(Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo; used with permission)
The shades and lengthening shadows of autumn tie in perfectly with Halloween. Many of us try to decorate for harvest, then switch to Halloween, then try and do something fun for Thanksgiving…it gets to be a little overwhelming sometimes.
The trick (and the treat) is to integrate your elements. The leading photo shows a marvelous mix of spooky crows scattered over a harvest scene. Best of both worlds! Hats off to Martha Stewart Living for a great slideshow of 23 outdoor Halloween ideas.
We’ve gathered a few of our favorite things here, with an emphasis on spooky Gothic elements that aren’t gory or anything. In fact, they’ve got a lot of beauty to them. Mixed in judiciously with the sunnier side of harvest, they could dress your shed and house all the way through September and October. Then just pull back on the darker stuff as you get ready for Thanksgiving.
Colorful Corncob Bunting
Bunting is a favorite she shed decor element. What better way to embellish the backyard than with a string of colorful dried corn and leaves? We like how they taper at the ends, to mimic the look of classic bunting flags. Great DIY project from Midwest Living.
Vintage Circus Stacking Boxes
We discovered the most amazing site for unique and vintage holiday decor: Traditions! In the Halloween section we loved these whimsical stacking boxes made of pressed paper, vintage scraps and glitter. Decorative boxes are wonderful for elevating candles or bowls of colorful candy.
Primitive Beeswax Blackened Pumpkins
We love these beeswax miniature pumpkins because they make the transition from harvest to Halloween and back again! They come in a package of 16, each the size of a quarter and scented with cinnamon oil and dusted with spices.
Pumpkin Head Characters
From the imaginary world of licensed artist Joe Spencer come these delightful throwbacks, Peter Pumpkin and Lulie Leaf. First released more than 10 years ago, this autumnal couple’s costume detail and enigmatic expressions are irresistible. (Look at those leafy feet!) Can’t you picture them propped up in a candlelit window or perched on a pumpkin? Traditions has these and many, many other figural decor jewels that are far from kitschy.
Gothic Apothecary bottles. Or, AGothicary for short!
Here’s a fun “cabinet” filled with mysterious apothecary jars, a definite favorite of ours! Prop it up on your mantel or hang it in your shed, while draping cobwebs and spell books about.
Doll Heads string lights
Super creepy and fun, glowing doll heads remind us of some of the creepier dolls of our youth whose eyes would never shut … or maybe even Babyface, the sympathetic creature in Toy Story. String lights in any shape or form cast a fun glow on the season and are highly adaptable to the switch from harvest to Halloween. Well, maybe not doll heads. These are perfect to delight trick-or-treaters at your safe-distance candy table this year.
Moody Wreath
Picture this very elegant wreath festooned with webs or flanked by flickering candles. Presto, Halloween. Switch back to the original and you have a lovely statement for your door throughout the fall and all the way through Thanksgiving. We love the idea of using a vintage window for a backdrop.
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