8 Outdoor Halloween Décor Mistakes That Annoy Designers (and Neighbors)

Decorating Too Early

Sure, this one’s a bit subjective—but there’s also something to be said about honoring the seasons as they come. “No matter how much we love spooky season and all things pumpkin spice, it's a major bummer to be shocked back to reality by premature seasonal décor,” argues interior designer Mattye Dewhirst. “Summer officially ends September 21, so let us enjoy every last bit of it. Make a gradual transition to fall décor by featuring late summer and early fall flowers in your display.” 

She says that seasonal details such as mums, pumpkins, and corn stalks can be added a little later and remain through Thanksgiving, while the specifically Halloween items can serve as an October add-in. 

Not Having Enough Light

Decorating for Halloween is all about having fun and letting your imagination run wild. But when it comes to creating festive curb appeal, one of the biggest mistakes people make is not having enough light to draw people in and show off their hard work. 

“Halloween is about creating an experience that is not only spooky fun, but also interactive and original. The best outdoor displays are the ones that entice people to get closer, so they can admire all the creativity and attention to detail—and maybe even experience a jump-scare or two,” says Wendy Lau, Yale Home’s interior design consultant.

Don't hide your details in the dark. Lau says to add festive lighting to set the vibe, which can range from subtle spooky strobe lights to purple twinkles to uplights that showcase different features and vignettes. 

Using Décor Past Its Prime

Some Halloween decorations are meant to look lived-in—it adds to the spooky factor!—but when an item’s way past its prime, it should retire gracefully. For example, a faded inflatable ghost that barely holds air can make your whole yard look tired instead of thematic, and plastic pumpkins with peeling paint can look unkempt.

If an item is damaged, discolored, or falling apart, avoid putting it out and opt for repairing, repurposing, or replacing it instead.

Mixing Too Many Themes

Unless your theme is monster mash, take a moment to narrow focus before outfitting the yard with every spooky knick-knack you can get your hands on.

“Zombies, werewolves, and ghosts, oh my! When there’s too much going on, things can get confusing,” Dewhirst says. “Freddy Krueger and Casper the Friendly Ghost shouldn't be hanging out together on your front porch. Pick a vibe and stick with it. Scary or sweet, mid-century kitsch or antique-y haunted house, graveyard or thrasher flick—anything is fine but you've got to commit to the bit.” 

Forgetting About Scale

You factor in scale when choosing a sectional for the living room or bed for the primary, and the same is a must when decorating outdoors. 

“I really enjoy the large-scale decorations that have been so popular over the recent years,” Lau says. However, scale should be considered when incorporating them into your setup. Will that extra-tall skeleton make your lawn look too cramped? Will your other decorations get lost behind a big blow-up?

Lau says you can still incorporate large-scale décor on a smaller lawn by choosing one statement piece and letting it shine. It’ll feel more intentional and won’t overwhelm the space. From there, get creative with smaller accents to highlight your focal piece.

Leaving Cords Exposed or Tangled

Cords are often a given for outdoor decorations like lights and inflatables, but streamlining as much as possible can really boost your curb appeal. Contrarily, exposed or messy-looking cords can really detract from the imaginative mood you’re trying to create.

Also of important note, tangled or strewn-about cords can create a tripping hazard or pose a fire risk.

Forgetting to Secure Decorations

Blustery autumn winds can very easily send lightweight gravestones tumbling or turn inflatables into neighborhood runaways. Obviously, this detracts from the spooky scene you spent so much time perfecting, but it can potentially cause damage or even accidents.

Most modern Halloween décor includes stakes or other stabilizing features, but double-check that everything’s secure. You can also use items like sandbags or discreet ties that keep everything exactly where you put it. 

Leaving Décor Up Too Long

Putting the décor up is one thing, but finding the time and energy to take it all down is another. That said, it’s best to take the Halloween decorations off within a week or two of the holiday.

“Leaving decorations up well into November or December just looks neglected and tacky,” warns Carmen Henriquez, BoConcept interior designer. “If you want to keep a festive vibe, just swap out your spooky decor for more general fall items like gourds and pumpkins that can stay on display until Thanksgiving.”