Hello Friends!
There are a few things I look forward to when the seasons change, and decorating our Halloween tree has become one of them.
Yes, we have a 12-foot Halloween tree. And yes, decorating it is every bit the project you might imagine!
I’ve always loved finding ways to make our home feel festive without compromising the style of the spaces we enjoy every day. For Halloween, that means a little unexpected fun, a few spooky details, and a look that still feels right at home.
This year, I brought back our skeleton-themed tree, keeping the design simple with oversized skulls, playful skeletons, skeletal hands, and black ornaments.
The result is dramatic, a little whimsical, and exactly what I envisioned.
STARTING WITH A BLANK CANVAS
Our 12-foot tree sits in the foyer, where the two-story ceiling gives it plenty of room to make a statement.
Its size alone creates a beautiful focal point, so I don’t feel the need to fill every branch with decorations.
Before anything goes on the tree, I spend time fluffing the branches and making sure it has a full, natural shape. It’s not the most exciting part of decorating, but it makes such a difference in the finished look.
And with a tree this tall, a little patience goes a long way!
A COLLECTION OF SPOOKY CHARACTERS
One of my favorite things about this tree is that the decorations don’t feel too serious.
There are skeletons climbing through the branches, skulls peeking out from the greenery, and skeletal hands appearing where you least expect them.
They’re playful without being overly themed, which is exactly the balance I wanted.
I started by pulling out the decorations and taking inventory of what I had before deciding where everything would go.
I love that these pieces have different shapes and sizes. Rather than hanging everything in neat, evenly spaced rows, I wanted the tree to feel as though the skeletons had found their own places among the branches.
Some are sitting. Others are reaching. A few seem to be making their way up the tree.
It’s those little details that make me smile.
PLACEMENT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
When decorating a tree this size, I like to work with the largest pieces first.
The oversized skeleton creates an unexpected moment along one side, while the smaller skeletons add movement throughout the tree.
I positioned them at different heights, allowing a few to sit naturally on the branches while others appear to climb or peek through the greenery.
The skulls came next. Instead of displaying them all the same way, I tucked them between branches at varying depths.
Some are more visible, while others are just noticeable enough to make someone look twice.
This is one of my favorite parts of decorating: stepping away, looking at the overall design, and making small adjustments until everything feels balanced.
Not necessarily symmetrical. Just intentional.
KEEPING THE COLOR PALETTE SIMPLE
For this year’s tree, I wanted the decorations themselves to be the focal point.
The greenery, ivory-colored skeletons, and black ornaments create all the contrast the design needs.
Rather than introducing additional colors, I used a mix of black ornaments to complement the skeletons and add a little depth throughout the tree.
I also intentionally left plenty of greenery visible.
It’s tempting to keep adding more, especially when decorating something as large as a 12-foot tree. But I’ve learned that sometimes the most beautiful finishing touch is knowing when to stop.
The negative space gives each skeleton, skull, and ornament an opportunity to stand out.
THE LITTLE DETAILS
While I love seeing the entire tree, some of my favorite moments are the ones you notice up close.
A little skeleton sitting between the branches with one arm raised.
A skull tucked into the greenery, almost as though it’s been hiding there all along.
Those details bring so much personality to the design without requiring elaborate decorations or additional layers.
And there’s something especially fun about creating a Halloween display that feels a little different each time you look at it.
A LITTLE SPOOKY, A LOT OF STYLE
After all the fluffing, arranging, repositioning, and stepping back to take another look, our Halloween tree is complete.
And I love how it turned out.
It’s simple, a little dramatic, and just playful enough for the season. More importantly, it feels like our home.
I think seasonal decorating should be an extension of your personal style. Whether you’re working with a few pumpkins on a countertop or a 12-foot tree filled with skeletons, the details should bring you joy.
Sometimes that means going all out. Other times, it means embracing a little restraint.
This year, the skeletons are making quite the statement all on their own.
Do you decorate for Halloween? And if you do, is your style more spooky, playful, or somewhere in between?
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