You're either the type of person who owns a garage full of Halloween [1] decor or the one who lives by someone who does. Either way, it's people like this who transform neighborhoods into trick-or-treating wonderlands for kids and adults alike. Aside from candy collecting, the biggest thrill of Halloween is being able to soak in the spooky ambiance. If you're feeling inspired to get into the spirit this Halloween with your own decorating scheme, now's the time to plan. Retailers like Target sell on-trend and affordable Halloween decor [2] while Home Depot carries Halloween props and special effects [3]. Even Amazon Prime has a great last-minute Halloween decor [4] for busy people. To get you started, we've rounded up some of the most over-the-top Halloween decorating ideas that demand attention.
Mantle Mania
There was no holding back with this mantle, and we love it.
Snowy Scene
Even snow didn't stop these Halloween-loving home dwellers from decorating their front yard.
Porch Coffin
Displaying a huge coffin that isn't made from plastic has an undeniably chilling effect.
Haunted Mansion
An iron fence coated in cobwebs gives this home a Haunted Mansion feel.
Giant Spider
Anyone with a touch of arachnophobia will feel a little jumpy at the sight of an oversize spider hanging from a banister.
Evil Tree
Trees can make an especially cool prop when adorned with faces that blend into the trunks.
Monster Party
The gang's all here — seriously. One way to make a huge statement is to collect every ghoul and villain you can find and put them out to intimidate trick-or-treaters.
Cobwebs and Tombstones
If you have a prominent bush, go nuts with fake cobwebs. More really is more. Tombstones in the yard help to draw the eye up to the cobweb display.
Pirate Rowboat
This scene captures a spooky Pirates of the Caribbean vibe. All you need is an old canoe, a couple of skeletons, and some pirate hats.
Jack-O'-Lantern Staircase
One jack-o'-lantern is great, but five is even better.
Skeleton's Cauldron
Whip up a mean batch of skeleton brew by flanking a cauldron with a couple of standing skeletons. Bonus points for hanging a skeleton above the pot!
Lawn Lounging
Make use of lawn chairs by occupying them with monsters and skeletons. If you have an old baby carriage, that's even better.
Garage Envy
Garage doors are empty canvases that can become awesome focal points. Try adding a giant cobweb with a glow-in-the-dark skeleton in the middle.
Frankenstein's Front Yard
A giant Frankenstein's monster will spook any classic Halloween-lover.
Graveyard Harvest
The best part about this Halloween [8] setup is that you can remove the tombstones after Halloween and keep the rest of the decor up through Thanksgiving.
Pumpkin Spider Patch
A pumpkin patch is creatively converted with these no-carve pumpkin spiders.