Halloween Party Decorations Checklist: Entry, Table, Photos, Favors

Throwing a Halloween party is a blast, right up until the afternoon of, when you realize you forgot the cups and the front door looks like any other day of the year. A checklist fixes that. Instead of buying random decorations, work through your space the way a guest will experience it: the entry, the food table, the drinks, the photo spot and the goodbye. Here's a room-by-room Halloween party decorations checklist, with ideas for each stop.

Before You Start: Pick a Theme and a Scare Level

Two quick decisions make every other choice easier.

• Theme. Classic orange and black, witchy, haunted mansion, or a bold party palette like black, green and hot pink. A theme keeps your decor looking intentional.
• Scare level. A party with little kids calls for cute ghosts and pumpkins. An adults-only party can handle bloody handprints and creepy hands. Decide now so you don't end up with a mix that confuses everyone.

Then do a walk-through of your home and note where guests will enter, eat, gather and take pictures.

Checklist 1: The Entry

The front door is where the party starts. Guests should know they're in the right place before they knock.

• Something overhead. Hanging decor turns a porch into an event. The 12-Piece Hanging Ghost Windsock Set includes 4 ghosts, 4 witch hats and 4 LED string lights, with batteries included for the lights. Each ghost is about 43.3 in long, and swivel clips make hanging easy.
• A floating hat display. The Hanging Black Witch Hats, Set of 12 comes with 157 ft of hanging cord and 120 bat stickers, so you can float hats over the porch and scatter bats on the door.
• A welcome glow. The BOO LED Marquee Letter Lights spell BOO in a warm orange glow and run on batteries, so they can sit on an entry table with no cords.
• Bats on the move. The 3D Black Bat Wall Stickers have fold-up wings and come in four shapes and several sizes. A swarm flying from the front door down the hallway guides guests inside.

Four Ghosts in Witch Hats Floating Over the Yard

12-Piece Hanging Ghost Windsock Set with Witch Hats and LED Lights

$32.99MSRP $39.99

A Dozen Witch Hats Floating Over the Party

Hanging Black Witch Hats, Set of 12, with Bat Stickers and Cord

$33.99MSRP $90.00

Spell It Out in Glowing Orange: BOO!

3-Piece BOO LED Marquee Letter Lights, Black with Orange Glow

$80.99MSRP $105.00

Unleash a Swarm of Bats Across Your Walls

3D Black Bat Wall Stickers, 100 or 120 Pieces

From $30.99MSRP $167.00

Grown-up party? Add the 84-Piece Bloody Handprint and Footprint Window Clings to the door glass or a bathroom mirror. They peel off without leaving residue, so you can reuse them next year.

Checklist 2: The Food Table

The snack table is where guests spend the most time, so it deserves the most attention.

• A table covering. For easy cleanup, the Skeleton and Bat Plastic Tablecloths, 2 Pack are durable but disposable. For a more elegant look, layer the 18 x 72 in Black Lace Spider Web Table Runner over a solid cloth. It fits tables for 4 to 6 and is washable for next year.
• A showstopper centerpiece. The Floating Potion Witch's Cauldron, one of our hot sellers, has a potion bottle that seems to float while glowing green water pours and mist spills over the rim. It's about 16.5 in tall once assembled and sets up in about 5 minutes.
• A second glow. The 16 in Black and Gold Pre-Lit Centerpiece has black leaves, twigs and gold pumpkins with 35 battery-powered orange LEDs. It's for indoor use, so it's perfect for a dining table or buffet.
• Themed serving pieces. The Resin Skull Serving Tray with Bowl holds candy, fruit or snacks and wipes clean easily.

🔥 Hot seller

Bubble, Bubble, Mist & Magic, Right on Your Table

Floating Potion Witch's Cauldron with Green-Light Mist Maker

$90.99MSRP $167.00

The Spiders Spun a Runner for Dinner

18 x 72 in Black Lace Spider Web Halloween Table Runner

From $31.99MSRP $90.00

Black Leaves, Gold Pumpkins, Orange Glow

16 in Black and Gold Pre-Lit Halloween Centerpiece, 35 Orange LEDs

$47.99MSRP $90.00

Snacks, Served With a Side of Skull

Resin Skull Serving Tray with Bowl

$58.99MSRP $67.00

Layout tip: Put the tallest piece at the back or center of the table and keep the front edge clear so guests can reach the food without knocking anything over.

Checklist 3: The Drink Station

Drinks are an easy place to add a little theater.

• Spooky ice. The 6-Cavity Silicone Skull Ice Mold makes six skulls in three designs, with a lid and funnel for easy filling.
• Cups that do something. The 8-Pack 24 oz Color-Changing Cups change color with drinks below 59°F and include lids and straws. They're reusable, so they're ready for next year.
• Fun straws. The 25-Piece Striped Paper Straws with Decor Cards include 24 cut-outs in 5 designs. Cut the straws in half and they become cupcake toppers.
• Dessert details. The 300-Pack Foil Cupcake Liners come in black, purple and orange metallic foil, with plenty left for school parties.

Your Cocktails Are Staring Back at You

6-Cavity Silicone Skull Ice Mold with Lid and Funnel

$21.99

Pour a Cold Drink and Watch the Cup Turn Spooky

8-Pack 24 oz Halloween Color-Changing Cups with Lids and Straws

$46.99MSRP $90.00

Sip Your Potion Through a Striped Ghost Straw

25-Piece Halloween Striped Paper Straws with Decor Cards

$15.99

Metallic Wrappers for Every Monster Muffin

300-Pack Halloween Foil Cupcake Liners in Black, Purple and Orange

$15.99

Checklist 4: The Photo Spot

Every party needs one wall where costumes get their moment. Pick a spot with good light and enough room for a group.

• A backdrop. The 2-Pack Black Metallic Fringe Ceiling Curtains are 19.5 in x 16 ft each, with tape included for hanging. Hang them side by side for a shimmering wall.
• Balloons. The Halloween Balloon Arch Kit builds a black, green and hot pink garland topped with a 4D disco spider balloon. For a classic palette, the 18 Black, Orange and Purple Foil Balloons are 18 in each and helium compatible.
• Something hanging. The Hanging Paper Honeycomb Ghosts, 10 Pack come with cords and can dangle at different heights in front of the backdrop.
• A sign or banner. The Happy Halloween Party Decoration Set includes a banner, confetti dot garlands, honeycomb balls and swirl streamers.

Shimmery Black Fringe for a Midnight Bash

2-Pack Black Metallic Fringe Ceiling Curtains, 19.5 in x 16 ft

$82.99MSRP $101.00

A Disco Spider Crashed Your Balloon Arch

Halloween Balloon Arch Kit with 4D Disco Spider Balloon

$59.99MSRP $68.00

Pop Open Ten Paper Ghosts and Hang the Fun

Hanging Paper Honeycomb Ghost Decorations, 10 Pack

$45.99MSRP $90.00

Instant Halloween Party, Just Add Guests

Happy Halloween Party Decoration Set with Banner and Honeycomb Balls

$56.99MSRP $80.00

Checklist 5: Favors and the Goodbye

Send guests home with something small, and set up the favor station near the door so nobody forgets.

• Bags. The 24-Pack Halloween Paper Treat Bags have handles and pumpkin and ghost prints.
• Non-candy fillers. The 48-Pack Halloween Snap Bracelets, 4-Pack Slow-Rising Halloween Squishies and 36-Piece LED Finger Lights are easy wins for kids.
• A favor table sign. Reuse the BOO marquee letters from the entry on your way out.

Final Party-Day Checks

1. Test every battery-powered item the day before and keep spare batteries handy.
2. Keep cords and lighted decor away from walkways and drinks.
3. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for anything with water, lights or power, like the cauldron.
4. Leave clear paths between rooms so costumes can get through.

Get Party-Ready

Find everything in one place in our Halloween party supplies and tabletop decor. For more inside-the-house inspiration, see our indoor Halloween decor ideas.

Orders ship from US warehouses and usually arrive in 5-10 business days, with free shipping on orders over $75 in the lower 48 and 30-day returns. Have a frightfully good party!