Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

How to decorate your front door for Halloween

By

It’s time to welcome trick-or-treaters and other guests with these festive door-decorating ideas! Of all the autumn decor available, nothing is as welcoming to ghouls and goblins as Halloween decorations. And, a well-crafted Halloween door decoration embraces the fun and spooky spirit of the season and lets trick-or-treaters know that you’re open for business!

So whether you are a DIY novice or an all-out crafter, creating a Halloween-ready door can be easy, fun, and affordable! 

Recommended Videos

Start with basic black

DIY Halloween door display Hayk_Shalunts / Shutterstock

If you want to keep things simple and affordable, you can create the door of your dreams (or your nightmares) using nothing more than craft paper, scissors, glue, and a little imagination. A roll of black wrapping paper makes the foundation for limitless possibilities. Start by wrapping your door in black and be sure to use paint-safe tape to protect the finish!

Related

Now that your door is a blank canvas of black, here are a few decorating ideas to try:

  • Fangs of doom: Using white construction paper, cut out large, pointy fangs of various shapes and lengths. Glue or tape a full set of fangs at the top of the door and another set at the bottom of the door. Enter if you dare!
  • Peek-a-boo mummy: Cover the front of the door with a crisscrossing of toilet paper, to resemble mummy wrap. Be sure to cover the entire door, leaving an area open near the top for a pair of gleaming eyes! Create spooky eyeballs with yellow construction paper and big black circles for pupils.
  • Pumpkin parade: Grab a pile of orange construction paper and cut out pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. Cut out jack-o-lantern faces with scissors and then glue pumpkins to the wrapping paper in an arching parade of pumpkins. Add 3D flair by surrounding your door and steps with a bevy of real pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns.
  • Just hanging around: For a simply ghoulish (and oh-so easy) Halloween door decoration, place a hanging skeleton, monster, or grim reaper on the door. Who will dare to knock? 

Pumpkin group decoratingA more sophisticated side of Halloween

As any adult will tell you, Halloween isn’t just for kids, and there are plenty of ways to get your home in the Halloween spirit and still keep your sophisticated sense of style. Stick with natural elements and more toned-down hues, and you’ll be sure to love the results.

  • Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas: It’s easy to make festive Halloween wreaths from materials purchased at your local craft store or garden center, but there are also many beautiful wreaths you can buy locally or online. Suspend a natural twig wreath from a sheer black ribbon, or place a solitary wreath of black and burgundy roses on your door for a bit of somber style.
  • Pumpkins and gourds and mums, oh my: Flank a doorway with an array of pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, and flowering mums of golden yellow, orange, and cranberry. Nature is filled with beautiful autumnal offerings that are perfect for Halloween decorating.
  • Light it up: Twinkling white lights on leaf-bare trees are both spooky and sophisticated, while a solitary spotlight highlights a tastefully decorated doorway display. Line a walkway with glowing luminaries to light the way to your front door for trick-or-treaters.
  • Go monochromatic: Pumpkins come in colors other than orange, and nothing is more sophisticated than an array of white pumpkins and gourds artfully stacked around your doorway. A white-sprayed twig wreath against a black door adds the perfect finish to your monochromatic decor.

What if you’re not into Halloween this year?

If you won’t be home or aren’t planning on giving out treats this year, we have a few clever ideas that will let trick-or-treaters know to pass your house by, while still keeping in the spirit of the season. 

Pick up a roll of caution tape and block off the access to your doorway. Add a couple of handmade signs that make it clear you’re not up for visitors this year — a sign reading “ALL OUT OF CANDY” should do the trick! And, be sure to keep your porch light off and your door shut. 

A decorated front door is the very first hint that your house is in the spirit of Halloween!

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Kim Renta
Kim Renta
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kim has written for Bloomingdales, Movado, and various e-commerce wine sites. When she's not writing about wine and…
How to pick a front door color: All the factors to consider
Impress visitors and boost your curb appeal by following our tips on choosing the right color for your front door
White two-story house exterior

Your front door is one of the first things guests see when visiting your home, so it’s important that it makes a good first impression. At the face of your house, your front door has the opportunity to make a statement and establish some of your personality through your exterior design.

Choosing the right front door color can enhance your curb appeal and make your home more inviting to guests. So, today, we’re sharing our tips on how to pick a front door color that is sure to impress.
Go with the classics

Read more
10 creative pumpkin carving ideas no one in your neighborhood will have
Make your porch the star of the show with these carving ideas for your pumpkins
Three carved pumpkins sitting on a street surrounded by fall leaves

Pumpkin carving is a long-standing Halloween tradition that's adored by folks of all ages. If you look forward to this spooky season all year long and want to have the best-carved pumpkins on the block this year, you've come to the right place. With stylish, themed, and even dual-purpose designs, these 10 unique pumpkin carving ideas will have your neighbors green with envy.
Pumpkin carving with movie and character designs

When the kiddos on the block see these lovable characters and signature designs from the movies they love, you'll get all the compliments from both parents and their adoring kids for your uniquely decorated fall porch.
1. Mike Wazowski
Since this beloved Monsters, Inc. character already resembles the shape of a pumpkin, you basically just need to carve out his face with his distinctive single eye. Those trick-or-treaters will love seeing their favorite round monster on your porch. You'll probably even hear his name called out with the same adorable chants we heard from Boo and her friends in the iconic movie.
2. Death Star
The ominous starship weapon of the dark side is easily recognizable due to its circular shape, round crater-shaped gun, and the war-torn damaged section on the upper right side. Star Wars fans of all ages will love seeing this iconic relic from the films that are beloved throughout the generations. Check out this outline on how to cut out a Death Star pumpkin.
3. Tinkerbell

Read more
10 festive fall door decor ideas
Whether classic, trendy, or nontraditional, here are some stunning fall front door decor ideas to try this season
Fall wreath and pumpkins on front door on porch

From classic orange pumpkins placed neatly on the front steps to a simple and minimally designed fall wreath, there are several ways you can spruce up your fall door decor. If you’re struggling to find the right look for your space, we have some amazing autumn design ideas for your front door that are classic, nontraditional, trendy, and modern, so you can choose what you like best.
You can’t go wrong with the classics

As you begin curating a gorgeous fall front door aesthetic, you may want to peruse some of the classic looks to gain some style inspo.
Layer up your natural fall decor
A fall front door look wouldn’t be complete without natural autumn decor. Dried corn stalks, pumpkins in every shape and size, gourds, straw bales, bright autumnal flowers, and fall foliage are all examples of what you can use to create the right aesthetic. Frame your door with fall leaves and corn stalks. Layer straw bales on the porch and steps, sprinkled with pumpkins and gourds.
Perfect your fall wreath
A fall wreath on the front door is a simple yet efficient way to celebrate the season. This decor addition can be fun to DIY, or you can purchase a premade fall wreath from your local craft or home goods store. For a classic look, go with a wreath featuring fall foliage, pine cones, miniature pumpkins, or twigs. If you prefer a classy or more modern look, stick with metallic wreaths, twig-woven wreaths, or something with a more subtle, neutral color palette.
Add some plaid
Plaid is perhaps the most classic pattern used in fall textiles. Add some plaid to your front door space by layering your welcome mats or tossing a few throw pillows or blankets onto a porch swing to invite the plaid pattern to your space. You might also consider purchasing plaid-patterned faux pumpkins to add to your front steps lineup.
Fall flowers are great in warmer climates
If you live in a warmer climate, take advantage of the hotter fall days by adding a few potted fall flowers to your front door space. Be sure to use pots in various sizes, colors, and shapes to create a varied effect.

Read more