In many ways, Halloween is supposed to be over the top and a little kitschy. However, when style is a priority, scary season decor can sometimes look out of place. With endless TikToks and reels to scroll through for ideas, certain themes become overdone or unnecessary.
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to decorate—or rather how not to decorate—for Halloween, we tapped four interior designers for their takes. Ahead, they spill the Halloween designs they avoid or are simply tired of seeing.
Mini Bats
While some motifs are quintessential to Halloween, they can sometimes be overdone.
“Okay, don’t come for me but I personally am getting tired of the little paper or plastic bats that people are putting on their walls,” Mallory Wackerman, interior designer and social media director of Emily Henderson Design, elaborates.
Initially, Wackerman appreciated the trend since it’s easy to acquire the materials and creates instant visual interest.
“But the bats are starting to take over and eventually it’s going to be like Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds but with little paper bats,” she says. “Instead, I would opt for a big spider web or black fabric, which are also very high impact and affordable!”
Plastic Trinkets
Small plastic trinkets are one Halloween decor theme most designers agree isn’t the most exciting—or sustainable.
“I am not a fan of the ‘fast fashion’ and plastic home decor I am seeing,” Kelsey Klos, designer and founder of Klos + Co, says. “My philosophy is [to] invest in one high-quality Halloween item as opposed to 10 trendy items, that way the one piece can be added to and will last a lifetime.”
For the same reason, interior designer Bilal Rehman prefers using items that can blend with your existing space.
“Opting for more refined materials like wrought iron, glass, or natural elements creates a more sophisticated and timeless Halloween look,” he explains.
Another drawback of many plastic items is their size.
“The biggest faux pas I see when it comes to decorating for Halloween is having too many items that are too small in scale,” Wackerman explains. “It’s important to have high-impact items if you want to transform your space versus having too many small trinkets that don’t work together.”
“’I’ve seen so many cute and free DIY Halloween decor ideas that look a million times better than cheaper party store decor,” interior designer Julie Jones adds.
Overwhelming Color Palettes
It’s easy to fall into a mirage of maximalist colors for Halloween. However, to make the decor feel more seamless with your space—and prevent overwhelm—a more pared-back theme can work wonders.
“If you have a cohesive color palette, your decor will instantly feel more intentional and theme,” Jones says. “As simple as black, white, and orange decor would work. Any combo of colors would work as long as you pick a few and stick to them.”
Wackerman also has a personal preference for less kitschy hues.
“I’ve generally tried to lean more into blacks, whites, reds, and oranges and in the past, I’ve avoided bright purple and green color palettes because it feels a bit more elevated to me,” she explains.
Spiderwebs
Cobwebs are another Halloween staple—but can go awry if not done right.
“Though widely used, they often make a space feel more cluttered and messy than chic.” Rehman says. “There are far more elegant ways to create a haunted ambiance without overwhelming the design. Plus, the real horror is trying to clean them up once Halloween is over!”
If spiderwebs are part of your scary season arsenal, though, it’s just a matter of placing them in the right areas.
“Hear me out—I do think they look great inside on a mirror or picture frame in small doses,” Jones explains. “But they don’t give a lot of bang for their buck. It requires almost an excessive amount to be seen and have a good payoff.”
Pinkoween
“Pinkoween” has been proliferating social media feeds with images of blush pumpkins and rosy-hued skeletons. For some, it’s a way to make Halloween less scary and more chic.
However, Klos finds that it has run its course. Plus, there are many other ways to infuse vibrancy into Halloween decor.
“I am a little over the pink Halloween trend,” she says. “I think some pieces have the potential to be great, but I gravitate towards colorful jewel tones for the scary season. And when in doubt, add black!”