These Halloween lighting ideas can truly transform your decor, bringing warmth, charm, and an enchanting glow to your home. Whether you're aiming for a whimsical or retro vibe, lighting has the power to set the mood and tie your entire design together.
From playful jack-o'-lanterns to flickering candles, these ideas will brighten your Halloween in a fun and not-so-spooky way.
There are a lot of ideas out there on how to create a spooky atmosphere with outdoor lights to scare trick or treaters, but what about inside? I prefer a fun, whimsical approach to Halloween than a spooky one.
Let’s put a spot light on my favorite lighting tips, room by room, to help you create a festive atmosphere this season.
Halloween Lighting Ideas
There’s something magical about turning on your Halloween lights and settling in on the couch for your favorite show. The cozy glow of jack-o'-lanterns adds such a fun vibe! But did you know there are safer alternatives to real candles?
Today, I'll share how I light up all my Halloween decor, from budget-friendly finds to pricier pieces that are worth every penny. Let's check out these great indoor Halloween lighting ideas.
Entryway Halloween Lighting
In the entryway, I like to keep things simple yet charming. A vintage ceramic jack-o'-lantern steals the spotlight here. It’s the kind that reminds you of old-fashioned Halloween nights, lit from within by a classic nightlight.
It's the perfect spot for a warm glow that instantly invites guests in. The decor is minimal, but this single nostalgic piece sets the tone. Now, let's move to the living room where things get a bit more festive.
Living Room Halloween Lighting Ideas
In the living room, I like to play with layers of light, and I start with a battery-powered leaf garland draped across the mantel. The tiny string lights in the garland weave through the Halloween decor, pulling it all together.
This lighted leaf garland came from Hobby Lobby. It is so good until I used it more than once in the holiday decor.
This year my favorite lighting find is a set of jack-o'-lantern lights from Amazon.
These battery-operated beauties flicker with a soft, orangey glow, adding a warm, vintage feel. The come with a remote that has a timer and flicker and non-flicker options. I particularly love the flicker button.
I don't like using too much white light with a vintage-inspired theme so these Amazon lights are perfect with their warm glow.
These light fixtures are also perfect for hard-to-reach spots, like the stacked jack-o-lanterns topped with Moaning Martha the ghost. And the best part is that you don't have to worry about the kids being around real candles.
What do you think of Moaning Martha? LOL! She is super easy to make and you can find all the details in this how to make a ghost blog post.
Next, I sprinkle in Dollar Tree lights—both tea lights and votives—that fit inside smaller jack-o'-lanterns on the floor and the mantel shelf. Sure, you have to switch them on manually, but their glow is worth the effort and they are a fantastic budget-friendly option.
Another favorite are the battery-powered taper candles, also from Amazon. These have the same warm glow, perfect for Halloween’s cozy ambiance.
However, you may notice the real candle down front. I have not been able to find a battery powered option for this small candlestick holder so it gets a real candle. I love mixing in a real candle for the ambiance!
Next is this glass pumpkin I found at a yard sale that was never meant for lights. The trick? Check the bottom for felt, which you can remove to insert Dollar Tree fairy lights or orange string lights for an easy DIY centerpiece.
Lastly, I added window candles. The bases came from 612 Vermont but the candles inside are these Amazon battery-powered flames. I choose this candle because it fits the Halloween vibe of warm glowing lights.
These window candles creates a welcoming, vintage vibe for anyone passing by your home.
Speaking of the 612 Vermont bases they did come with battery powered candles, and they are so realistic, perfect for everyday lighting, but for Halloween, I traded them out for these orange-colored flames.
Stay tuned for Christmas when I light up the decor with 612 Vermont candles.
With the warm light flickering from the windows, it gives the front of the house a touch of magic.
Dining Room Halloween Lighting Ideas
Moving to the dining room, we kept things cozy yet playful. On the centerpiece, there’s another jack-o'-lantern perched on a piece of wood. It comes with its own light, radiating that classic Halloween warmth.
To frame it, I added brass candlestick holders with more of those glowing taper candles and layered in another pre-lit leaf garland. The effect is simple but so dramtically festive.
Bookcase Halloween Lighting
On the bookcases, I went for a Halloween minimalist touch. More Dollar Tree tea lights and votives fill the mini and small jack-o'-lanterns, casting a soft glow across the shelves.
Next are the larger Jack-o'-Lanterns that are currently holding pillar battery-powered candles from Dollar Tree. This is a perfect inexpensive option, but because I love the Amazon Jack-o'-Lantern lights, I have ordered more for all the larger Jacks. LOL!
The newest addition is a charming jack-o'-lantern garland from Aldi. The bulbs in each jack in these light strands light up with a soft orange twinkle, bringing the whole display to life. Now, let’s head into the kitchen.
Kitchen Halloween Lighting Ideas
In the kitchen, we have a small sitting room that always gets a bit of holiday flair, thanks to an easy-to-decorate wall of hooks. I’ve added another pre-lit leaf garland to one hook, creating an effortless yet charming look.
Did you spot something new on the wall since our last Jack-O'-Lantern Halloween home tour? I swapped it out for a fresh design from our Etsy shop! This retro Halloween art bundle of three prints adds such a fun touch.
Next on the table, there’s a retro candle with a glowing face, giving off that perfect vintage Halloween feel. I found him at a second hand store and after doing research it looks like he came from Hallmark.
On the opposite side of the room, I placed a battery-powered candle from Hobby Lobby inside a Libbey glass jack-o'-lantern. The warm light bounces around the jar, adding a nostalgic touch.
Next, I scattered more Dollar Tree tea lights inside the DIY air-dry clay ghosts I made last year.
The result is whimsical and fun, perfect for a retro Halloween theme.
Last, on the floor next to the hutch, there are two jack-o'-lanterns—one large and one smaller. The large one holds a mum inside, and to give it a warm glow, I placed a set of fairy lights at the base of the plant.
Turning the lights on is easy; I just pull out the battery box, switch it on, and slip the box back into the jack-o'-lantern’s mouth.
The smaller jack-o'-lantern is a new addition this year, complete with an old-style light in the back.
Since an outlet was hard to reach, I used a Ryobi inverter generator to power it up. With both glowing brightly, the sitting room now feels perfectly festive!
Conclusion
That wraps up all my whimsical Halloween lighting ideas. Whether it’s flickering candles, vintage jack-o'-lanterns, or fairy lights tucked into unexpected places, these touches can make your Halloween decor extra special.
If you're over skeletons, fake spiders, and tombstones in a graveyard look, try embracing a fun, whimsical Halloween theme and use a variety of lights to enhance the atmosphere.
Do you have any other great Halloween lighting ideas? Or did one of these light up your imagination? I'd love to hear what kind of lights you use at Halloween. Drop a comment and let me know!
For more Halloween inspiration, be sure to check out my other posts about Halloween decor.
Happy Decorating!
