35 Creative Ideas for Halloween Party Themes

Invite your gal pals for a witch's night in! Party decorations are as simple as a few carefully placed wooden-and-straw brooms and a bin full of decorated pumpkins. Buffalo check pumpkins in a galvanized bucket such as a galvanized beverage tub, ($31.99, Wayfair) match this theme perfectly. Plus, you can use the tubs to decorate your home when the party is over. After the decor is set, make a big batch of witch's brew. For inspiration, check out some of our favorite Halloween cocktail recipes.

Halloween doesn't necessarily mean falling leaves and a chill in the air, depending on the climate. Desert-themed Halloween party decorations feature bedecked cacti and spider web dream catchers made with string. If you invite kids to this party, turn the decorations into activity stations! Big kids can make their own webs, and the little ones can be tasked with making the tassels out of green and orange yarn, such as Calypso Island yarn, ($13-$24, Etsy). This party has something for everyone!

Black and white with pops of orange make for the perfect Halloween color scheme—and party theme! Drum up some DIY outdoor Halloween decorations for your porch with an easy-to-make wreath, painted pumpkins, and pumpkin topiaries. Black and white cups, napkins, and plates are easy to find. Play up the black and white Halloween party theme with black bats and white pumpkins.

For the wreath: 

Wrap a foam wreath in alternating black and white yarn, then secure the ends with hot glue. Embellish the center of the wreath with purchased decorations, such as a web and glittery spider.

For the topiaries:

1. Gather three pumpkins of descending sizes.
2. Spraypaint the middle pumpkin white, then block off stripes with painters tape and paint these sections black.
3. Drill holes through the pumpkins and mount them on a metal stake secured on a foam block.

Adding a DIY photo booth to your kids' Halloween party ensures unforgettable party memories. Frame the setting with orange curtains, a patterned garland, and a few batty party crashers. Keep plenty of playful props-on-a-stick at hand for party posers. Station an adult in front of the booth with a camera to capture everybody's jack-o-lantern-worthy smiles.

We know trick-or-treating is fun for the kids. But adults need to celebrate too! So why not throw a trick-or-treat time-out party by inviting your friends and their kids to trick-or-treat in your neighborhood? Have a few adults at a time take the kids door-to-door. At the same time, the other grown-ups can hang back to enjoy drinks, snacks, and adult conversations at this grown-ups-only Halloween party. It's a win-win for everyone!

Don't limit Halloween celebrations to after dark! Cute and fuzzy spiders, combined with ombre-painted pumpkins, are the perfect Halloween party decorations to add to a delicious brunch spread. Spray paint transforms white faux pumpkins into Halloween brunch party decorations. A coordinating table runner means your tablescape is social media-ready.

Try a backyard get-together that celebrates Halloween and Autumn for a fun fall celebration. Cozy details, such as pumpkin centerpieces, ciders, and delicious seasonal dishes, make this party easy to plan and enjoy. If you aren't into Halloween costumes, just cozy up in flannel.

Make unique, eye-catching Halloween party decorations with a grouping of hanging paper lanterns and bats cut out of black vinyl shelf liner. Paint some pumpkins, tie back curtains with orange flagging tape, and arrange faux spiders on a set of throw pillows for extra Halloween party decorations. A decked-out porch is perfect for adults to watch the kids' Halloween party. Let it be the station for snacks and drinks, as well.

It's not just a Halloween party—it's a super-spooky Halloween dinner party. Inviting your guests for dinner means you only need to decorate a few rooms to seem like the ultimate Halloween party planner. Flickering candlelight is the key to an elegant table setting and a spooky Halloween vibe. Candlesticks of varying heights mean flickering shadows of different sizes and shapes.

Trick-or-treat, keep it sweet! Why should trick-or-treaters be the only ones indulging their sweet tooth on Halloween? Instead of sneaking candy bars out of the kids' Halloween bags, throw a sweet soiree of your own. Create a DIY display that allows guests to fill their goody bags with the candy they choose to take home from the Halloween party.

A backyard party provides a perfect Halloween party theme. Dress up your table with Halloween plaid linens, black-and-white plates, and webby black chargers. Spider and pumpkin decor adds just the right additional Halloween party decor, and a witch's hat centerpiece is the ultimate finishing touch. Predicting Halloween weather can be tricky, so a great Halloween party planner should have an indoor plan B. Bring in blankets for your guests to sit and dine on if necessary. An indoor picnic is still a Halloween picnic!

Halloween party decorations don't mean ignoring your year-round taste. Adding a few neutral touches of indoor Halloween decor to what your home usually looks like means your guests will feel comfortable at your home and your Halloween party. Plus, simply chic decor signals that this event is for adults—time to relax without the kids!

A whimsical buffet perfectly combines spooky, warm, and mysterious. Ivory pumpkins and vintage china offset the black gauze window coverings, skeletal hands, and observant ravens that you can use as Halloween party decorations year after year. Lit candles and tiny branches create shadows that will change as the sun goes down.

These family-friendly outdoor Halloween decorations are simple and subtle and just spooky enough. Dress up a skeleton in its Halloween best—a party hat, bow tie, and a coat of shiny copper spray paint. Surround it with pumpkins and creepy crawlers so guests know where the party is. Set up similar decor inside with pumpkin centerpieces and copper mugs. Try painting a few pumpkins with metallic spray paint to add even more shine to your Halloween party theme.

Sometimes the best Halloween party theme is...Halloween! Here are some Halloween party decorations that are fun for all ages! Bright orange pops against black-and-white decor. Black-and-white striped pumpkins are a fun and graphic accent, while classic silhouettes painted on orange pumpkins give a vintage feel. A DIY man-in-the-moon lantern watches over the food buffet filled with crowd-pleasing eats.

Round up family and friends for the easiest Halloween theme ever: a pumpkin painting party! You're already putting up decorations; why not spend time together while making them? Before guests arrive, paint a few pumpkins of your own. They'll serve as artistic inspiration and party decorations! Set out acrylic paints and paper plates and let kids mix to their heart's content. Provide small pumpkins or gourds—or tell guests to BYOP (bring your own paint).

Halloween party ideas don't have to be dark or scary! With cuteness in mind, pick a Halloween party theme: a puppies and kitties party! Gather black and orange decor to set the room for Halloween, and use our free downloads to add fun games, posters, and printables. Each guest goes home with a coloring book and treat-filled doggy bag!

Why shouldn't the grownups get in on the Halloween party fun? Choose glam as the Halloween party theme at your adult Halloween party. Spray-paint pumpkins metallic gold, set out light gold taper candles, and use accents of black lace and feathers. Sophisticated appetizers like charcuterie boards and crostini are sure to please guests whose palates stretch beyond chicken nuggets and macaroni.

Try our cute nature-inspired kids' Halloween party decorations, and create a playful forest in your living room. Spray-paint branches and hang paper bats for a look that's slightly spooky without being too scary. Pops of bright green in both decor and food liven things up. We have the downloads to make creating this forest party theme a breeze!

For many, candy is the most anticipated part of Halloween. Why not celebrate those once-a-year treats by making them the star of the show? Stock up on candy corn, caramel apples, and black and orange goodies to use as edible treats and party decorations. Our free party downloads help you pull the Halloween party theme together with goodie bags, invites, and labels.

Go for a sophisticated spooky with an Edgar Allan Poe-themed Halloween dinner party. Decorative birds (especially ravens), feather decor, and a themed menu make for an unforgettable evening.

Let playful vintage decor be the basis for a nostalgic Halloween party theme. Old-timey cutouts of black cats and jack-o'-lanterns transport guests back in time, while fresh pops of white, black, and orange make the scheme timeless. Your next Halloween theme get-together will be the cat's meow!

Grown-up activities and focusing on Halloween's mischievous (not menacing) side make for a fun adult Halloween party. We have dozens of free downloadable patterns to make pulling together the Halloween party theme easy: party signs, candy labels, and theme tags.

Set the scene for a spooky soiree in your own backyard with easy outdoor Halloween party decorations. This Halloween theme party uses eye-catching paper fans, a banner spelling "potions," grab-and-go food, and painted pumpkins propped against thrifty tables. Everything you need for a wonderful welcome!

Inquiring minds want to know: How are you celebrating this Halloween? Bring together scientists of all ages for a crime-scene investigator evening. Think of this Halloween party idea as a less scary version of a murder mystery party. This Halloween party theme includes food and drink formulas your guests are sure to love.

Who doesn't want to don a mad hatter's Halloween costume? Host an eccentric Halloween-themed party modeled after the teatime soiree from Lewis Carroll's classic childhood tale. The festivities include dramatic decor, funky food, and eccentric entertainment sure to wow your guests. Encourage your guests to dress as their favorite characters.

Invite friends to celebrate this Halloween theme in full Gothic regalia. Usher in the spooky vibes with haunted house-worthy Halloween party decorations and a ghoul-inspired buffet. Inspire your guests with ghoulish cocktails, adorned menus, and an over-the-top costume.

Come one! Come all! Step right up for a good time at this carnival-themed Halloween party. These Halloween party ideas include traditional carnival games with a spooky twist and favorite treats from the midway. So who's ready for popcorn?

Lights, camera, action! Be a star at this Halloween theme party. Invite guests to dress like movie stars and host an Oscars-style gala in their honor. Roll out a red carpet for guests to walk as they enter, and be sure to send them home with Halloween-themed swag bags.

Halloween fun is for all ages! Invite both adults and kids to celebrate together with cute Halloween party decorations and a buffet composed of easy-to-make yet delicious foods, like mummy dogs. This Halloween party theme keeps it simple, family-friendly, and fun.

The bride wore...fright! Poke fun at tradition by putting an ominous spin on wedding customs with a creepy Halloween theme wedding-reception party. Party decorations can be black and white takes on Halloween classics, like pumpkins and skeletons.

A unique color palette and harvest-themed accents make these Halloween party ideas a standout. Natural neutrals like green, white, and brown mix with the traditional pop of orange for a cheerful Halloween party setting. Plenty of sweets and fun party decorations will enchant and delight guests as they gather around the table.

Halloween celebrations don't have to be spooky to be spectacular! The monsters at this Halloween party are definitely more fun than frightening. Our monster Halloween party ideas include fun treats, cute decorations, and simple activities that make it the perfect Halloween party theme for younger kids.

Host an adults-only masquerade party if you're looking for a classy way to celebrate Halloween with your friends. A wine-and-champagne corner follows the Halloween party theme, while the candlelit buffet table feels posh decked out in black and gold. Don't be afraid of the classic Halloween kitsch—add a few dolled-up pumpkins to your party decorations.