How New Yorkers Decorate Their Homes For Halloween

Ghouls and ghosts abound in the concrete jungle.

Something that makes the holidays feel so delightfully atmospheric is the immersive decor that comes along with it. Halloween kicks the season off with its creepy, crawly home displays that can range from elegant pumpkin vignettes to all-out spooky schemes consisting of skeletons, spiders, and other creatures that go bump in the night. No matter where you live, if you celebrate Halloween you’re likely enthusiastic to incorporate the aesthetic into your home for the weeks leading up to the holiday.

For New Yorkers, decorating your home for Halloween is different from other parts of the country. The city is dense and real estate is limited, which means residents have to be creative with how they decorate. Homes are also situated side-by-side or on top of each other, which means your decorations will be seen by anyone and everyone passing by on the street, tourists and locals alike (no pressure!).

Ahead, get into the spirit of the season with five ways New Yorkers eerily adorn their homes for Halloween.

1. The stoop is where the spook is

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that most homes in New York City don’t have a front lawn, which poses a challenge when it comes to finding a good location to concentrate your Halloween decorations at. Thankfully, many properties in the city do feature a stoop, and this conveniently serves as a centrepiece for all sorts of spooky accents. Pumpkins, gourds, faux spiderwebs, and even a skeleton or two – the stoop is the ideal focal point for city dwellers and where you’ll find some of the most exciting spirited displays come October.

2. Windows are great for pops of decor

Since square footage is rather limited in the city, New Yorkers have to get creative with where they display their Halloween decorations. One area of the home where creepy decor hits its stride in NYC is the window. Take a stroll in just about any neighbourhood and you’ll spot strings of candy corn lights, lit-up Jack O’ Lanterns, and fake spiderwebs strewn across the windowsill. Treat your window like a spooky canvas and you’ll be surprised how much it adds to your overall Halloween scheme.

3. Brownstones have the best vertical displays

Among the more beloved architectural styles found in New York City is the brownstone. These elegant, historic townhomes can be found in neighbourhoods such as Harlem, the Upper West Side, Park Slope, and Fort Greene. This type of building typically has four to five stories, which means exterior Halloween decor can be especially creative with vertical displays. We’ve seen it all – a ‘group’ of skeletons climbing up the wall, a jumbo-sized spider web clinging to the window panes, and even a giant syringe that slides between the brownstone and nearby trees.

4. Cast iron gates can double as decor

Something you’ll see a lot throughout New York City’s different boroughs is cast iron gates in front of homes. While they serve as barriers from the property and the sidewalk (and a great place to lock up your bicycle!) these gates also make a great place for Halloween decor to extend from your home onto the street. What to wrap around the poles? Fake spiderwebs, eery tinsel, or even black lights all make wickedly atmospheric accents.

5. Pumpkins enliven even the smallest of spaces

No matter how small the NYC space might be, the easiest way for New Yorkers to get in the Halloween spirit is with a pumpkin display. Some opt for a smattering of un-carved pumpkins for a less-spooky harvest look, while others make their creative carvings the centrepiece. Whichever approach, you’re sure to spot a slew of round orange pumpkins throughout the city the month of October.