DIY Halloween Decor: Flowers, Pumpkins and Home Decorations

Halloween (31 October) is a reason to decorate your home in an autumn mood: pumpkins, warm orange and deep burgundy tones, a touch of mystery and, of course, flowers. Here are DIY Halloween decor ideas — from bouquets and a pumpkin vase arrangement to decorations for the table, door and windowsill that look stylish and do not turn your flat into a “house of horrors”. For the holiday’s traditions, see Halloween: history and traditions.

View full-size photo

6 Halloween bouquet ideas

• Orange and burgundy: roses, gerberas, chrysanthemums and dahlias in warm shades with hypericum berries.
• Pumpkin arrangement: a small pumpkin instead of a vase (instructions below).
• Gothic: burgundy and almost black roses, dark calla lilies, eucalyptus, a black ribbon — more in black flowers.
• Harvest basket: flowers, mini pumpkins, apples, wheat ears.
• Dried flowers: physalis, bunny tails, hydrangea, pampas grass — they last the whole season.
• White “ghost”: white chrysanthemums, gypsophila and silver eucalyptus.

For more warm-toned ideas, see our selection of autumn bouquets.

View full-size photo

Colours and materials

• Base: orange, burgundy, mustard, black, cream.
• Textures: linen, burlap, wood, ceramics, copper.
• Natural elements: pine cones, acorns, dry leaves, branches, corn cobs.
• Two or three main colours are enough for a cohesive look.

Pumpkin flower arrangement: step by step

• Choose a small pumpkin with a stable base, cut off the top and scoop out the flesh.
• Place a glass or jar of water, or a soaked floral foam, inside.
• Start with large flowers (roses, chrysanthemums, gerberas), then add greenery and berries.
• Keep it away from radiators and change the water every 2 days — it will last about a week.

How to carve a classic jack-o’-lantern — see how to carve a pumpkin for Halloween.

View full-size photo

DIY Halloween decorations

• Door wreath made of dry leaves, branches, mini pumpkins and a black ribbon.
• Paper bat garland on a window or above the fireplace.
• Jar candles wrapped in gauze — soft-glowing “mummies”.
• Windowsill: pumpkins of different sizes, dried flowers, lanterns.
• Cobwebs of white yarn in a corner — just a little, as an accent.
• Table setting: dark napkins, copper candlesticks, a low bouquet in the centre.

View full-size photo

Halloween with kids: simple crafts

• Painted pumpkins — paints or markers instead of a knife, safe even for toddlers.
• Cardboard bats: cut out from a template and stick on the window.
• Gauze ghosts over a balloon or bottle.
• Leaf garlands: collect maple leaves on a walk, dry them and thread on twine.
• Mini bouquet in a jam jar wrapped in orange paper.

These crafts are a great reason to spend an evening together, and the results will decorate your home until the end of autumn.

Stylish, safe, not scary

• With small children or elderly relatives at home, choose “autumn” rather than scary decor: pumpkins, leaves, candles.
• Use LED candles instead of real ones near fabrics and dried flowers.
• Avoid lilies if you have cats — they are toxic to them.
• Costume ideas for a party — see Halloween costume ideas.

View full-size photo

FAQ

Which flowers suit Halloween decor?

Warm-toned roses, chrysanthemums, gerberas and dahlias, dark calla lilies, hypericum berries, and dried flowers such as physalis, bunny tails and pampas grass.

How do I make a bouquet in a pumpkin?

Scoop out the flesh, put a glass of water or wet floral foam inside and arrange the flowers, starting with the largest.

How can I decorate for Halloween without anything scary?

Focus on autumn decor: pumpkins, leaves, candles, warm bouquets and a door wreath.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

About the author →