Halloween in the home: The Daily Mail’s guide to creepy essentials and kooky decor for the perfect haunted house

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Halloween’s not just about costumes and candy – it’s also the perfect excuse to have a little fun with your interiors and embrace all things autumnal.

Whether you prefer classic Halloween decorations or something a little more whimsical, there are plenty of ways to give your home a kooky makeover. 

Think flickering candles, witchy kitchen gadgets and plenty of orange, black and autumnal touches.

And you don’t need to turn your home into a full-blown haunted house to get the look. 

From the living room mantle to the dining room table and everywhere in between, these are the Halloween essentials and decorating ideas that will help get your home ready for October 31. 

Archipelago Botanicals candles

Known for their hand-poured, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and phthalate-free products, Archipelago Botanicals has plenty of on-theme candles and diffusers available to help set the mood. 

For a classic Halloween scent, opt for the Pumpkin Macchiato candle ($32), which is a deliciously warm blend of pumpkin seed, espresso and vanilla bean. 

It’s not too overpowering where you get a headache, but it’s definitely noticeable in a cozy, ‘I got my money’s worth’ way.

‘Each carefully crafted, limited-time fragrance is designed to carry you from fall into the holiday season,’ the website says of their autumn collection. 

At Home warehouse store

If you want endless options for spooky decor, At Home is a warehouse-style store with holiday-specific furniture, rugs, artwork, bedding, lamps and everything in between. 

That includes everything from adorable Jack-O-Lantern hand towels ($9) to a Frankenstein-inspired Scrub Daddy sponge ($6) to LED ghost string lights ($6) for draping across the house. 

‘We’ve curated our largest Halloween assortment ever, with more than 1,000 items and the largest selection of Halloween décor under one roof, making it easy for everyone to find their fright vibe and celebrate the season their way,’ At Home said in a statement.

Our personal favorite is the Orange Trellis Ghost Jacquard Throw Blanket ($34) which you can literally throw on any sofa or bed for an added touch of Halloween. 

Lush cosmetics

Bubbles, bubbles, toil and trouble. No one does cozy-yet-creepy bathroom goodies quite like Lush. 

This year, the cosmetics company is celebrating Halloween with best-selling fan favorites and new innovations.

That includes a Cinnamon Spiced Latte body spray ($42) and even a shower gummy shaped like a witches hand ($12).

‘After a wash with hydrating glycerine and cherry-sweet suds you’ll be putty in this sorcerer’s hand,’ Lush said of their limited-edition product. 

If you’re not sure which self-care goodies to buy, the company also offers a Season of the Witch gift set for $67.

Laura Ashley home decor

A quick fix to making your home Halloween-ready is with picture frames. Swapping your regular home decor for something a little spookier can add a subtle seasonal twist on something already homey. 

Laura Ashley has embellished, almost gothic picture frames that can be used in lieu of your year-round decor. 

Our personal favorite is Laura Ashley’s 4×6 Black Rosette Crown frame ($20), which works on both tabletops and as a wall display. 

Pairing that with the Black Ornate Textured Hand-Crafted frame ($14) can make any room Halloween-ready in the most tasteful and subtle way.

For another easy swap, Laura Ashley has a ‘Maple Spice’ tablecloth ($19) that lasts throughout the fall season and into Thanksgiving.

Vermont Nut Free Chocolates

If you’re constantly hosting, having nut-free chocolate on hand is a great idea – especially around Halloween. 

Vermont Nut Free Chocolates is a family-owned company that specializes in allergy-conscious treats, including plenty of spooky-shaped chocolates and boxes. 

More information about allergen risks is available online, if you’re still unsure about what’s safe for your family and friends. 

They also ship to customers in the US and Canada.

‘We take pride in making our chocolates the old-fashioned way, by-hand, using the freshest ingredients,’ the website adds. ‘We truly believe that those with and without food allergies will find our gourmet chocolates to be among the finest they have ever tasted.’ 

More creepy-yet-cute swaps 

If you’re already a slow cooker person, Toastmaster created a Black Cauldron ($250) version of their iconic product for the craftiest witches. 

The beloved cookware brand STAUB has their adorable pumpkin-shaped dutch ovens for $60 – you can even leave it out as decoration for Thanksgiving. 

To give your October mornings some Halloween flair, Dash created a waffle/pancake appliance called the MultiMaker Mini System ($10.) 

With the one pack, customers can chose a plate set that shapes breakfast creations like a Skull or Jack-O-Lantern. The plates are dishwasher-safe and the gadget itself is super small, easy to use and also inexpensive. 

Plus, there are some Halloween-y swaps you can make in the fridge. Instead of regular bottled water, Liquid Death is known for ‘murdering your thirst’ with its recyclable cans of still and sparkling water. 

The packaging is definitely heavy metal-adjacent in the coolest way, and it can perfectly accompany any Halloween hangout. 

And for a fun bathroom swap, there’s Who Gives a Crap toilet paper’s Halloween collection. The brand specializes in ‘super comfy,’ eco-friendly and 100 percent plastic-free toilet rolls that also just happen to double as cute decor. 

WGAC subscribers get early access before the Halloween-themed products officially drop on September 17.