Every October, the same thing happens. You buy plastic spiders, a light-up pumpkin and a skeleton that doesn't quite stand up properly. Halloween comes and goes, and then most of it gets packed away in the loft until next year.
There is another way to decorate for Halloween. Choose things that you can use as part of your home or spiritual practice at other times of the year too.
A cast iron cauldron. A carved stone skull. A ritual candle. A tarot deck. A brass censer.
They look good at Halloween, but you won't need to put them away on 1 November.
This guide covers some of our favourite pieces, how to put them together in a room, and a few ready-made combinations if you want to make things easy.
Getting your home ready for Halloween? Orders are dispatched within 1 to 2 working days, then delivered by tracked UK post in 2 to 5 working days, so allow up to seven working days if you want your decor by 31 October. Delivery is £4.99, or free on orders over £40.
The short version
If you only buy three things this Halloween, start with:
- Something for burning: a cauldron, censer or backflow burner.
- A skull: preferably carved from stone or crystal rather than plastic.
- Candles: a few well-placed candles will do more for the room than a pile of decorations.
Everything else is optional.
You'll find the full range in our witchy Halloween collection.
Start with the cauldron
A cauldron is one of those pieces that immediately gives a room a witchy feel, particularly when it's made from proper cast iron rather than plastic.
The Extra Huge Cast Iron Cauldron with Pentagram (£79.99) is 23cm across and weighs 4.5kg. It's thickly cast and fully functional, so you can use it for candles, as part of an altar or simply keep it as a substantial decorative piece.
There's also a Triple Moon version (£79.99) if you prefer that design.
Cast iron is a practical choice too. With reasonable care, it should last for years, so this isn't something you'll need to replace every Halloween.
For a smaller space, the Small Cast Iron Ritual Pot (£14) is 8cm across and has a subtle pentagram design. It can be used for incense, herbs or small pieces of charcoal. Remember that cast iron gets very hot, so always use it on a suitable heatproof surface.
If you like the look of a cauldron but want to use fragrance instead, the Moon and Stars Cauldron Oil Burner (£6.50) is a black ceramic burner with a water dish and space for a tealight underneath. Add water and a few drops of oil and it makes a simple addition to a Halloween display.
Skulls worth keeping
Skulls are everywhere at Halloween, but there is a big difference between a plastic skull and one made from real stone or crystal.
A carved skull can stay on a shelf or altar throughout the year without looking like a Halloween decoration you've forgotten to put away.
The Amethyst Skull (£18) is carved from amethyst and is a good size for a bedside table, desk or small altar. The purple stone gives it a different look from the usual black or white skull.
The Large Amethyst Skull (£18) is a better choice if you want something with more presence.
The Calcite Geode Carved Skull (£15.50) is a particularly unusual option. It is carved from natural geode material, so the crystal formations run through the skull. Because the stone is natural, each one will have its own pattern.
See more in our carved gemstone figures.
Smoke that pours through the burner
A backflow burner is a good choice if you want something that is going to attract attention.
Backflow cones are made with a hollow channel through the middle. When the cone is lit, the smoke travels down through the burner instead of simply rising.
The Skull in Hand Backflow Burner (£18.99) has the smoke travelling through a skull and collecting in the base.
The Weeping Skull Backflow Burner (£21.99) has a light underneath the skull, which makes the smoke easier to see in a darker room.
You do need to use backflow cones with these burners. Ordinary incense cones won't produce the same effect.
Dragon’s Blood Backflow Cones (£20.49 for a 500g bag of roughly 225 cones) are the obvious choice for Halloween, and enough to last well past it.
If your burner isn't working properly, check that you're using the right cones and that the burner isn't sitting somewhere with a strong draught. Our guide to why your backflow burner isn't working covers the usual problems, and our backflow incense burners guide explains how they work.
Resin and incense
Scent is an easy way to change the feel of a room without adding more decorations.
For Halloween, Golden Frankincense Resin Sticks (£2.20) are a simple option. There's no bamboo core, so they burn directly on a suitable heatproof surface.
Satya Black Crystal (£2.99) has a deeper, resinous fragrance, while the Stamford Black Incense Gift Set (£8.99) is another fitting choice for the season.
If you'd rather burn loose resin, the Pentagram Censer with Wooden Handle (£28.29) is a solid brass censer with star-shaped vents and a wooden handle. It can be used with resin, cones or charcoal.
You'll find more options in our resins and powders, and our resin incense guide explains how to burn resin on charcoal.
Candles do most of the work
If you're decorating for Halloween, don't underestimate candles.
Turn off the main light and use smaller lamps and candles instead. You can have a fairly simple room and still make it feel completely different just by changing the lighting.
Ritual candles
The Ancient Witch Ritual Candles (£15.99 to £16) are 24cm tall and made from soy wax and resin. Each design has its own symbol and theme.
Gothic Garden features a skull and roses and represents transformation through letting go.
Raven's Remedy is associated with peace and harmony and contains lavender and fennel.
Spell candles
The Magic Spell Candles (from £14) are made with soy wax and gemstones set into the wax. They have a burn time of around 50 hours and are designed in Spain.
For Halloween, the Cleansing Spell Candle (£14) is a popular choice, with white jasper gemstones and a sage and peppermint scent for clearing a room.
The Balance Spell Candle (£14.49) sets black agate and white jasper in ylang ylang, and works well if you prefer darker stones.
Our spell candles guide explains more about how these candles are used in modern magical practice.
Something for tarot and divination
Tarot fits naturally into Halloween, particularly if you already enjoy reading cards or other forms of divination.
The advantage of buying a tarot deck is that it isn't something you'll only use in October.
Requiem Arcana (£9.95) is a 78-card deck with a darker style and comes with a guidebook.
The Purple Foil Witch Tarot Set (£28.60) has purple foil detailing and comes in a gift box with a guidebook. It's suitable for someone who is learning as well as someone who already reads tarot.
For something cheaper, Memento Mori Gothic Playing and Oracle Cards (£3) can be used as a standard 54-card playing deck or as an oracle deck.
The Spellbook Oracle Cards (£4) have a grimoire-style design and make a good addition to a Halloween table.
Put the cards on an Ancient Witch Tarot Reading Cloth (£5) and you have a simple setup ready to use.
You can try our free tarot reading or a simple three-card spread, and browse all our tarot cards and decks.
A crystal ball
The 80mm Crystal Ball on Stand (£11.50) is made from K9 optical glass. Place it somewhere near candlelight and the glass catches the light nicely.
If you're not sure what size to choose, our crystal balls guide explains the different options.
Dressing the altar
If you'd rather have one small Halloween altar than decorations spread around every room, keep it simple.
Start with a cloth. The Life, Death and Rebirth Altar Cloth (£5) is made from cotton and has a fringed border.
Then add a few pieces.
The Antique Copper Triple Moon Chalice (£16.50) has an antique-style finish and works well as part of a ritual setup.
The Pentagram Altar Bell (£14.28) is made from solid brass and has a clear chime. Bells are used in various ritual practices to mark the beginning or end of a ritual.
The Set of 7 Bronze Witch Spoons (£18) contains seven spoons, each set with a different stone, including amethyst, black obsidian and lapis lazuli.
Add a candle, a skull and some incense and your altar is ready.
Browse our altar cloths and altar and ritual collections, or read our guide to your first altar.
A dark stone for Halloween
If you want to add a crystal, black obsidian is an easy choice.
Obsidian is volcanic glass with a naturally dark, glossy surface. In crystal traditions, it is associated with protection, grounding and self-reflection.
For divination, the Shadow Seer Double Power Pendulum (£19) combines an obsidian globe with a clear quartz point.
Read more in our obsidian meaning guide.
A spooky bath for afterwards
Once the evening is over, a bath is a good way to wind down.
The Mistress Gemstone Bath Fizzer (£5.49) is a darker, heavier fragrance with a real stone hidden inside, while the Elemental Crystal Bath Fizzer in Fire (£7.49) leaves a crystal behind once it has dissolved.
Either is a good alternative if you prefer showers to baths.
How to set up a Halloween room in ten minutes
You don't need to decorate the whole house.
- Turn off the main light. Use candles and smaller lamps instead.
- Pick one area. A fireplace, sideboard, coffee table or altar is enough.
- Put your largest piece there. A cauldron, backflow burner or group of candles will give you a good starting point.
- Add a skull and a dark stone. Natural materials work particularly well with the other pieces.
- Burn some incense. Frankincense or dragon's blood are good choices. Keep incense away from anything that could catch fire.
- Put out a tarot deck. If you're having friends over, someone will probably ask for a reading.
Keep candles, incense and burners on heatproof surfaces and away from curtains, costumes, decorations and pets. Never leave anything burning unattended.
Ready-made Halloween bundles
If you'd rather buy a few pieces that already work together, these are three easy combinations.
The Halloween mantelpiece (£73.48)
Gothic Garden Ritual Candle (£16) + Skull in Hand Backflow Burner (£18.99) + Dragon’s Blood Backflow Cones (£20.49) + Amethyst Skull (£18).
You get a candle, a backflow burner and a carved crystal skull. The total is also over £40, so delivery is free.
The reader's Halloween (£40.45)
Requiem Arcana (£9.95) + Ancient Witch Tarot Reading Cloth (£5) + 80mm Crystal Ball on Stand (£11.50) + Cleansing Spell Candle (£14).
A simple set for anyone who enjoys tarot, oracle cards or divination.
The proper cauldron (£85.18)
Extra Huge Cast Iron Cauldron with Pentagram (£79.99) + Golden Frankincense Resin Sticks (£2.20) + Satya Black Crystal (£2.99).
The cauldron is the main piece, with two different incense fragrances to use with it.
The history behind Halloween
Halloween has developed from several different traditions.
Samhain was a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. It became associated with the modern Halloween season, alongside Christian All Hallows' Eve traditions and other customs that developed over the centuries.
If you're interested in the Samhain side of the season, we've also written about setting up a Samhain altar for the turning of the year.
And if you're buying for someone who is interested in witchcraft throughout the year, take a look at our witchy gift guide and witch gifts page.
For more seasonal ideas, our guide to Yule and the longest night covers the winter solstice.
Witchy Halloween FAQs
What are good witchy Halloween decorations?
Look for things that work as home or ritual pieces as well as Halloween decorations. Cast iron cauldrons, carved stone or crystal skulls, candles, backflow burners, tarot cards and crystal balls are all good choices.
How do I make my house feel witchy for Halloween?
Start with the lighting. Turn off the main lights and use candles and lamps instead. Choose one area of the room and add a cauldron, burner or group of candles. A skull, dark crystal and some incense are enough to finish the display.
What crystal is best for Halloween?
Black obsidian is a popular choice because of its naturally dark colour and its traditional associations with protection, grounding and self-reflection.
Amethyst is another good option, particularly if you like carved skulls or want some purple in the display.
Can you burn incense in a cast iron cauldron?
A suitable cast iron ritual pot can be used for incense, herbs and small pieces of charcoal. Always check that the particular item is intended for burning and place it on a heatproof surface.
Cast iron gets extremely hot, so don't handle it while it's being used.
What is a backflow burner?
A backflow burner is designed to work with special backflow incense cones. These cones have a hollow channel that allows the smoke to travel downwards through the burner, creating the waterfall effect.
Where did Halloween come from?
Modern Halloween has developed from several traditions. It is associated with All Hallows' Eve, the evening before All Saints' Day, as well as older Gaelic seasonal traditions including Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter.
