24 Vintage-Inspired Halloween Decorations for a Nostalgic Holiday – Because the Best Halloween Decor Should Make You Feel Like a Kid Again

From paper skeletons to spooky apparitions, these retro holiday decorations will make you feel like you've stepped back in time to Halloweens of the past

a porch decorated for halloween
(Image credit: Pottery Barn)
Devin Toolen's avatar
By
Published In Collections

Halloween is one of those holidays that’s inherently nostalgic – it reminds me of being young, dressing up with my siblings, and trotting around the neighborhood collecting candy from the spookiest houses. And for 2026, I want to channel that same energy – which is exactly why I’ll be staging my house with vintage-inspired Halloween decorations.

Bring on the kitschiness and the playful charm; I want to feel like I’m back in the '90s with my Halloween decor this year. Luckily, it seems to be a big theme with some of my favorite brands too, who are bringing out far chicer renditions of what used to reside in my childhood loft.

Hanging ghosts are a must, like this set of three from Pottery Barn. They remind me of the handmade apparitions my neighbors used to suspend from the trees in their front lawn. Terrain’s frightfully festive critters will bedeck my seasonal mantel – reminiscent of the felt forms my mother still stages around our home at the start of spooky season. The most important Halloween decoration of them all – the candy basket, that is – will be this animated witch hand bowl from Amazon. Even though I was terrified of these as a kid, I can't help but feel nostalgic when looking at one now.

This Halloween, don’t let an aesthetic or fleeting trends get in the way of the nostalgic charm of the holiday itself. Instead, lean into your memories by decorating with vintage-inspired Halloween finds.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

Devin Toolen
Devin Toolen
Style Editor

Devin Toolen is a New York-based Style Editor for Homes & Gardens. After achieving her Bachelor’s Degree at Villanova University, Devin moved to Paris, France, to obtain her Master’s Degree at Parsons School of Design. Upon returning to the United States, Devin began working in the media industry with Cosmopolitan Magazine, where she wrote trend-driven fashion stories and assisted on set for many photoshoots, and later Livingetc, where she wrote interior design stories and assisted with the magazine’s social media pages. She has an appreciation for every aspect of personal style – from the clothes we wear to the design of our homes. In her spare time, Devin enjoys embroidery and antique shopping in the city.