Decorating outdoors for Halloween is a fun way to transform your home into an eerie wonderland, delighting visitors and trick-or-treaters.
Whether you’re filling your yard with inflatables or setting up a ghostly fog machine, every electronic Halloween decoration adds to the spirit of the season. Here are our favorite decorations along with some tips on how to make decorating outdoors for Halloween easy as pumpkin pie.
Top Tips for Decorating Outdoors for Halloween
Plan Your Layout
Before you start decorating outdoors for Halloween, sketch a rough layout to visualize where each decoration will go. This helps you plan the best use of space and create a cohesive look.
Start Early
Begin decorating at least a few weeks before Halloween to give yourself enough time to make adjustments and add the finishing touches. Early preparation reduces stress while you make sure everything is perfect.
Use Outdoor-Safe Extensions Cords
For safety when decorating outdoors for Halloween, always use outdoor-rated extension cords. These withstand moisture and keep your setup safe from electrical hazards.
Secure Your Decorations
Anchor inflatables and lightweight decorations using stakes or weights to prevent them from blowing away. This also helps protect your decorations from damage and ensures they stay upright.
Layer Lighting
Combine different types of lighting to create a dramatic and mysterious effect. Layered lighting adds depth and highlights key areas of your display.
Halloween Decorations to Consider
From authentic animatronics to ghostly smoke machines, use these elements when decorating outdoors for Halloween to create an unforgettable atmosphere.
Scary Animatronics
These lifelike figures come alive with movement and sound, making your home a must-visit spot on Halloween night. Mix and match different figures to craft your own unique, spooky scene.
Consider adding something like the 13 ft. Giant-Sized Animated LED Jack Skellington to your yard. This towering figure from The Nightmare Before Christmas features animation, an LED-illuminated face, and motion sensor-activated phrases that bring the spirit of Halloween to life.
For a subtler touch, use an item like the Animated Doorbell with Eye from Hyde & EEK! Boutique. This fun piece surprises guests with its supernatural sounds and glowing eyeball. Hang it on your entry door, and its sound-activated motion will give visitors a bizarre welcome.
Eye-Catching Inflatables
Inflatables are a great way to make a big impact without much effort. These striking decorations add height, color, and fun to your outdoor Halloween scene. But they’re also simple to set up and store easily because they don’t take up much space once you deflate them.
Consider using light-up inflatables like this 5 ft. Halloween Dachshund with Pumpkin and Pirate Hat. It’s cute and playful, perfect for bringing a smile to kids’ faces.
Meanwhile, you can usually find your favorite characters as an inflatable, like the 3.5 ft. Jack-O-Lantern LED Masked Bluey. Character-themed inflatables add an engaging and recognizable element to your outdoor Halloween display, much to the delight of young trick-or-treaters.
And then for a humorous touch, the 9 ft. Halloween Inflatable UFO Yard Decoration is sure to be a hit with kids. Children can enter the inflatable through a zipper door, for an interactive element of your Halloween display. You can also add props like an inflatable cow to create the illusion that the aliens are abducting it.
Eerie Smoke Machines
Decorating outdoors for Halloween with smoke machines adds an otherworldly ambiance, turning an ordinary yard into a fog-filled wonderland. A smoke machine like the AGPTEK Smoke Machine with 13 Colorful LED Lights Effect produces a thick, chilling fog. It also comes with 13 color options and various lighting effects to enhance the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the wireless remote allows for easy control, making it simple to adjust fog intensity and lighting from a distance.
Helpfully, some fog machines double as decorations, even when not in use. For example, this coffin-shaped fog machine features a skeleton molded into the top, blending seamlessly into your setup.
A well-placed fog machine will transform your space, adding an extra layer of frightful magic that captivates every visitor. All you have to do is place smoke machines strategically around your yard or porch to create mysterious, foggy pathways or to highlight particular decorations.
Dreadful Decorative Lights
Decorative lights are vital while decorating outdoors for Halloween. Consider using something like the 16.4FT Halloween Giant Spider Web Lights. These lights feature 300 purple LEDs and come with various lighting modes to suit your theme.
Decorative lights can also outline pathways, wrap around trees, or highlight specific decorations, making your yard otherworldly and inviting. If you’re looking for versatile lighting, you may also light up your yard with the 100ct Incandescent Halloween Mini String Lights. These orange bulbs on black wire provide a classic, festive look.
Haunting Projectors
Projectors can be game-changers for your outdoor Halloween decor, easily adding captivating visual effects. If you want to try a projector this Halloween, the Atmosfx Halloween Digital Decoration USB Kit may be a good choice.
This projector stores eight different Halloween scenes on a USB thumb drive. Simply insert the USB drive into the projector, press play, and it creates a 3D effect through a translucent screen. Then, set it up in windows or on walls to mesmerize guests with creepy animations.
Other benefits are that it’s easy to install and comes with a remote for hassle-free operation. Projectors like this one are versatile and can transform any surface into a haunted display, adding an extra layer of spookiness to your Halloween setup.
Colorful Light Bulbs
Add a burst of color to your Halloween decor with colorful light bulbs. Colorful light bulbs can effortlessly make your home stand out. The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit offers over 16 million colors, allowing you to customize your lighting for any mysterious theme. Control them using the Hue app or voice commands for added convenience.
Use these bulbs in porch lights or lanterns to create an unnerving atmosphere. They’re energy-efficient, long-lasting, and perfect for setting the mood for Halloween parties or trick-or-treating.
Smart Power Solutions for Your Outdoor Halloween Decorations
Power management is crucial while decorating outdoors for Halloween. Thoughtful power solutions ensure all your decorations run smoothly and are safe from the elements. From getting power to your decorations to powering them remotely, these tools help you manage your spooky setups effortlessly.
Reliable Outdoor Extension Cords
Extension cords are key when decorating outdoors for Halloween. Opt for something like this 40 ft.16/3 Multi-Directional Outdoor Extension Cord, which has three directional outlets to provide flexibility. These make it easier to connect various elements of your display. Rated for 13 Amps and 125 Volts, this extension cord is durable and safe for outdoor use.
This cord has reinforced blades and molded plugs, which prevent damage and allow reliable performance. Extend power to fog machines, inflatables, and lights without hassle. With its weather-resistant construction, this extension cord will keep your outdoor Halloween decor shining bright and running smoothly all night long.
Convenient Smart Plugs
Smart plugs provide an easy way to automate and enhance your Halloween decorations, making your setup efficient and impressive. For example, the TP-Link Tapo P105 Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug Kit allows you to control up to four devices remotely via the Tapo app. Schedule your lights, inflatables, and animatronics to turn on and off automatically, creating a seamless Halloween experience.
Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, you can also use voice commands for added convenience. The smart plug’s flame-retardant design ensures safety, while its compact build frees additional outlets.
Maintenance & Storage Tips for After Halloween
Once Halloween’s over, it’s important to properly maintain and store your decorations so they last. Here are some helpful tips:
- Clean your decorations thoroughly: Wipe down animatronics and inflatables to remove dirt and moisture before storing them. This helps preserve their appearance and functionality for future use.
- Deflate inflatables before folding: For inflatables, make sure to deflate them completely and fold them neatly. Proper folding prevents creases and makes storage more efficient.
- Remove the batteries from all decorations: Take out batteries from electronic items to avoid corrosion and potential damage. This simple step prolongs the life of your outdoor Halloween decorations.
- Use storage bins: Store your decorations in labeled plastic bins to protect them from dust and damage. Labeled bins make it easier to find and organize your items for next year.
- Organize extension cords: Coil extension cords and secure them with twist ties for easy storage. Proper cord management prevents tangling and extends the life of your cords.
- Store decorations in a dry place: Keep all your decorations in a cool, dry location to prevent mold and mildew. Storing in a dry place ensures that your decorations stay in good condition.
Bringing It All Together for a Spooky Halloween
Decorating outdoors for Halloween can be fun and rewarding. From lifelike animatronics to vibrant lighting, there are endless ways to transform your outdoor space into a Halloween wonderland.
With these ideas and products, your home will surely be the highlight of the neighborhood. So gather your decorations, set up your witching display, and prepare for an unforgettable Halloween.
