Happy October! In 2019, I wrote a wildly popular post about minimalist fall decor (for the person who really doesn’t like seasonal decor). This year, I promised to do another one along those lines, but about HALLOWEEN! So if you’re just not that into seasonal decorating, stick around for a few more minutes to check out some modern minimal Halloween decor ideas that don’t suck and aren’t the least bit cheesy. I pinky promise.
First off, if you’re new here (hi, new friend!), let me give you a quick run down of my design philosophy: all decor is subjective. I’m not telling you what’s right or wrong, because in design, there’s no such thing–there’s only what you like.
So if you prefer a different style than me and you want to fill your home with plastic pumpkins and witches on brooms that cackle when you walk by, then I fully support you! The entire point of decorating is to bring joy and a sense of self to your space. However you want to do that is the right answer. But in this post, my aesthetic leans more towards modern minimal Halloween decor with natural elements and vintage finds peppered throughout. I prefer a theme to be subtle–one that you notice and realize it’s a nod to the season. It’s like ninja decor…it’ll sneak up on you and then you notice it!
In year’s past, I’ve been an avid “not really into seasonal decor” decorator. However, something changed during the pandemic. I think I slowed down enough to actually want to witness and experience the passage of time and seasons. I know…weird, right? To actually want to adjust my diet and decor to align with the season. Such a simple concept, and it took self care through the pandemic to understand.
Modern Minimal Halloween Decor Ideas
Living in NYC, I’ve been confused by elaborate seasonal decor that people put up in other cities. I couldn’t understand (in my 400 square foot apartment with little to no storage space) where people find the time, money, and space to take part in these seasonal updates.
But, I get it now. It’s fun. It’s something to do. It elevates the mundane and makes a routine day special and surprising. It brings joy to our days. That last one is reason enough to do anything, by the way.
You just need to give yourself permission to experience joy and bringing light to the daily grind is never not worthy.
Modern minimal Halloween decor will allow you to transition from summer to fall with some light heartedness and a sense of whimsy and playfulness. So, let’s jump in!
1. Create eerie floral arrangement
English Home
This idea alone deserves its own post (hint hint…one’s on the way). There are SO MANY WAYS to do a floral arrangement for the season. Forget paying big bucks for someone to do it for you and just make your own. The beauty of DIY floral arrangements, ESPECIALLY Halloween themed ones, is that imperfection and awkwardness is encouraged! You’re not trying to make it pretty and perfect; you’re trying to add character and spook with a hint of unease. So for modern minimal Halloween decor, a DIY floral arrangement is the way to go. You seriously cannot mess it up.
Josh Young Design House
Dried hydrangeas make incredible arrangements that are both classy but a bit spooky-eerie. You can either buy dried hydrangeas, or if you are in a climate where yours are still in bloom (lucky you!), you can follow The Spruce’s easy instructions for drying your own and they will be ready just in time for Halloween! I bought some hydrangeas a couple weeks ago from Trader Joe’s for $6 and you better believe I’ll be drying mine.
The Blondielocks also teaches you how to make your own spooky florals! I won’t get too into instructions in this post, but rest assured, a detailed post with visuals and recommendations is coming soon:-)
2. Bring in the pillar and tapered candles (and let that wax DRIP)
:::cue Cardi singing, “came through drippin'”:::
Emily Bowser
Make sure to do this safely. If doing a tapered arrangement, you need sturdy candlesticks. If doing pillars, you need a fireproof plate for the pillar to sit on. There are 2 schools of thought when it comes to placing pillars in a hurricane glass, but for this, no glass is best so you can really see the texture of that melted wax. It’s so good–and eerie! Very medieval creepy.
3. Add creative pumpkin groupings
Josh Young Design House
Pumpkins are great to use because they also represent the entire fall season. They last a long time (if you don’t carve them), so you can use them as your modern minimal Halloween decor and then come November 1st, you can switch right into Thanksgiving mode. PS: I may or may not have 14 pumpkins in my possession—and I live in a 1 bedroom apartment!
BHG
Lights4fun
What’s cool is that pumpkins come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and colors. Some pumpkins even look like they have green warts on them! You can find white pumpkins and pastel sage-y green ones too (called Princess pumpkins). You can even DIY a pumpkin as a cool craft.
Pumpkins are a must have for Halloween and are the perfect neutral backdrop just by being themselves! When adding other spooky elements, the pumpkin will be more Halloween without you having to do a thing!
4. Create creepy ambiance using apothecary jars
Country Living
I don’t know what it is about apothecary jars that, in the right setting, just feel creepy. Maybe it’s because in period movies, people are always being poisoned with something out of an apothecary jar! Colored glass does give a slightly uncomfortable feeling like you don’t quite know what’s in something. Lean into that!
Bonus points if you get some kraft paper and hand write creepy labels on them like “eyeballs”, “cat’s claw”, etc. It just furthers the witchy-ness of it–like you’re about to make a potion. There are so many things you can do with apothecary jars!
5. Decorate with bugs (yep, you read that right)
Martha Stewart
Oscar Bravo Home
It’s not as bad as it sounds! You could add some bugs to floral arrangements, to the wall, etc. Add any little Halloween-y thing to something you already have and it will be a delight for someone to find. Modern minimal Halloween decor isn’t loud; it’s small and special.
You can easily DIY your own cloche and fill it with creepy with a little help from your local craft store. Items you could add include: plastic bugs, moss, spider webs with plastic spiders, dragonflies, potion bottles, etc. Oscar Bravo Home teaches you how to DIY your own bug cloche!
I’ve also seen on the mommy craft sites people putting plastic spiders in soap dispensers! If you have kids, this is an idea with endless fun possibilities. But don’t be surprised if they get you back by putting plastic bugs in your stuff:-)
6. Recreate a creepy Middle Ages still life
AKA recreate those weird still life oil paintings you did in high school art class. You know the ones–the weird sculls, weirdly placed apple, draped fabric, and all around spooky/eerie/uncomfortable vibes. Look at one of those paintings and recreate the feeling with your own still life grouping!
Martha Stewart
7. Raid your local thrift store for antique brass or silver pieces
The Makerista
What is creepier, a new house or an old house? An OLD house, duh! The more Georgian, Victorian, Gothic style antiques (that are easily found in thrift stores) you can find, the better! Create an eerie floral arrangement with dried hydrangeas or even dead or dying flowers and stick it in a brass urn for instant spook.
There is a reason many people think old stuff is creepy–lean into that feeling. You can group any of the ideas on this page (many are inspired by spooky old things!) with one another to create a ghastly and ghostly abode.
You could also get a gilded antique vintage mirror and DON’T CLEAN IT. Let the age and wear on the glass sing. If you do Halloween pictures, doing them in the vintage dirty mirror is extra cool.
8. Buy or DIY mercury glass
Martha Stewart
Have old glassware lying around and want to DIY? Create your own mercury glass with Krylon Looking Glass spray paint. I’ve actually done this and it works BEAUTIFULLY. All you need is a clean glass, some vinegar in a spray bottle, and a few layers of Krylon and you’ve got yourself a mercury glass vessel ready for some spooky contents.
Here’s the DIY mercury glass tutorial I used.
9. Add fantastical elements
Martha Stewart
Grandin Road
Lights4fun
The Makerista
Amazon
Remember the Disney movie Fantasia? It had these magical moments of fantasia—of course it did! Adding unusual elements, whimsical lighting, and items out of Alice in Wonderland is the perfect way to do this. You get the magic with just a little eerie. We really want to tap into the feeling of Halloween, and this is the best way to do it.
How do you feel about these ideas? Easy, chic, and none of them scream HALLOWEEN. It’s more of a subtle segue way that emphasizes the feeling of Halloween. That’s what design is all about–you take your initial idea, look at the feeling of it, then try to design with the feeling first. Play up that feeling so your decor isn’t obvious, but it’s still festive and understood.
Have fun creating modern minimal Halloween decor!
-Kristen
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