down one side.
We actually bought these lights when our boys were little, and I can’t believe they’re still hanging in there now that our kids are grown up.
They add a cheerful pop of orange during the day and a soft, festive glow at night.
Next, we added a mix of real pumpkins and two faux jack-o’-lanterns to add a nice glow in front of the ghosts.
Our third jack-o’-lantern found a home on the side table—don’t worry, you’ll spot it in just a minute!
The combination of pumpkins, warm lighting, and friendly ghosts gives our porch such a playful personality.
It’s the perfect way to make trick-or-treaters feel welcome!
Cozy chair and Side Table Details
I love creating little vignettes that make the porch feel welcoming and full of personality, and the side table turned out to be one of my favorite spots to decorate.
On top, I added a few festive touches—a black witch’s hat, a candy bucket ready for trick-or-treaters, and a real succulent planter to bring in a bit of natural greenery.
On the nearby chair, I added a soft orange throw blanket for a pop of seasonal color.
It looks so cozy against the black cushion and black-and-white striped pillow.
Did you notice the witch’s broom leaning casually against the chair?
Pumpkins and Mums
No fall porch is complete without pumpkins and mums, and this year’s mix might be my favorite yet!
We picked up the beautiful heirloom pumpkins—in soft shades of light orange and green—during Fall in the Field, at Renninger’s, the first weekend of October.
The deeper orange pumpkins came from Walmart, and the cheerful mums are from Lowe’s.
We used them to surround the ghost topiaries and to help hide the electric cords from our lights, which was a bonus!
I love how the combination of natural elements softens the Halloween decor and gives the porch that cozy, seasonal look that feels just right for October.
Graveyard Around the Tree
Rich added a touch of spooky fun to our outdoor Halloween decorations this year by setting up a mini graveyard around the tree in our front yard.
He set up four gravestones, each with skeleton bones peeking out of the ground for a playful (but not too scary!) effect.
I love how the Spanish moss draping from the tree limbs gives the scene an extra spooky—but still whimsical—touch that I think trick-or-treaters love.
Outdoor Halloween Decorations at Night
Once the sun sets, our outdoor Halloween decorations take on a whole new life.
It’s incredible how a few simple lights can completely transform the space, turning our porch from cute by day to delightfully glowing and whimsical by night.
Let’s take a look!
The Porch After Dark
The pumpkin lights across the front door cast a warm, cheerful glow, while the glowing jack-o’-lanterns highlight the friendly ghosts.
Rich also added spotlights to the porch to make it bright enough to see all the details.
The combination of soft lighting and playful decorations creates a magical, welcoming vibe that’s perfect for trick-or-treaters.
Our Glowing Graveyard Scene
At night, the Spanish moss draping from the tree limbs adds a naturally spooky touch to the mini graveyard!
The spotlights on the gravestones make the skeletons peek out just enough to be playful,
From the street, you can see how the glowing graveyard blends with the lit porch, creating a cohesive Halloween display that’s fun, festive, and just a little bit mischievous.
It’s the perfect combination of whimsy and subtle spookiness—enough to delight kids and adults alike without ever being frightening.
Final Thoughts
Decorating for Halloween is always one of our favorite fall traditions, and this year’s porch and yard came together exactly the way we hoped—playful, festive, and just a touch spooky.
It’s fun to see familiar decorations—like the pumpkin lights we’ve had since the boys were little—still creating magic years later.
Whether you prefer cute, whimsical, or slightly spooky Halloween decor, it’s incredible how a few thoughtful touches can completely transform your outdoor spaces.
I hope our porch and yard inspire you to add a little fun and festive spirit to your own Halloween celebrations!
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Blessings, Donna and Rich
More Halloween Decor Inspiration
Love decorating for Halloween? Here are a few more posts you can check out:
- Halloween Mantel Decor Ideas
- Porch Decor Trick-or-Treaters Will Love
- Inexpensive Halloween Decor for Your Kitchen
- Haunted Mansion Bedroom Decor Ideas
- Tips to Decorate a Halloween Table
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**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
So many fun and festive ideas, Donna. I love that you guys decorate your home for Spooky Season. I’ve really enjoyed seeing everyones decorations this year and you always knock it out of the park! Can’t wait to see what you have in store for the holidays too. Hugs, CoCo
Thanks, CoCo! We’re looking forward to Halloween and having all the trick-or-treaters visit! I hope you and all the littles in your family enjoy the festivities!