How do you know if a strand of lights or that wonderful wreath is OK to display outside? Retailers will state the proper usage for each product, so read descriptions carefully. “It lasts for years,” she says, “and there’s less care involved.” Stores have upped their design game on fake greenery, gourds, and garlands, so you may have a hard time distinguishing them from their natural counterparts-which is all the more reason to go faux. When it comes to real decorations-pumpkins, gourds, wheat sheaves, and leaves-versus the artificial kind, Lambert is Team Faux all the way. In general, smaller items are better for smaller displays (a tablescape, for example), while for wide-open porches or front yards, “focus on large-scale pieces that make an impact and add items with lights to create ambience,” she says. “The way we show our products is designed to help the customer see their scale,” Lambert notes. For help with how it might fit in your own home or yard, look at its photos in a real-life setting (say, a living room or front porch) to see its size related to what’s around it. They can form the base for a Halloween display, and you can fill in with cheaper, trendier items in the years to come.Īlways read a product’s description to find out its dimensions. Instead, “have core classic items that can last for years.” High-quality faux pumpkins, a handsome wreath for the door, and luminaries for the front stoop are worthy investments for the long haul. “Another thing to think about is not to buy anything too trendy, especially for investment pieces,” she advises. “Fall items like pumpkins and wheat have a longer life,” while Halloween-specific décor lasts only until November 1. One is to search out “décor that can be used for Halloween through Thanksgiving,” she says. Our expert, Kelly Lambert, offers two kernels of wisdom for finding the best Halloween decorations. What to Know About Halloween Decorations Before Shopping Seasonality Hang it on your front door now and leave it up through November. Loaded with texture, movement, and a harvest-time feeling, it combines fabulous fall hues with inky black for a Halloween-meets-autumn attitude, making it one of our favorite best Halloween decorations. If you buy just one new item to decorate for Halloween, let it be the Williams Sonoma Halloween Corn Husk Wreath. Size: Small candle is 3.5 inches in diameter x 4.75 inches tall medium is 4 inches in diameter and 6.25 inches tall large is 4.75 inches in diameter x 7.5 inches tall | Material: Paraffin wax, fiber wick, glass and wood vessel | For use: Indoors | Power type: N/A Once the candles are gone, these cute containers can be used for storage and decor. To get the best burning results from your candles, always trim the wick ¼ to ½ inch before lighting. The candles are poured into glass or wood containers and capped with an acorn-style lid so they are decorative whether the wicks are lit or not.

These adorable Anthropologie candles come in three sizes and three scents: Leather & Leaves, a woody aromatic blend White Pumpkin & Acorn, a gourmand spice fragrance and Pumpkin & Sweet Vanilla, a sweet and spicy combo. Fill a home with a particular fragrance, and it can absolutely transport you. Scent is one surefire way to set the mood. Trim the wick to ¼ to ½ inch each time you light the candle, and place it on a heat-proof surface while lit. Size: 14-inch diameter x 15 inches tall for the short pumpkin 12-inch diameter x 18 inches tall for the tall pumpkin | Material: Metal with a protective powder-coat finish | For use: Indoors and protected outdoor areas | Power type: A 3-inch-diameter flameless candle is recommended You’ll also need to provide your own flameless candle. Keep in mind that you’ll want to keep them in a protected area if you place them outdoors, so they don’t get damaged by the elements.

“They can be used with real or faux candles and would make a beautiful lit pathway up to your home or on the front porch.” “What’s best about these is the ambiance they give off,” Lambert says. There’s an opening in the bottom for a candle (with a real flame or flameless), and its light will shine through the gaps all around the luminary-imagine the glow on a dark October evening. These luminaries will last season after season. Not so with these gorgeous gourds: They closely resemble real pumpkins in shape and color, but they’re crafted of powder-coated metal for durability and longevity. We all love the look of pumpkins piled on a porch or patio, but after a while, real pumpkins start to go south. Put them in a covered area, such as a porch, so they don’t rust or weather.

Amazing halloween scenery