Halloween Centerpieces and Table Decor Ideas That Truly Set the Spooky Mood
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When it comes to Halloween, most people fall into two camps: you either love it and go all out with your decorations or you could care less about it. If October 31 is not just another normal day for you, then you’re likely already planning a spooky soirée with a costume theme or dreaming up a delicious homecooked meal for a small group of friends followed by a scary movie marathon. Regardless of how you plan to celebrate, you'll need to set an elegant scene, so coming up with Halloween centerpieces and table decor is a top priority for ambiance.
There are many directions to consider when decorating your dining, buffet, or entryway table for an unforgettable fête. You can go creepy and crawly with spiders and cobwebs or opt for a more subdued scene with tiny white pumpkins and fall-themed place cards. There's no one way to set a table for Halloween: it solely depends on your mood and the effort you want to put into it. But since you love Halloween, you'll want to be on your A-game. To help ease the stress of decorating for you, we looked high and low online for centerpiece inspiration and came away with 45 Halloween centerpieces and table decor ideas. Some projects require a little DIY; for others, you can buy all the pieces you'll need to create the tablescape via retailers like Amazon.
Let Them Eat Cake
No Halloween table decor is sweeter than one topped with an on-theme treat (hint: you can't go wrong with a classic carrot cake). If you want to go all the way, surround your dessert-centric Halloween centerpiece with miniatures, like cake pops and bags of candy.
Stay Healthy
Skip the sugary sweets and opt for something more natural like fruit—specifically, clementines finished with trimmed celery to make them look like juicy pumpkins.
Hang Streamers
If your decor is on the spookier side, lighten it up a bit by hanging a few streamers that add a touch of color to your scheme.
Downsize Dessert
There's no need to go big when it comes to desserts. Instead, consider going in the opposite direction with a selection of miniature versions of your go-to treats. Arrange them all on a serving platter for a big style moment on the buffet table.
Set the Scene
You can't have a Halloween soirée without a food table, so make sure yours makes the right statement complete with a Halloween sign, spooky serveware, and some on-theme motifs, like ghosts and skeletons.
Make Up the Mantel
Technically, the mantel is not a table, but if you have one in your dining room where you're hosting your dinner, why not dress it up like a Halloween centerpiece? There's no need to go over the top if you're running low on decor, but if you have a few pieces left over, put them on display. Bonus points if you drape some cobweb-inspired gauze across the mirror.
Incorporate Ceramics
Whether you make your own ceramic pumpkins as a fun fall activity or buy them, the decor piece will easily elevate your Halloween table. The design has openings, which add to the ambiance if you place real or faux candles inside.
Stir the Drinks
Upgrade from tried-and-true plastic cups to an elevated glass version, like this skeleton hand one that's perfect for serving Halloween-themed drinks. Plus, you can easily reuse them throughout the year when you miss the holiday.
Carve a Pumpkin
Carved pumpkins don't have to be confined to your front porch. Whether you turn one into a house or give it a scary face, it can easily act as a nice candle-lit Halloween centerpiece. Place it on a rustic cutting board, along with a few fall-colored taper candles for a dreamy display.
Keep It Sweet
If you plan to have a dedicated dessert table at your Halloween party, toss candy and other goodies into spider web baskets. Decorate the rest of the table with mini pumpkins, tiny spiders, festive cups, and a fun tablecloth.
Don't Forget Other Tables
The table you eat at isn't the only table you can give a little festive love to come Halloween. Consider decorating your side table, coffee table, console, or credenza with everything from cobweb-covered poison apples on a shiny tray to a collection of skull heads.
Add Googly Eyes
For a goofy take on chic decor, simply arrange a few mini pumpkins and gourds on a rustic wood slice and add googly eyes. Kids and adults alike will certainly get a kick out of the not-so-serious look.
Go Green
Drippy candles, unidentifiable foods, brooding florals, and a few Halloween motifs sprinkled in…. Yep, this Halloween table decor is ticking all the boxes and then some. And we love the offbeat color scheme. Everyone knows green and purple are witchy and zombie-chic, yet orange seems to get all the love. Here's a little reminder that it's fun to switch things up.
Style With Sophistication
Keep things sophisticated with unexpected colors that don't scream Halloween but still feature that fall aesthetic. A rich, blue tablecloth makes neutral plates pop. Add fresh flowers for even more color in your Halloween table decor, and stick to an earthy palette with your plates and napkins to even it out.
Get Creative
Whether you get your hands on a carved wooden pumpkin, try to make one yourself, or go for these faux ones, they'll look stunning next to anything else you decide to place on your table for Halloween. And if your style is simpler, you can easily display them with a few faux leaf and berry accents.
Fill Mini Cauldrons
Mini cauldrons! It doesn't get any cuter than that. Whether you serve drinks, soup, or dessert in them, mini cauldrons are the perfect Halloween table decor that also serves a purpose.
Mix Fall Motifs, Patterns, and Colors
Achieve a classic and sophisticated look with harvest motif plating, metallic accents, an orange paisley tablecloth, and gingham napkins for some pattern mixing. And, of course, no tablescape is complete without an elaborate fall-hued Halloween centerpiece. On this table styled by Robert Rufino, the feathers enhance its dramatic beauty even further.
Pass the Hors D'oeuvres
Place a skeleton hand on your charcuterie spread to keep things subtly spooky. Style it like this one from Sugar and Charm.
Paint the Pumpkins
Not into orange and black? Forget them! If you want it to feel more elegant, go for white instead of orange pumpkins. Or try an even more unconventional pop of color, like light pink. See more of this pretty tablescape at Sugar and Charm.
Decant on Theme
If you're hosting a scary movie night, let the on-screen horror inspire your Halloween table decor. If you don't want something as obvious as a skull, something smoky and moody will do.
Go Graphic
A black-and-white striped tablecloth adds a contemporary playfulness to an outdoor Halloween dinner party. Glue little ants to your napkin rings to be freaky but not too freaky.
Include the Console
Remember to extend the fall and Halloween-themed decor to the rest of the dining room! In this space by Emily Henderson, the cabinet gets the autumn treatment with pumpkin-shaped jars, red nesting bowls, and a pitcher with a rooster motif. The dried floral wreath above it doesn't hurt either.
Indulge in Fall
Welcome to the big kid's table. This is where we'll be when the trick-or-treaters come knocking. Keep your table rustic and pared-down, then add pops of color with purple placemats and orange napkins. And let the food double as decor (figs are always a good call).
Sweep It Up
Have you ever seen a more epic Halloween table? From the broomstick and black cat chandelier to the black fringed tablecloth, gourds, and black candlesticks, this dining room is fully decked out. The romantic pink and red Halloween centerpieces make for a nice contrast that softens and elevates the themed decor.
Make Flying Bats
Frame a doorway leading to your dining room with flying paper bats for a super simple but fun seasonal vibe that lives beyond the table. Then create a Halloween centerpiece surrounded by mini pumpkins. “The best thing about a Halloween arrangement is it can be sparse, dried, and organic as it adds to a haunted house feel,” says Sugar and Charm.
Hunt for Black Florals
An affordable and easy way to put a Halloween spin on your favorite floral centerpiece? Just add black feathers to the bouquets, as Sugar and Charm did here.
Try Candy Lanterns
You may not have a giant candelabra on hand, but you probably have some summer lanterns. Refresh them for Halloween by filling them up with candy and placing them on top of faux spiderwebs. See more at Sugar and Charm.
Keep It Fresh
Who says Halloween is all about doom and gloom? Okay, like, all of history and pop culture, but that doesn't have to be the theme! If you live somewhere that's still warm or temperate in October, set up your dinner outside (bonus points if you can get access to or mimic a cornfield or apple orchard), use unexpected pastel candles, and then create a Halloween centerpiece, as done here by Cheetah Is the New Black.
Use Only One Color
Make things easier on yourself by orienting your decor around a single color. In this Halloween spread from Sugar and Charm, all the candy, napkins, and accessories are cobalt blue.
Incorporate Produce
You don't have to go creepy on October 31—instead, try a more sophisticated Halloween tablescape. A muted red tablecloth grounds this table while wooden serveware amplifies the rustic, easy-going atmosphere. Keep it simple with a few pomegranates lining the center of the table.
Spruce Up the Bar
Don't forget to decorate the bar cart while you're at it! Learn how to make this gorgeous garland (it also works for the fireplace or as a Halloween centerpiece) from Sugar and Cloth.
Paint Your Pumpkins
Opt for pinks, peaches, and burgundies in your Halloween centerpiece rather than the classic warm, orange-y fall palette. Then paint your pumpkins white! (Faux pumpkins work, too.)
Make a Tassel Branch Chandelier
Tell, Love, & Party hung this tassel branch “chandelier” over her Halloween dinner table to extend the fun overhead. Paired with string lights and plenty of glimmering candles, it's a magical display indeed.
Add a Moody Centerpiece
Throwing a sophisticated grownup Halloween soirée? Decorate the table with a Halloween centerpiece like this one by Cheetah Is the New Black. It's much more moody and romantic than your average Halloween table decor.
Show Off a Faux Cobweb Tablecloth
Instead of using a runner or tablecloth, cover a dessert or buffet table in faux cobwebs. It's such an easy way to give your spread an instant Halloween aesthetic.
Add Metallic Touches
This Halloween table decorated by Emily Henderson strikes the perfect balance between spirited and stylish. The harvest wreath on the wall is a great seasonal backdrop, while the metallic painted pumpkins bring the autumnal vibes to the table and the moody black accents nod to All Hallow's Eve.
Serve Dessert that Doubles as Decor
Let the dessert do the talking. These cakes double as Halloween decor, while the skeleton serveware is actually chic enough to live beyond the grave of October 31.
Dress Up the Drinks
If you love the idea of serving your Halloween cocktails in a cauldron but want something a little less kitschy, take notes from this drink station by Sugar and Charm. A glass punch bowl is light, airy, and a little dressier. But that nearby crow reminds us it's Halloween.
Use Pretty Fall Plates and Place Cards
A burnt orange linen runner and classic fall tableware keep things casual. Name cards, preferably with a Halloween-inspired design, are also a good idea.
Keep Things Light
Halloween doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. For something a little less grim, take note of the cheerful spread above. Decorate plates and serveware with googly eyes for a fun Halloween pop.
Opt for Black Roses
Grab a couple of black candelabras, black roses, skulls, and spiders, and you've got a kind of creepy but also a little glam Halloween centerpiece.
Focus on Florals
When in doubt, dress your table up with a festive bouquet and mini pumpkins for good measure. See more at Sugar and Charm.
Set the Mood
Paired with an inky black serving board, stemware, and napkins, this arrangement by Cheetah Is the New Black sets the scene for an elegant, grown-up Halloween dinner party.
Bring Out the Whole Skeleton
Decorate your table with skulls and spiderwebs, then fill jars with candy. Is it weird that we think this looks so chic? Get the tutorial at Sugar and Charm.
Put Out Rogue Spiders
We will brave the spiders when there's cheese involved. Spread a bunch of spiders all over your table or buffet for a spooky setup.
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