Here’s When To Start Decorating for Halloween and How to Perfect Your Spooky Decor

Did someone say Halloween decorations?!

Brother and sister are dressed up for Halloween and looking through a Halloween Chatbook

on September 15, 2022

Do you have a garage, closet or whole room filled with totes and boxes of autumn candles, spooky signs and black cat themed pillows? If you love the fall and everything that comes with it — cool autumn breezes, pumpkin spice lattes and scarf season — you're probably chomping at the bit when it comes to decorating. But how early can you put up Halloween decorations without your family giving you the side eye? If you’re not sure when to break out the fake spiderwebs, autumnal doormats and pictures of Halloween costumes from seasons past, we've got you covered.

And after all that time spent on Halloween costumes and decor, it's no wonder your camera roll is filled with cute shots of your family in-costume (and pictures of those pumpkins you spent hours carving). Don't let those pics get lost in your phone, print them in a Halloween-inspired photo book, or hang them on your wall with Canvas Wall Tiles. And if you love saving your favorite memories from every month, print 30 pictures each month with a Monthbooks subscription.

When to Put Your Halloween Decorations Up

As you start thinking about decorating for Halloween, the most common time to start donning decorations is within the first couple weeks of October. But late September is also a common option — it’s all up to you.

Your decoration timing is also dependent on how ornate you want your decor to be. You may need to get a head start if you’re going to win the HOA haunted house contest. But if you’re planning to keep your decorations fairly simple, early October is your best bet.

Another factor that might influence your installation timeline: your neighbors. Are your neighbors super into Halloween? Do they go all out with their house and get the whole neighborhood into the holiday spirit? If so, consider joining in on their timeline so you can set the mood for the block and bring an extra bit of magic for the local kids to enjoy.

How to Perfect Your Halloween Decor

It can be hard to know where to start with Halloween decorations. Do you want to just add an orange wreath to your door? Or create a giant spider for your window out of PVC pipe? Here are some fun, simple decorating tips as you try to figure out your perfect spooky decor.

1. Get your kids involved. This year has been a doozy. There’s a chance virtual school, mask wearing and not playing with friends has taken a bit of a toll on your little ones. Opt for Halloween family crafts to lift spirits and get everyone involved. Maybe it’s tootsie pop ghosts, some carved pumpkins for your porch or making pipe cleaner spiders for your indoor cobwebs — all of these are such great ways to add a unique touch to your decor while keeping the kids busy!

2. Use items you already have. Halloween is the perfect excuse to use all the candles in the house, make bats out of the black construction paper in your laundry room, or use the hundreds of zucchini and assorted squash from your garden to decorate your table.

3. Make it a little scary. If you have older kids in your home (especially ones who love scary movies), opt to add an extra bit of creepiness to your spooky decor. Send a chill down your neighbors’ spines with some ghosts in your yard and a skeleton on your front porch bench.