The Scariest Halloween Decorations Let You Terrorize the Neighborhood Children (In a Wholesome Way)
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So, is Halloween cancelled again this year? We say no way! We understand if you want to avoid crowded Halloween bar parties for your safety and the safety of others, but what about other Halloween traditions? There seems to be no reason why you can’t wear a scary Halloween costume, gather your Halloween crew, and enjoy handing out piles and piles of Halloween candy to the neighborhood kids, who deserve a good Halloween this year.
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This year, we’re already getting ready to have a fun and safe Halloween, and we’re already on the lookout for the year’s best Halloween costume ideas, from fun couple’s costumes to pop-culture-inspired outfits.
One of our favorite ways to safely celebrate Halloween? Decorating your house.
Scary Halloween decorations come in all shapes and sizes, all themes, and all levels of terrifying-ness. You can go the cobweb and spider route, the monster route, zombie route, or regular ol’ Jack-O’-Lantern pumpkin route. Whether your goal is to provide a little Halloween fun for the neighbors or horrify everyone from afar so they stay socially distanced from your pad, there are the best Halloween decorations to help you get there.
We’ve pulled options from all over the web that we believe are worth the time and financial investment this year. Here are the best scary 2021 Halloween decorations for your home this year in celebration of Halloween during a pandemic, making it already one of the scariest of them all.
1. 7.5 ft. Animated Headless Horseman
This headless horseman is sure to turn some heads in the neighborhood as it stands 7.5 feet tall making it the perfect addition to or centerpiece of your Halloween yard display. The Headless Rider holds up a flickering Jack-O-‘Lantern and is powered through standard electrical outlets. He has four different animatronic movements and five different spooky sounds to cycle between. He takes about 30 minutes to set up and features motion-sensor activation.
Buy: 7.5ft Animated Headless Horseman $279.00
2. 6 ft. Animated LED Jack-in-the-Box
This one’s just downright terrifying, which is why I chose to include it. It’s the perfect focal point for a yard that most people will safely ogle from across the street. It has glowing red eyes for an extra scary effect, and is recommended for indoor use only. It cycles between five different scary sounds and has two different movements. It runs on plug-in power and takes about 30 minutes to set up. Let’s be real, clowns are terrifying, and this motion-activated one will make sure that neighbors walk a little quicker in front of your house.
Buy: 6ft Animated Jack-in-the-Box $199.00
3. 116 in. Pirate Ship With Steering Wheel
Anything spookier than a ghostly ship approaching in the distance? This one is a big vessel for your yard and a larger investment, but the quality of décor and built-in effects makes it worth it. It has a skeleton captain who moves the steering wheel, LED accent decorations, and it’s lightweight and easy to move despite its size. It has one movement and runs on plug-in power. It’ll take about 45 minutes to set up due to its size, but it’ll do the trick when it comes to spooky Halloween fun.
Buy: 116 in. Animated Pirate Ship $349.00
4. 3 ft. Spookytown Monster and Bride Halloween Yard Decor
Aren’t these two just a match made in heaven? This monster and his bride will graciously greet your guests in your front yard with built-in lights and friendly smiles. They’ll give your yard that spooky glow without being too scary, and they have a sturdy metal frame that’s durable enough to last through the colder weather of fall. They’ve got built-in LEDs that are pre-lit from the inside, and your couple comes with ground stakes and spare bulbs for keeping them in tip-top shape. They’re made of water- and fade-resistant fabric so they’re perfect for indoor or outdoor use.
Buy: 3 ft. Spookytown Monster and Bride Halloween Yard Decor $49.98
5. 3.5 ft. Mickey Mouse in Vampire Costume Halloween Inflatable
It’s Mickey, but just a bit scarier. This Vampire Mickey blow-up is one of the easiest decorations to set up. All it takes is plugging it in and staking it to the ground in case of some wind — and you’ve got a slightly spookier but still friendly Disney character to greet everyone who passes by your yard. He’s got built-in LED lights for an illuminated display and can be used indoors or outdoors. It has an adaptor fan for inflation and white LEDs for the glow. Mickey is also only 3.5 feet tall, so he’ll work great in smaller front yards, porches, or places without a ton of space. Oh, and there’s a matching Minnie too.
Buy: 3.5 ft. Mickey Mouse Vampire $29.98
6. 30.5 in. Halloween Lit-Up BOO Sign
If you want to take it back to basics, “BOO” is a great bet. This LED-lit Halloween sign is the perfect greeter for a porch, yard, or mantle inside your home. The LED lights will all stay lit even if one goes out mid-season, and the sign has a durable construction of a wire frame surrounded by tinsel. It also features a bat for a spooky touch, and is ultra-weather resistant.
Buy: 30.5 in. Halloween Lit-Up BOO Sign $49.98
7. 3.35 ft. Harvest Pumpkin Halloween Inflatable
Another pumpkin option is this full harvest of decorations with energy-efficient LEDs and a variety of jolly, smiling Jack-O’-Lanterns. It’s an inflatable, meaning it’s also one of the easier Halloween decorations you can own. All it takes is plugging it in and letting the fans do their work, and staking it to the ground afterward. The decoration also comes with tethers for making sure the pumpkins stay proud and on display even in rougher weather.
Buy: 3.35 ft. Harvest Pumpkin Halloween Inflatable $63.74
8. 3.5 ft. Green Oogie Boogie Halloween Inflatable
Continuing on the inflatable decoration train, we’ve got Oogie Boogie. This classic character from The Nightmare Before Christmas can come to life right in your own yard easily after being staked to the ground and plugged in. He’s lit up by bright energy-efficient LEDs, so you won’t be paying a fortune in electric bills in order to power your Halloween fun.
Buy: 3.35 ft. Green Oogie Boogie Halloween Inflatable $29.98
9. 3.5 ft. Lighted Ghost Halloween Inflatable
This inflatable ghost is more cute than scary, but I couldn’t help myself. Everything needed to set up and install him is included in the box, and he self-inflates in seconds, making him easy to put up and take down. Keep it simple this Halloween and go the ghost route with this adorably on-theme ghost.
Buy: Gemmy The 3.5 ft. LED Ghost Halloween Inflatable $19.99
10. Life-Sized Animated Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice fans, anyone? This life-sized Beetlejuice character comes licensed directly from the movie and speaks lines from the film. He’s lit up, battery-powered, and will be sure to bring the creepy vibes to your yard. Place him on the porch as your signature greeter or mix in a few other classic Halloween characters in your front yard for a de facto gathering of everyone’s favorite spooky characters.
Buy: Life Sized Animated Bettlejuice $229.00
11. SnowCinda Scary Giant Spider Decoration
You’d have to be pretty stoic to not at least take pause at this giant spider creeping in someone’s front yard. It has a furry black body, long spindly legs, and those blood-red beady eyes that are sure to stir up some fright. It measures out at about 6 and a half feet, and is lightweight and very easy to move. It has flexible legs that can be folded up for easy storage, and can easily hook onto other things for an even greater decorative effect.
Buy: SnowCinda Scary Giant Spider Decoration
12. Fake Bloody Human Hands
Dismembered limbs had to appear somewhere on this list, as they’re a pivotal decoration for Halloween and can get pretty scary the more real they look. These realistic ones are perfect for an indoor or outdoor Halloween setup where you need some gory effects to really tie the whole effect together. They’re made of environmentally-friendly rubber in flesh-and-blood colors, and the package comes with left and right hands.
Buy: Fake Bloody Human Hands (Set of 2) $15.99
13. 13.94 ft. Hanging Ghost Decoration
For maximum creeptastic effect, you’ll want to center your decorations around the entrance to your house so people know to think twice before coming in. This terrifying hanging ghost decoration is frames the entrance to your house perfectly. Make a dark corner into a super dark corner under the cloak of this ghostly figure that can be easily hung above your door, on a tree, on a porch, or even in your veranda. The kit comes with the ghost mask and the big polyester cloth, both of which are easy to set up and take down.
Buy: 13.94 ft. Hanging Ghost Halloween Decoration $12.99
14. 71 in. Animated Talking Witch
This animated witch walks, talks, and will be sure to creep out any space that she’s in. She’s life-sized, which is scary enough, and also has glowing eyes for an even more freaky effect. She runs on AA batteries and has pre-loaded phrases that include “Beware!” “Boo!” “You’re not scared, are you?” and of course, a nice cackling laugh. This high-quality decoration is sure to become a signature piece in your decoration closet and is built to last for years.
Buy: Life Size Animated Talking Witch $31.80 (orig. $33.80) 6% OFF
15. Cauldron Creeper Animated Halloween Decoration
It wouldn’t be Halloween without some sort of creepy potion in a cauldron. This cauldron stirrer will add a scary feel to your yard or room, depending on whether you choose to put it indoors or outdoors. The skeleton stirs the cauldron wearing a tattered, shredded gauze outfit while flames cook the mysterious potion underneath. The PVC head features a hinged jaw and details on the hands and chest that add to the authenticity of the look. This decoration plugs into any standard power outlet and you can choose between steady-on, a “step here” floor switch, or infrared sensor activation.
Buy: Cauldron Creeper Animated Halloween Decoration $199.99
16. Vinyl Etchings Skeleton Stakes Decorations
If standing decor is a little too bulky for your taste but you still want to get into the Halloween spirit, considered going for a partially buried skeleton look, like this one by Vinyl Etchings. It can be placed in your front yard with stakes, showcasing a skull and arms reaching out of the ground — no assembly required. The jaw of the skull can be adjusted, so you can open or close it, and the palms can also be adjusted at the wrist. A great way to create an eerie atmosphere without taking up too much space.
Buy: Vinyl Etchings Skeleton Stakes Decorations
17. Suoke Lenticular 3D Changing Face Portrait
In horror movies, there’s often some creepy Victorian portrait that stares people down and sometimes even comes to life. This lenticular 3D changing face recreates that experience and will send chills down your guests’ spines. This black and white gal from the olden days reveals different angles that will freak guests out and have them wondering if you live in a haunted house. From lovely young woman to horrifying zombie girl, the transformation on this optical illusion Halloween decoration won’t disappoint.
Buy: Suoke Lenticular 3D Changing Face Portrait $7.99
18. Seasonal Visions International Animated Life-Sized Hanging Phantom
The facial expression on this hanging zombie skeleton gives us the heebie-jeebies. It stands 72 inches tall and comes complete with light-up eyes and screaming sounds to induce a jump scare. Many Amazon reviewers use this as an add-on for their front-yard cemetery or DIY haunted forest, with one already looking forward to the next Halloween: “ I look forward to scaring the heck out of the neighborhood kids next year.”
Buy: Seasonal Visions International Animated Life-Sized Hanging Phantom
19. JOYIN 35 in. Halloween Animated Hanging Corpse
Up your scary home decor with this animated hanging corpse, complete with light-up LED eyes and a sound effect. Unlike your usual standing skeleton or zombie, the swinging nature of this hanging corpse adds some realistic movement, adding to the terrifying design. You can activate a shaking body movement with a motion or voice sensor. Although it creates quite the visual impact, it’s lightweight and easy to hang up. One buyer ensures that it scared everyone walking by, with another saying “it scared the crap out of the FedEx guy”.
20. Evil Grim Reaper on Bone Throne Statue with Scythe
This throned Gothic masterpiece will steal the show when it comes to skull-themed decor for Halloween. A detailed Grim Reaper (with surprisingly realistic robe folds) sits atop a throne made from piled-up bones and skulls, holding an intimidating scythe. This statue of death is high-quality but quite large, so if you have a small apartment, it may not be the most space-efficient choice. However, if you have room to spare, it’s a centerpiece that you won’t regret investing in.
Buy: Evil Grim Reaper on Bone Throne Statue with Scythe $45.45
21. Lovely Cute Studio 12 Black Scary Decorative Bats
Bats are a classic decoration choice for October 31, especially if you’re not a fan of jump scares or gory details. These come in an affordable set of 12 and can be hung from walls, fireplaces, trees, and more. Whereas most fairly priced pieces of bat ornaments are made from cheap papier-mâché, these bats are thick, sturdy, and weatherproof, so if rain comes your way, you don’t have to rush to remove the decor. Each individual bat comes with pre-drilled holes, so setting up the display is a breeze.
Buy: Lovely Cute Studio 12 Black Scary Decorative Bats $16.50+
22. Halloween Ghoul Wall or Window Decal
Anyone walking by your windows will do a double-take after they see the spooky ghoul silhouette realistically hovering over them. It’s a self-adhesive wall decal that can adorn windows, garage doors, ceilings, and more. It’s worth noting that these creepy decals are removable, but not reusable, so if you’re looking for multiple Halloweens featuring this ghoul, you might want to stock up.
Buy: Halloween Ghoul Wall or Window Decal $10.30
23. Forensic FX Hyper-Realistic Maggots
If you’re not too squeamish, you can use these hyper-realistic infected maggots, which are convincing enough to be a prop on movies and TV shows. These maggot packets are available in plenty of different quantities, and can be scattered on tabletops, placed in bowls, or wherever else you may have in mind. That being said, if you’re going to have pets or kids running around, you may want to keep your maggots in an unreachable place, since they’re made of silicone and coated with alcohol paint, making them toxic if ingested.
Buy: Forensic FX Hyper Realistic Maggots $13.90+
24. 5 ft. Hanging Plastic Decayed Posable Skeleton with LED Eyes
You can’t go wrong with a battery-operated hanging plastic skeleton, and this one ups the ante with light-up eyes and a decayed theme. For just under $30, it’s much more affordable than many full-sized skeletons out there. Both legs and arms can be posed, and glowing red eyes illuminate the face just the right amount. One buyer says, “I used it to hold a tube for socially distanced candy dispensing on Halloween and the kids loved it!”.
Buy: 5 ft Hanging Plastic Decayed Posable Skeleton with LED Eyes $29.98
25. 7 ft. LED 600-Light Purple Willow Tree
If creepy crawly things aren’t your jam, turn your home into Sleepy Hallows with a 7-foot light-up purple willow tree, complete with life-like wispy branches. Using LED lights in a ghostly purple tone, this piece will subtly fit in with existing trees or greenery. This is a fantastic alternative to orange string lights, which so many people already use for Halloween. A sturdy metal frame adds stability and lets you add other trimming, garlands, or artificial skulls.
Buy: 7 ft. LED 600-Light Purple Willow Tree $129.00
26. Animated Talking Raven in Cage
To merge the worlds of creepy and entertaining, add an animated raven to your home. With sound-activated creepy sound effects, this battery-powered piece of decor can hang from anywhere, act as a centerpiece on a dining table, or be placed on a porch. It’s not waterproof, so might be best for indoors if you live in an area with unpredictable weather. Activated by a sound sensor, this raven will surprise strangers and trick-or-treaters alike — no assembly required.
Buy: Animated Talking Raven in Cage $19.98
27. Pumpkin Vine Arms and Legs
We’re not sure what’s so hair-raising about a pumpkin with these gangly little vine arms and legs, but there’s definitely a disturbing aspect that’s perfect for Halloween decor. Pumpkins are a classic part of decorating for Halloween, and with this easy-to-accomplish look, you only need to stick in the vine arm and legs rather than trying to recreate some elaborate Pinterest carving. Alas, the pumpkin is not included. The final result is sure to bring smiles (or grimaces) to whoever sees it.
Buy: Pumpkin Vine Arms and Legs $29.95
28. Large Standing Black Reaper Halloween Decoration
No matter what year it is, Grim Reaper decorations will never get old. This standing black reaper Halloween decor stands 3 feet high and comes complete with a black drape and plastic mask. It’s the ideal level of creepy for anyone worried that their kids (or trick or treaters) might get a little too scared off. It can stand on its own, making it a versatile add-on for indoor or outdoor scary scenes, and is lightweight enough to move around.
Buy: Large Standing Black Reaper Halloween Decoration $7.99
29. Fun Express Large Dragon Skeleton
This 4-foot dragon skeleton will make a great centerpiece for any yard or event space. Made of plastic, it’s 49 x 36 inches in size and designed with fangs and wings for a realistically spooky look and feel.
Buy: Fun Express Large Dragon Skeleton
30. Fun Express Unicorn Skeleton
Make a major statement with this large unicorn skeleton by Fun Express. It measures 43 x 27-inches and makes for a great centerpiece for any Halloween display.
Buy: 29. Fun Express Large Unicorn Skeleton $84.79
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