Halloween has always been one of my favourite times of the year. I remember being a kid, racing home from school on October 31st to throw on my fancy-dress outfit – usually something tacky I had pieced together from old clothes. Those were the days when the night seemed filled with the thrill of trick-or-treating and the sense of adventure!

But as I’ve gotten older, Halloween has transformed from a night of sugar highs and spooky stories into something even more exciting – a chance to get creative with the home and embrace the eerie, enchanting vibe of the season.

Halloween’s origins are fascinating, too, and actually have much to do with the concept of the home. I actually didn’t know this until very recently, but the holiday we celebrate today goes back over 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, ghosts would return to their worldly homes to haunt them! To scare away these spirits from reentering the homes of the living, they would light bonfires and wear costumes. This ancient tradition has evolved over the centuries, blending with Roman and Christian practices, and eventually becoming the Halloween we know and love today.

Now, instead of just dressing up myself, I get to “dress up” my home for Halloween. Here are some of my favourite ways to do just that, so you can bring a bit of Halloween magic into your own space.

I love starting with the entrance because it’s the first thing guests (or trick-or-treaters) see. One year, I made a wreath of black feathers and dried flowers, and added some fake cobwebs to the front door. A little fog machine tucked away in the bushes? Might seem like a step too far but it was the finishing touch that made my front garden feel like it had its own ghostly atmosphere!

When I think of Halloween, I think of rich, dark colors – deep purples, inky blacks, and blood reds. If you really want to commit to this color palette, you can ever consider painting an accent wall a dramatic dark colour and adding in some velvet throw pillows in deep wine or forest green. It was a simple way to bring that moody Halloween vibe into the house without making it feel over-the-top.

I’m sometimes into vintage and gothic-inspired furniture, so Halloween is the perfect occasion to lean into this aesthetic and to bring out the heavy, ornate candlesticks, antique mirrors, and dark, draped fabrics. I found an old, slightly distressed mirror at a flea market a few years ago, and it’s become a Halloween staple. Paired with tall black candles and some eerie skull figurines, it turns my mantelpiece into a fun yet gloomy scene!

Textures can really transform a space, especially during Halloween. I like to mix and match – think velvet pillows, faux fur throws, and maybe even some lace or leather accents. It’s all about creating a space that feels both inviting and a little mysterious.

Lighting is key to creating that perfect Halloween atmosphere. I’m a big fan of using dim, warm lights to make the space feel cosy yet eerie. Flameless candles are a lifesaver – they’re safe and give off that same flickering glow as the real thing. They’re also the safest option for any littler trick-or-treaters!

Halloween decorations don’t have to be all plastic and rubber. I like to incorporate natural elements too – like pumpkins, gourds, and dried leaves. A fun activity I did with the kids was creating a centerpiece made from small pumpkins and branches we spray-painted black. If you want to go even more natural, try using bare branches in vases or hang them from the ceiling to give the space a haunted forest vibe.

Halloween isn’t just about what you see – it’s also about what you smell. I always make sure to have some autumn-scented candles around the house. Cinnamon, clove, and pumpkin spice are my go-to scents. They make the house feel warm and cosy, even when it’s chilly outside. They’re a subtle way to add to the Halloween ambiance without going overboard or seeming tacky!

Don’t forget about your outdoor space! I love lining my walkway with carved pumpkins and adding a scarecrow to the front garden. The other great thing about Halloween decorations is that they are super ecofriendly as they are easily made from exclusively natural elements – autumn leaves, sticks, twigs, pumpkins, gourds, wreaths, etc.

Halloween is more than just a night of sweets and outfits – it’s a time to let your creativity shine and embrace the mystery of the season. Whether you go all out with spooky decorations or keep it simple and chic with just some lowkey candlelight, the key is to have fun and make your home a place where the spirit of Halloween can come to life. So, light those candles, hang those cobwebs, and enjoy the season!