50 Pics Of Outdoor Halloween Decorations That People Felt Proud Enough To Share Online (New Pics)

While there’s no right time to start decorating for your favorite holiday, Halloween, most people like to start early. Only 15% leave it to the week before the spookiest night of the year. If you’re the latter (nothing wrong with that here!), you might still be looking for inspiration or trends to hop on for this year’s haunting decorations. 

Luckily, folks at Good Housekeeping have got our backs. They compiled the top Halloween decor trends you might get inspiration from.

The first one might come as a surprise, but experts suggest people give the nostalgic, fiery shade of orange a rest and embrace more moody, jewel tones like dark green and deep purple this year.

"These shades have range," interior designer Lauren Saab explains. "They look good in modern settings, as well as traditional ones, and they tie in with what is already in the room so the effect is seasonal without feeling forced."

Those who want to hop on this trend should also consider a smoky color story, Beth Helmstetter, founder and creative director of Beth Helmstetter Events, says.

“Trade bright orange for a palette that feels collected and refined,” she recommends.

“I tend to gravitate toward hues that feel timeless and layered, such as tobacco, umber, oxblood, aubergine, deep forest, or bone. The easiest way to integrate them is by updating your rugs, upholstery, or simply adding colored accents throughout the home.”

Fortunately, black is still on the table for this year.

"It's always chic," Sarah Evans from design firm Inside Stories says. "If your style skews light and neutral, all you need is a few black taper candles on the coffee table or charred branches in a vase to strike the perfect balance."

Overall, dark, gothic design seems to be the trend of the season. “The Gothic/Victorian motif is dark, layered, and very Edgar Allan Poe-esque,” maximalist interior designer Alejandro Alonso explains.

“A single antique oil portrait over a mantelscape, an iron candelabrum, a 'foraged' chandelier with twigs and branches, or a ‘ruined’ urn with moss can shift a room into the festivities, without being overbearing,” adds Helmstetter.

If pumpkins aren’t your thing and you’d like your Halloween decor to fit in with the rest of your space, Drew Michael Scott of Lone Fox suggests swapping them for dried florals in autumn colors that will stay looking perfect long after Halloween.

But in case they are, design experts also have ideas on how you can switch them up this year. "I am currently loving the idea of glow in the dark painted pumpkins over jack-o-lanterns to spice up the regular display," says interior designer Nureed Saeed.

If you’re looking to do something unique for Halloween decor this year, Nureed also suggests coming up with an out-of-the-box theme.

"While you can never go wrong with a beautiful display of pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns, for me a good theme never goes out of style," she says. "I always start with a fun or scary theme that I can build a full Halloween-themed space that is known to be scary to even the teenagers in my neighborhood."

Lastly, let's not forget candles. They add the perfect ghoulish glow in the spirit of Halloween. What’s more fun is that you can DIY them and make them your own.

“This year we’re loving how candles have become such a big part of Halloween decor," says Guadalupe Alvarado, the DIYer behind the Cherry Patio.

"They bring warmth, a little spookiness, and for us, they’re the perfect touch for a cute table setting or a fun DIY activity!"

Lately, it has become popular to paint unique designs on long tapered candles with wax, which could become a fun Halloween activity with your family or friends.