As the saying goes, “When one door shuts, another door opens,” and in the case of summer transitioning into fall, that beloved cliché is definitely true. In other words, we’re sad to say goodbye to warm weather but very excited for cozy season, which has fully arrived. In fact, Halloween is in mere weeks, and we are doing a mini retrospective of our hosts’ spookiest setups. From a vintage-inspired Halloween to a pumpkin overload, there are lots of incredible homes that will prove fall is actually the best season.
We cannot wait to see what awaits these five properties this year, but if they’re anything like last year, we know they’ll be incredible. What’s more, if you need some inspiration before it’s too late, you’ve come to the right place at the perfect time. So if you don’t want to carve a pumpkin or two, pop in a candle, and call it a day, worry not. These spots (and the hosts behind them) will definitely get your home—both inside and out—ready for the final day of the month. And we’ll just add one more thing before we get into it: Not all of these homes are scary, so if you prefer to keep your ticker-or-treaters smiling rather than fleeing the scene in tears, there are plenty of directions to take. With that, let’s take a trip down memory lane.
18 Tasteful Halloween Decorations That Are More Stylish Than Spooky
Known around Jessica Archibald’s Salt Lake City, Utah, neighborhood as the Pumpkin House, her family home is one of our favorites come fall. It was a tradition her brother started that she has lovingly carried on. “He started doing these pumpkins on my parents’ house years ago, and it was so cool.” Eventually, he ended up moving across the country and left the tradition for her sister to continue. “My parents said, ‘We’re not going to do this without him,’ so Jessica took it upon herself to nab and arrange the pumpkins. “I will take on the family legacy of the Pumpkin House,” she notes.
The Pumpkin House has become so famous among her local community that she says the home can receive up to 250 visitors a day to ogle at the pumpkins. “We get probably—we were trying to estimate the other day—we probably get 250 visitors a day who”People are here from morning to night, just visiting the house and asking a million questions.”
If you think Jessica opted for a lot of pumpkins, wait until you see Hillary Wallace’s New York City stoop, which is outfitted in a whopping 4,000 pumpkins of all varieties. “We went to the auction in Pennsylvania and brought thousands of pumpkins back. I have them all on my stoop, the neighbor’s stoop, and the others neighbor’s stoop, and the other neighbor’s stoop, and my backyard,” she says through a laugh.
For anyone not in the New York City area, allow us to introduce you to Hillary: She is known for her beautiful, over-the-top stoop designs for all seasons, holidays, and occasions. Just look at what she did last Christmas! “I’ve always craved seasons because I find them romantic,” she explains. Halloween being the kickoff to fall, she leans in pretty hard.
Every year, Bob Gibbs and Matthew Wilson decorate their Dallas Tudor for Halloween, and every year, it boasts the same sense of nostalgia that is in no way creepy, scary, or spooky. That’s by design. Last year, the duo really leaned into a vintage feel, complete with old decor, including their friendly scarecrow. “His name is John, and he’s wearing clothes that we can’t fit into anymore,” Bob laughs. “So he gets a lot of neighborhood kids coming to visit and tell John’s secrets, or give them counts of how many jack-o’-lanterns they believe are in the front yard.”
Matthew adds, “We only do vintage and happy Halloween.” Why not, right?
Kristi Hemric decided to mix scary and pretty with as many floral accents as there are faux skeletons. The overarching color scheme that ties it all together? Color. “I knew close to Halloween that I wanted to do a black theme,” she explains. “And I wanted really large skeletons.” The ones she happened to find light up, so come nightfall, her whole stoop boasts a romantic glow. Yes, the romance is kind of killed when you realize the light emanates from a skeleton, but it is still a major fall vibe.
Cher Beall’s sense of humor is on full display when Halloween rolls around. Every year, she breaks out her trusty zombie-butler and stations him somewhere new. Last year, it was in the corner of her breakfast nook. “In an effort to make him not so scary (his eyes glow red), we dress him in funny glasses and a hat,” she notes. “I’m always trying to make things a little less frightening and a little more fun.” Even so, she admits every member of her family still gets a little jump-scare when they walk past.
The time has come: Amazon Prime Day is here, and while technically the sequel to…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxQAR61frdo If one person fits the bill for the phrase, "You are a product of…
Throughout September, the Meyer women's artistic feats have taken over my home. When I am…
Compared to the historic houses in and around London, interior designer Nina Watson's 1910s home…
I save things. Lots of things. Probably too many things, but I’m a sentimental saver at…
At first glance, Jess Daines' Norfolk cottage looks as though it has been standing in…