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The spookiest holiday of all is just around the corner—and you’re going to need more than a few pumpkins scattered around your porch to properly decorate.
From smart plugs to spider webs, we’ve rounded up 10 essentials you’ll need to decorate for this Halloween. Here’s what you should buy.
1. A smart plug so you can control Halloween display remotely
Got an elaborate display of orange string lights, or maybe some of those inflatable Halloween decorations (like these adorable stacked pumpkins) for your front yard? Chances are you probably don't want to leave your comfortable bed and go outside to shut off your Halloween display late at night.
With the help of a smart plug, you can turn your decorations on and off right from your phone, and most importantly, without ever leaving the comfort of your cozy bed. To get the most bang for your buck, we recommend the Kasa Smart Plug, which connects via WiFi and is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant.
2. Tools to make a porch-ready jack-o-lantern
One of the tried and true traditions of Halloween, pumpkin-carving is a fun family activity and a great way to show off your creativity—even if things don’t go as planned, it can at least result in a pie.
This 22-Piece Pumpkin Carving Kit is an excellent choice for families and Halloween enthusiasts alike. Made with durable stainless steel and comfortable non-slip handles, it’s designed to be both sturdy and safe—even for kids to use with supervision. The kit includes a wide variety of tools, from carving knives and scoops to creative molds and a hammer, making it easy to craft over a thousand unique pumpkin designs.
3. A smart speaker to play scary sounds and songs
It wouldn’t be Halloween without a perpetual loop of creepy noises, now would it? To add some extra flair to your Halloween extravaganza, check out our favorite Amazon Echo smart speaker, the Echo Dot. When using the Amazon Alexa app, available for iOS and Android devices, you can enable the “Spooky Halloween Sounds” skill to hear an endless stream of eerie sounds. To turn on the noises, say, “Alexa, start Spooky Halloween Sounds.”
4. Fake spiderwebs create creepy ambiance
Cobwebs have always been great at setting a certain mood, like an area is ancient and forgotten. Many Halloween décor schemes find ways to integrate cobwebs, because they’re a versatile accent to whatever other decorations or fixtures you have.
Want to create a subtle ominous ambiance? Drape some cobwebs over furniture, between fixtures, or over shrubs outside. Want to dive into the arachnophobia? Apply the fake webbing liberally, then hang up some fake bones wrapped up in cheese cloth to create the cocooned remnants of a colossal spider’s snack. Want a similar effect but don’t have the time? They actually just sell large, web-wrapped bodies that move.
Regardless of how subtle or over-the-top you’re looking to make your Halloween, fake cobwebs are the perfect sticky filament to tie everything together.
5. A smart doorbell so you can talk to trick-or-treaters
Some people like to sit in their driveway or on the front porch to pass out candy on Halloween night, but if you’re more of a sit-indoors-and-wait kind of person, then you can have some fun with your smart doorbell. Our favorite smart doorbell, the Google Nest 3rd Gen, lets you view and talk to visitors at your front door. While you're on the way with a stash of candy, you can use the Ring doorbell to tell a Halloween joke or let trick-or-treaters know you’re coming.
6. Skeletons to satisfy every theme
Skeleton decorations are another Halloween staple because they can run the spectrum from silly to spooky—no matter what kind of holiday vibe you’re trying to establish, there’s a skeleton for you.
When you’re looking for a skeleton, you’ll probably want one that’s poseable, because it allows the decoration to be incredibly expressive. Going spooky? Make it loom out at passers-by with arms threateningly raised. Going silly? Maybe try a big ol’ wave, dancing pose, or just accessorize it with a fake mustache.
There are also tons of different types. Just looking for an entry-level skeleton? They are heavy paper skeletons for wall-mounted whimsy. If you want a more substantial skeleton, invest in a large, poseable pal that you can dress up to fit any Halloween theme for years to come.
Want a skeleton more specifically tailored to fit your theme, like a macabre undercurrent to a pirate-themed party? Add a mermaid skeleton to your swashbuckling soiree.
If you’re not ready to invest in an entire skeletal structure, check out these bags of bones available for more à la carte decorating.
7. Color-changing light bulbs that you can control from your couch
Philips Hue color-changing smart bulbs are easy to set up, come with robust features, and an intuitive app so you can create an awesome Halloween light display.
Individual colored light bulbs are cool and all, but have you ever used our favorite smart light bulbs that can display more than 16 million colors and shades of white, including black and orange? The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit (third-generation) is our top pick for smart bulbs—and we think it's the best color changing bulb you can buy, too. The bulbs integrate with smart assistants like Alexa, Google, and Siri, and can easily be controlled from your smartphone.
8. Ghosts to add a spooky touch
Ghosts are a great Halloween decorating tool because at minimum they require one piece of cleverly-hung fabric, but there’s also an incredibly high ceiling for those who want to get creative.
There are the pre-made options that you can stake in your yard, hang up to billow in the breeze, or set up in front of a window.
If you’re feeling a bit crafty, there are lots of ways to create your own spectral figures. One way is to use chicken wire to create a basic humanoid shape, then drape it with cheese cloth.
9. A set of outdoor string lights that change colors
Create a Halloween light display that can be controlled via Google Assistant and Alexa with Govee's Smart Outdoor String Lights.
String lights are another great way to decorate for Halloween. These smart string lights from Govee connect via WiFi or Bluetooth and can be controlled from your phone, Echo, or Google Home. One 24-foot strand comes with six color-changing bulbs and each bulb can be customized to a certain color and brightness. You can even connect up to four strands to create a seriously spooky light show.
10. Inflatable yard decorations create a quick and easy Halloween
Inflatable yard decorations have become a staple of every holiday season, with offerings available for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and more. They’re a great way to create a large holiday display without much setup.
While there’s a ton of options available out there, some of the most highly-rated are a spooky light-up ghost, a grim reaper driving a pumpkin carriage, and a row of jack-o-lanterns.
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