Transform your dining table into a spooky, fun, and festive scene with these simple tips for styling a Halloween tablescape.
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7 Simple Tips for Styling a Boo-tiful Halloween Tablescape
I love any excuse to set a pretty table, and Halloween is no different. Even though I don’t go over the top with spooky decorations, I like to add a few simple touches that make the season feel fun.
Creating a Halloween tablescape is an easy way to add a bit of seasonal charm to your home. And the best part is you don’t need special dishes or a big budget to style a spooktacularly fun and festive table setting. With a few easy staple pieces and some creative decor, you can turn your dining room table into something your family and friends will love.
So grab your favorite drink and let’s chat about some easy Halloween tablescape ideas you can try this year. I’m sharing seven simple tips for styling a ghoulishly fun and boo-tiful Halloween tablescape that feels festive, welcoming, and just the right amount of spooky.
Table of Contents
- 7 Simple Tips for Styling a Boo-tiful Halloween Tablescape
- Layer Fabrics for a Haunted Halloween Tablescape
- Create a Hauntingly Beautiful Halloween Place Setting
- Make DIY Place Cards with an Eerie Touch
- Create Your Own Halloween-Themed Napkins
- Create a Boo-tiful DIY Halloween Centerpiece
- Add Rustic Details to Your Halloween Tablescape
- Cast a Spellbinding Glow with Candles
- Shop The Post
- More Halloween Posts You’ll Love
- Final Thoughts on Styling a Boo-tiful Halloween Tablescape
- More Halloween Tablescape Ideas from My Friends
- Did You Enjoy this Post? PIN It for Later!
Layer Fabrics for a Haunted Halloween Tablescape
Using gauzy linen is a simple and affordable way to set the stage for your spooky and boo-tiful Halloween table decor.
I layered a piece of this black Halloween cloth over a basic white tablecloth to create the foundation of my Halloween table setting.
The gauze’s lightweight and see-through nature immediately gives any tablescape a spooky and haunted feel, while the dark color adds a dramatic touch.
Although I decided to skip it for this table, you could add an extra layer to your spooky tablescape by placing a table runner down the center.
Hosting Tip
When I host, I like to set the table the night before. It saves me time on party day and helps me spot anything I might have forgotten.
Create a Hauntingly Beautiful Halloween Place Setting
When it comes to styling an eye-catching Halloween tablescape, remember that layering is one of the most essential tips!
Get creative with your decor items and don’t be afraid to experiment with different materials and textures.
Once I draped my table with gauze, I used my favorite wicker chargers as the foundation for each place setting.
To add depth, I then placed these simple black chargers on top of the wicker ones.
I opted for my everyday cream-colored stoneware dishes with rusty orange fringed napkins placed between the plates.
For a touch of elegance, I used gold silverware to complement the darker and moody elements of the tablescape.
To complete the look, I added vintage-style amber glasses, which add a charming and antique feel to the table that works well with the Halloween theme.
Styling Tip
If you’re serving wine or cocktails, add wine glasses to your place settings. They instantly make the table feel more elegant and work well for mocktails or sparkling water, too!
Make DIY Place Cards with an Eerie Touch
DIY place cards are a cost-effective and simple way to add a personal touch to your Halloween tablescape.
I designed these spooky place cards in Canva by printing raven images on vintage book pages and adding each guest’s name in a Halloween-themed font.
Then, I burned the edges to give them a more worn and aged look.
These DIY place cards might just be my favorite part of my Halloween table setting. They turned out even better than envisioned!
(Don’t you love it when a DIY project works out?)
And the best part is they didn’t cost me a dime to make!
Create Your Own Halloween-Themed Napkins
Creative napkin folds are a great way to add a touch of whimsy to your Halloween tablescape.
You can try making spooky shapes like bats, pumpkins, or DIY ghost napkins.
In less than 5 minutes, I whipped up four of these super simple ghost napkins for my Halloween tablescape using just three supplies: white fringed napkins, small foam balls, and some twine.
Because they’re so easy to make, they’re great for crafters of all skill levels.
These ghost-shaped napkins add a playful touch to any table, and their simplicity makes them a perfect last-minute addition to your Halloween decor.
Create a Boo-tiful DIY Halloween Centerpiece
Number five on my list of tips for styling a Halloween tablescape is all about one of my favorite things…centerpieces!
A Halloween centerpiece is the focal point of your table setting, and it can help to create a festive look and feel.
You can’t go wrong with pumpkins or a bouquet of beautiful fall flowers. But if you’re feeling crafty, this DIY ghost centerpiece is the perfect addition to any Halloween tablescape.
This DIY project is a dupe for the popular Pottery Barn ghost cloche.
Made with cheesecloth and just a few basic supplies, I made my cheesecloth ghosts for a fraction of the cost! It’s great if you’re looking for quick and easy Halloween decorating ideas.
This is one fall craft anyone can do, plus, this DIY ghost is perfect for adding an adorably spooky touch to your Halloween decor.
Fairy lights add to the ambiance, and a khaki-colored velvet ribbon tied on the glass cloche coordinates with the napkins from the place settings.
An artificial pumpkin and pip berry garland displayed down the center of your table adds another touch of color to your Halloween tablescape.
With mini dried pumpkins and berries in fall orange hues, it ties in well with other vintage or rustic Halloween decor accents.
More DIY Halloween Centerpiece Ideas
If ghosts aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other ways to create a fun and festive focal point for your table. A few of my favorites are:
Add Rustic Details to Your Halloween Tablescape
Speaking of vintage accents, consider using vintage decor like old books throughout your Halloween tablescape.
Stack books to create more layers, or use your books as a base to add height to vintage brass candlesticks.
Entertaining essentials like a wooden charcuterie board or bowls can serve as Halloween table decor, too. A rustic board makes the perfect serveware for my Pumpkin Cheese Ball, and a small ceramic black cauldron bowl is a fun way to offer snacks.
Try filling it with my Halloween Monster Munch Trail Mix for a treat that doubles as decor and fits right in with your Halloween theme.
Styling Tip
When it comes to serving utensils for your Halloween tablescape, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Skeleton hand tongs are a playful way to serve a side dish or salad, and they bring just the right mix of spooky and elegant to the table.
Cast a Spellbinding Glow with Candles
Candlelight is a magical way to add ambiance to any tablescape, but it is especially enchanting at Halloween.
The flickering flames create a sense of mystery, and the warm glow casts a spellbinding ambiance over the table.
Mix and match the colors, shapes, and sizes of the candlestick holders for an eclectic look.
And hang battery-operated floating candles from the chandelier above your table for an extra spooky touch.
Shop The Post
Want to recreate this look at home? I’ve linked all the finds I used in this post below! Please know that sometimes things sell out quickly, so if something isn’t available anymore, I’ve linked a similar item that you might love just as much. Happy shopping!
Halloween Tablescape Sources:
More Halloween Posts You’ll Love
If you love this Halloween table setting, you might also enjoy some of my other spooky favorites.
Final Thoughts on Styling a Boo-tiful Halloween Tablescape
Thanks for stopping by!
I hope these Halloween tablescape ideas inspire you to style your own boo-tiful and elegant Halloween tablescape.
As always, don’t forget to see the rest of my friends’ creative and fun Halloween tablescape ideas. You can see all the posts below with more tips and inspiration for hosting an adult Halloween party.
And don’t miss our full Halloween party menu, including my recipe for a festive pumpkin-shaped cheese ball!
Happy haunting hosting!
More Halloween Tablescape Ideas from My Friends
Wait, there’s even more elegant Halloween tablescapes for you to see!
I’ve partnered with my friends from our virtual supper club to bring you additional Halloween tablescape ideas, perfect for planning and hosting your own Halloween dinner party.
Simply click on the links below to see more tablescapes for Halloween.
Vintage Home Designs | Midwest Life and Style | Simply 2 Moms
The Ponds Farmhouse | WM Design House | Bricks ‘n Blooms
Did You Enjoy this Post? PIN It for Later!
Hi Jen! This is such an adorable tablescape! Your ghost in a cloche is amazing! I will share this with my readers on Saturday in my Seasonal Sentiments Monthly Rewind Newsletter! I hope you have a wonderful Fall!
Thank you so much, Donna. I appreciate it and I look foward to reading the newsletter.
This is awesome, Jen. So many great ideas. I love it.
Thank you so much, Renae. I’m glad you stopped by to say hi. Happy fall, friend!
Jen
Everything about your table is amazing. I love the creativity. The place cards and the ghost napkins are inspiring. Such a great table setting.
Thank you, Rachel. I had so much fun letting the creativity flow when styling this table. I think the place cards are one of my favorite details on the tablescape. I’m so glad you enjoy them too!
Super cute tablescape. So many cute ideas. Happy Fall, my friend.
Thank you, Renae. This ranks near the top of my favorite tablescapes. It so much fun to style. I’m glad you like it too!
Wow! Love the floating candles!
Thank you, Stacy. I found them on Amazon and knew I had to have them. They are too perfect for Halloween!
Your table looks so cute…love the burned edges on the name tag, the hanging candles look spooky, your plates look awesome and love everything on that table. I’ll bet your family loves it too.
Hi Leisa,
Thank you so much for stopping by. I appreciate your kind words. I had so much fun styling this Halloween table. My family enjoys it too…especially when I turn the candles on at night.
Jen, your table is adorable! I especially love the name cards, so creative and that little ghost under the glass is adorable. Thank you for having me as a guest this month.
Thank you, Wendy. The place cards were one of my favorite details on the table. And so easy to make! I need to create a printable to share. And I’ll be sharing the details on my DIY ghost centerpiece soon.
So happy you could join us for the party this month. I hope you can do it again soon.
Jen this is such an amazing Halloween table from the ghost centerpiece with the berry garlands to the cobwebs off in the distance to the beautiful place settings full of texture. The DIY place cards are my favorite part of your tablescape too! Great job!!
Hi AnnMarie,
I had so much fun styling this table. I loved the opportunity to really dive into the theme and go all out! I’m so glad you like the place cards. I think they are my favorite detail on the table, too!
Happy Halloween!
For someone who doesn’t really do Hallowe’en, you nailed it. Just beautiful and the name/place cards make such a statement and the cloche ghost…….marvellous!! I am a Hallowe’en fan and hosting a Ghoul-friends supper and going to shamelessly steal all of your ideas!! Already making the cheese ball for Thanksgiving and going to do it again for Hallowe’en. Thanks so much for the terrific ideas……you are one talented lady!!
Well, goodness. Thank you for your kind and wonderful words. I am so glad you love the table as much as I do. It was so fun to create and I think it would be so fun for your ghoul-friends supper. I love that name too…so clever!
I hope you have a spooktacular party!
Oh my gosh, this is so cute! Love everything about it. The ghost under the cloche, the book page place cards, the ghost tied napkins, everything! Hope you had a ton of fun at dinner that night.
Thank you so much, Cindy! The might be one of my favorite tablescapes. It was so much fun to style, and my girls love it! I’ll be sad when I have to take it all down.
Jen!! I swear your tablescapes get even better…which I didn’t know was possible.
This is ADORABLE and SO festive for the holiday!! LOVE those amber colored glasses and the centerpiece is amazingly clever!!
Hi Rachel,
THANK YOU for your incredibly kind words. I am so glad you love the table as much as I do. At first, I wasn’t too sure how to style a Halloween tablescape, but once I got started I had so much fun pulling all the details together.
The amber-colored glasses are one of my new favorites. I think I’ll use them for Thanksgiving too. The color is perfect for the season.
Happy fall, friend!