The Best Halloween Tablescapes for 2024
As Halloween approaches, having even just a rudimentary idea of how you will decorate can help with creating cohesive design choices. Halloween tablescapes in particular tend to be overlooked, thus forgoing a great opportunity for creative design choices.
With so many color palettes and styles to choose from, deciding on which direction to go with your decor can seem like a daunting task. Should you go with black and orange because it is more commercially available? Will it look too childish? Do you need chargers and placemats, or will your dining table look too formal?
Whatever your design dilemmas may be, below are the 12 best Halloween tablescapes to inspire you. Recreate the whole look, or just borrow aspects here and there to create something entirely unique.
Moody Halloween Tablescapes
Dark and Witchy Dining Table
From Me and Annabelle Lee
Here’s a great interpretation of a witch-themed tablescape that will appeal to those who are looking for something elegant.
A key detail I would take away from this tablescape would be the moss. Most go-to plants have always been flowers for table settings, but moss is a great inexpensive alternative. Additionally, with moss, you won’t have to worry about it dying if you buy Spanish moss or faux moss.
Another great idea from this table setting is the DIY napkins with printed spells. These can very easily be personalized and altered to fit your theme. Like the idea? Check out the tutorial here.
Dark with Pops of Color
This particular table setting was created with second-hand finds and shows that a well thought-out design doesn’t have to be pricey. Check out Blakeney’s blog post and how she got the look here.
If you like to go heavy with black in your Halloween tablescapes, but wish to incorporate color, check out this design.
Justina Blakeney chose to bring color into the design through flowers. By incorporating live and dried flowers in the floral centerpiece, not only does it provide a variety of textures, but it also helps to create a dynamic arrangement.
This particular table setting was created with second-hand finds and shows that a well thought-out design doesn’t have to be pricey. Check out Blakeney’s blog post and how she got the look here.
Black with Scatters of Color
The bits of color in this example is more subtle but rich. Because the color is mostly reserved for food and drinks, it makes the consumables appear much more appetizing.
There’s also a bit of metal mixing here with the silver candelabra and the gold-tone utensils. The patina on the candelabra is warm-toned, which ends up working well with gold.
Also, the flowers in the back? They are paper flowers! An unexpected surprise, but another great alternative to real and faux-silk. It’s a great way to incorporate new materials into a table setting.
Plum and Gold
From So This Is Love
Although the tablescape above was designed with a Halloween wedding in mind, it can easily be used for a more lowkey occasion because it is not too overbearing.
There is significantly less black than some of the other designs in the same category, but it still manages to pack a punch. It’s simple in execution, but I’d argue that it is visually interesting because of how well the colors were used together.
The color palette here is black, gold, and plum. The designer uses these colors and variations are used everywhere:
- Table runner
- Decor
- Silverware
- Glassware
It’s difficult to see in the image, but the goblets on the dinner plates are amber and those on the table are a deep purple.
I wanted to include this table setting because it shows that you can have something visually appealing without having an excess of decor set up on your table. You can achieve something beautiful through simplicity too.
Sophisticated Halloween Tablescapes
The Graveyard Setting
From The Makerista
If you are an avid candleholder collector like myself, you probably have a vast collection of this staple item. Display them on your dining table or buffet table this Halloween with taper candles in white, black, or even burgundy for some color.
I’d argue that what really works for this table setting is the fact that it utilizes large collections effectively. Whether it’s the candle holders or the bones strewed across the table, the fact of the matter is that collections create a sense of cohesion and intention.
Because of this, don’t feel like you have to have a vast number of bone decor pieces to get a similar look. You can use anything: a collection of books and candles – just be cautious about safety – spiders, whatever you have.
If the items you have are all around the same height, use boxes or books to create platforms of various heights. This will add a layer of interest to your design.
Neutral with Bits of Color
From Inspired by Charm
If you are not too fond of all the dark colors in most Halloween decor, then you may enjoy this one from Michael over at Inspired by Charm.
The color for this Halloween tablescape really comes from the food. The decor itself is neutral – it keeps to a black-and-white palette (mostly white) which allows the saturated colors of the food to beautifully pop.
Here is how to execute this style:
- White background (which can be achieved with a tablecloth if your dining table isn’t white)
- Black table runner
- Floral centerpiece with a touch of Halloween decor
- Some spare skulls
And that’s it. Let your food be the star.
So, this may be something for you to consider when designing your table setting this season if you like simple and light decor.
Gray Instead of Black
From Make It Grateful
While I’ve discussed a number of Halloween tablescapes that incorporate a lot of black, you don’t have to go so dark to pull together a festive table.
You can easily replace black with gray, silver, and pewter to create designs that aren’t too visually heavy. To add interest, mix varying shades and tints of gray. And to add a bit of shine, make sure to add touches of silver through silverware, candelabras, or silver trays for food displays.
If you want some color, you can use flowers, or experiment with colored taper candles, bread plates, or glassware.
Subtle Touches of Halloween
I’d argue that what makes this a Halloween table (besides that the designer pulled this look together for Halloween) and not a fall-themed tablescape is the use of black and white. It’s an interesting interpretation of the holiday because there aren’t any explicit decor details that scream Halloween.
And the thing is, Halloween doesn’t have to be about spiders and skulls, the same way it doesn’t have to be black and orange.
It’s a great reminder that when decorating for a holiday, the best decorators can tweak it to work well with their existing style and their home.
Traditional Halloween Tablescapes
The Witch’s Table
I would describe traditional Halloween decor as more fitting with the type of decor that is readily available at your big box store as soon as it’s October. By that I mean it usually comes in black and/or a saturated orange, purple or green. It’s the fun colors that children and adults love.
Traditional Halloween decor openly embraces patterns. Stripes, polka dots, spider webs. I think this is the case because all of these patterns bring out the high contrast between black and saturated orange, purple, etc.
If you are considering this design style for your Halloween table setting, I would focus on patterns. The example above incorporates many and does so effortlessly.
If you are worried that your design may look too busy, I would say that it’s a natural aspect of this style. Saturated colors are boisterous, and patterns with high contrast are going to add to the noise.
So, embrace the bold. This style is meant to be loud.
Orange and Black
Here is another interpretation of a witch theme, only less busy.
There are fewer patterns here, but they are still present. The stripes, the plaid – an unusual pattern for Halloween, but good nonetheless. The black and orange rick rack on the tablecloth is great too. And if you are looking for a Halloween tablecloth or table runner, you can check out my recommendations here.
There is no centerpiece in this design, but the personalized witch hats really pull together the table without making it appear empty. And maybe that is the direction to go in: less focus on decor, and more on ensuring your guests have a good time.
It’s fun without feeling too over the top, which can work well if you’re just looking to add some Halloween elements to your table without going all out. I’d say this is by far the most kid friendly.
Vintage Black and Orange
Vintage is one of those design styles that can be very niche, but never really goes out of style. There will always be people who enjoy it, so there will always be some market for it.
It’s a good option if you don’t like skulls and gore, but aren’t interested in anything too fanciful either. Because most of the decor in the picture are paper goods, this type of Halloween table setting can be very accessible if you’ve got a printer and are somewhat crafty.
And if you are considering setting up a Halloween treat table as well, you can check out this post for inspiration.
Black, Orange and Pumpkins
From A Worthey Read
If your Halloween decor is limited to pumpkins – or if it’s the only Halloween decor you can tolerate – then here is an example to inspire you. Use a cake stand or lazy susan to put your pumpkins on display. Don’t forget to coordinate them with some other detail of your table setting. This can be either with the napkins, the placemats, or the table runner.
Also, don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to orange pumpkins. Think outside the box. Paint them in fun colors, or add visual interest and texture by mixing in some gourds.
