Martha Stewart decorates her porch for Halloween using this classic seasonal touch – but with an elevated twist

Rest in Peace to the Jack-o-Lantern, the lifestyle guru has given decorating for Halloween a stylish makeover, and we're following suit this October

martha stewart on a background of pumpkins
(Image credit: Brian Ach via Getty Images for Michaels)

Why can't Halloween decor look elevated? Far from the past of inflatable skeletons, polyester spiderwebs, and styrofoam gravestones, today's seasonal decor offers many more timeless and tasteful options.

As per usual, Martha Stewart's home is a haven of seasonally appropriate, yet chic Halloween decorating ideas. This is perhaps best embodied by her annual porch decor, which incorporates rows of pumpkins arranged on either side of her stairs. Rather than carving them into Jack-o-Lanterns, Martha opted for peak New England style. She arranged red, yellow, and green gourds at the front to invite visitors into her home.

As dictated by Martha, decorating with pumpkins is in, but carving is out. 'When it comes to Halloween, pumpkins are non-negotiable, but the cliché scary carved face can tend to look outdated and may dampen your display if you are going for a luxury vibe,' states Andrew White, Home and Garden expert at Harbour Lifestyle.

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If you don't have time to make it to the patch this year, these reusable pumpkins from Martha Stewart's QVC collection are the ideal alternative. They look both elevated and classic.

'This year, why not opt for more tasteful pumpkin designs instead?' asks Andrew.

To do this, you can replicate Martha Stewart's pumpkin decorating ideas and select a variety of pumpkins in different sizes, colors, and shapes to create a visually intriguing display. Alternatively, you could opt for stylish faux pumpkins to create a similar style without the risk of squirrel sabotage.

If you are still tied to the idea of creating a jack-o'-lantern display, choose a more elevated option. Andrew advises: 'Try drilling holes in your pumpkins (disco ball style), creating elegant monograms, or even painting pumpkins in a tone that matches your doorscape for a touch of opulence. Remember to place them with purpose, intertwining with your floor lighting and levelling on steps or banisters - creating a visually pleasing, polished display.'


Halloween decor can be stylish, elevated, and beautiful, just like any other seasonal display. When in doubt, look to Martha Stewart.


Sophie Edwards
News Editor

Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.

In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.

Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.

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