Through the decades, Halloween has always been a ghoulish good time full of tricks, treats, and frights. Holiday decor trends may come and go, but what if we told you the decor of Halloweens past is becoming the next big thing? That’s right, the vintage Halloween aesthetic is the trend to go for this season and we’ll show you how with these simple steps!

How to Create a Vintage Halloween Aesthetic

1. Choose Your Color Scheme

Traditional Halloween colors have stayed pretty much the same over the decades. When going for a vintage Halloween aesthetic, we recommend sticking to the classic colors to really nail this look. You can go in one of two directions when it comes to your Halloween color scheme, or you can blend them!

• Orange and Black: This color duo is quintessential Halloween and brings to mind traditional holiday figures such as jack-o’-lanterns, black cats, bats, candy corn, and the darkness of night! You can’t go wrong with this simple palette and it’s easy to incorporate through decor, paper products, and table linens.

• Purple, Green, and Black: This scheme is associated with the ghoulish side of Halloween and encompasses themes like witches, boiling cauldrons, and monsters. These colors are also easy to incorporate into your decor and seasonal Halloween throws, wreaths, and wall accents.

2. Look for Vintage-Inspired Materials

Vintage Halloween decor makes use of simple materials that were easily available throughout the mid-20th century, so choosing the right materials can help you channel this retro aesthetic.

• Plastic: Plastic Halloween decor started to become popular during the 50s and 60s. Due to this, plastic Halloween decorations still carry a vintage vibe. Think of the classic jack-o’-lantern candy buckets – adding one of these to your holiday display is sure to give things a nostalgic feel.

• Glass: This is another classic material for vintage decor. If you want to take your Halloween tree back in time try dressing it up with vintage glass ornaments in Halloween shapes. Glass pumpkins are another great addition to your vintage autumn aesthetic.

• Paper: This is one of the easiest and most cost-effective materials when switching up your Halloween aesthetic – plus it nails the vintage style. A lot of Halloween decor from the 50s through the 80s were die-cuts, posters, banners, or disposable tableware like paper plates and napkins. Recreate this vibe by choosing some vintage-looking paper decorations or by crafting your own!

3. Go for Classic Halloween Figures

A lot of the Halloween figures that we know and love today were also holiday staples back in the day. Famous figures like black cats, bats, jack-o’-lanterns, witches, monsters, and simple sheet ghosts will help you pull off the vintage Halloween look. Stick to these figures when choosing indoor and outdoor decorations and wall accents.

4. Hang Vintage-Inspired Halloween Artwork

Wall decor and artwork is an easy way to switch things up temporarily. When it comes to this aesthetic, there is an abundance of vintage-inspired Halloween-themed artwork to choose from. Go for the recognizable figures mentioned above and look for old-school artwork styles to get this look right.

5. Create Ambience With Old-Fashioned Lighting

The right lighting is essential for pulling off any aesthetic. In this case, going for natural and vintage-style light sources is perfect for setting the scene. Rely on flickering candles and traditional lanterns to add decorative lighting. Stick some tapered candles in traditional-style candlesticks. You can also hang Halloween string lights – go for warmer toned bulbs for this aesthetic since they mimic natural flames and old-fashioned bulbs.

Tip!

Get more Halloween decorating tips and ideas with our helpful holiday guides:
Scary Yet Stylish Halloween Decor Ideas
12 Ideas for Halloween Decorating on a Budget
20 Haunting Halloween Wreath Ideas
34 Best Halloween Decorations for a Scary Good Time

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