Halloween Decorating Guide by Zodiac Sign

Yes, all of Haunt Jaunts’ ravening ghouls, goblins, and ghosties, Halloween is finally here! In celebration of the season, I’ve created a Halloween decorating guide (by your zodiac sign) to help you achieve the most spookalicious setting for all your spooky season festivities. Now, what are you waiting for—it’s time to start terrifying your neighborhood!

Disclaimer: These are mock horoscopes for entertainment only, and aren’t meant to represent any specific person (alive, anyway—I can’t speak for the ghosts and monsters and things that go bump in the night!). Feel free to borrow decorating tips from any of these signs, or share your own in the comments below!

Libra (September 23—October 22)

Libra will probably never be far from water, so whether they have a pool, or live by the ocean or a lake, they won’t be able to resist having a tropical celebration, even at Halloween. They’ll not only break out their black cats and flying witches on broomsticks, they’ll set up their tiki torches, make orange-and-black leis, hang fake cobwebs from palm fronds, and ensure their tiki bar is stocked with everything they need to make fruity drinks. (Yes, you can have yours with a paper umbrella!) Instead of pumpkins, the Libra will use pineapples, and there will be more neon-hued decorations than should ever be in one place at one time.

Signature (Spooky) Dish: Jello salad in spooky Halloween colors, and made in a bat mold!

Scorpio (October 23—November 21)

In the last set of horoscopes, we left the Scorpio high and dry in the desert. They enjoyed that locale so much, they’ve carried it over into their Halloween party. A party that may actually take place way out in the desert, at a location that defies GPS, and looks like a stage set out of Mad Max. Yes, that means there are definitely no glamping-style yurts. But there is a big bonfire, so pull up one of those rusty hunks of discarded metal and make yourself comfortable while the Scorpio outlines the events of the evening. First up: the off-road drag race! (You have life insurance, right?) Did the Scorpio mention that you’ll be building your own cars out of all this scrap metal? Just don’t wander too far away from the campfire; there are all kinds of hungry critters out there in the dark.

Signature (Spooky) Dish: Some charred hunks of mystery meat hanging over the fire (you probably don’t want to know what it is).

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

Sagittarius is so busy with their survivalist lifestyle, they can’t be bothered to put up any Halloween decorations. But their off-the-grid cabin will look spooky all year round, regardless. It’ll have herbs and plants hanging from the rafters, a homemade broom in the corner, and there’ll even be a stone fireplace with a cauldron bubbling above the flames. Even more fascinating will be the mysterious jars with paper labels that fill the rustic shelves. Outside, there’s a forest with gnarled trees poking through the mist. If the Sagittarius is all in as a witch, they’ll live at the edge of the swamp (hence the fog). And, if they’re not vegetarian, they’ll have decorated the outside of their cabin with animal bones from their hunts. At least, they might be animal bones. Probably better not to ask—that’s a pretty sharp machete above the fireplace.

Signature (Spooky) Dish: Something with eye of newt in it, perhaps? (But it’s probably just a nice, thick porridge seasoned with herbs and spices.)

Capricorn (December 22—January 19)

Is that a pumpkin on your coffee table, Capricorn, or is it a spacecraft from some futuristic world? Whatever that stylized object is, your autumnal decorating tastes will definitely embrace the minimalist aesthetic. At best, your color palette will be strictly black and white, though you may opt to walk on the wild side, and have a variety of hues in your livespace. All muted, of course, and as futuristic looking as your Cloud-City-esque gourd: steel blues, post-apocalyptic greys, arid browns, and perhaps even a daring rust-red accent here and there. Except for that coffee table, which is made from sturdy Lucite—a material both practical and futuristic in itself, especially at large parties where people still can’t figure out how to use a coaster properly.

Signature (Spooky) Dish: Ah, Capricorn, it’s a good thing it’s Halloween, because at least you can pull off your non-aesthetic-disrupting monochrome snacks. Grey, at least, can lend itself to tasty treats modeled after tombstones or zombie fingers, but this precise sign will probably opt for homemade fudge that they can cut into perfectly measured squares. And they can not only dye the fudge to match their décor, they can use it as building blocks to demonstrate some key engineering principles.

Aquarius (January 20—February 18)

Personally, I envision a classical style for Aquarius, but more streamlined. Maybe like a French Garden apartment with charming wee balconies, or an Italian winery with earthy stucco walls and furniture that, while still vintage, is similarly utilitarian. This melding of classical elegance and simplicity will create a like harmony in not only the Aquarian spirit, but in their mind as well. The interior will reflect this same balance between natural design (live plants, and nature art), and the tasteful creations by skilled craftspeople. So, like the Sagittarius, this sign may not be into the more commercial side of Halloween decorating, but they will have mementos that are deeply personal to them: a memory from the past, or of an ancestor, for example. And Aquarians will decorate this memory altar with the trappings of the season, or other found objects that seem spiritually significant.

Signature (Spooky) Dish: Pasta with squash, butter, garlic, and/or other seasonings to taste.

Pisces (February 19—March 20)

You know when you’re driving around looking at seasonal decorations, and you arrive at the house that has inflatables over every square inch of the yard? Yep, that’s where a Pisces lives! While, admittedly, the fantastical inflatables may be a little garish even for Pisces, they can’t resist adding more each year. They’ll begin to feel like they are living in that magical kingdom they’ve always dreamed of, and each new inflatable becomes a beloved companion of that imagined world. Witches, pumpkins, ghosts, owls, dragons, cats—all these, and more will (over)populate the Piscean’s Halloween dream. It’s made even better with sparkling purple or orange lights and spooky music, of course. The only flaw in this amazing world is when it all has to come down after Halloween is over. But the dreamy Pisces has the winter holidays to look forward to, and a whole new selection of inflatables to buy!

Signature (Spooky) Dish: Fluffy rice crispie treats decorated with all things Halloween.

Aries (March 20—April 19)

Like Scorpio, Aries will soak up every gruesome, terrifying drop from this spooky holiday. They’ll create the most graphic, disturbing front-yard Halloween display they can imagine. There definitely won’t be any cutesy inflatables here! While they tend to return to the same themes every year—death, torture, dismemberment, zombies, cemeteries, and lots and lots of heavy metal—they’ll still come up with new levels of gore to splatter around their decorations. Parents, or their children, rather, will brave the terrifying display, because the Aries always has the best candy on the block. After all the trick-or-treaters have gone home, though, you’ll find the Aries curled up on the sofa with their pet(s), watching horror movies. Well, as much as they can watch through their splayed, and slightly shaky, fingers.

Signature (Spooky) Dish: Craft ale with the flavors of the season. And lots of popcorn.

Taurus (April 20—May 20)

Taurus will be universally traditional all the way down to the harvest swags and wreaths, carved jack o’lanterns, scarecrows, and other country chic decorations. After they reap their actual harvest, they’ll get their tractor prepped for hay rides, make sure the pumpkin patch is selfie-ready, and who could forget the time-honored corn- or hay-bale maze? Certainly not the steadfast Taurus. While they love to give back to their community, their actual Halloween celebration will be just for their close friends and family. They’ll prepare such a large feast that the orange candles and the wooden acorns will have to be cleared off the table just to make room for the feast.

Signature (Spooky) Dish: Turkey (or Tofurky), potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie—and lots and lots of hot apple cider!

Gemini (May 21—June 20)

There’s probably only one word that can sum up Gemini’s Halloween style, and that’s kitsch! They’ll take that over-the-top aesthetic and mash it up with something completely contradictory. At first glance, their house may look like the Easter Bunny paid it a visit; well, if the fuzzy bunny suddenly decided to go for a walk on the dark side. Cross-stitch hangings with creepy sayings or macabre images, for example, or handmade zombie dolls woven from pastel yarns. And who wouldn’t love the draped cobwebs with fluffy pink and baby blue spiders hanging from the strands?

Signature (Spooky) Dish: Deceptively innocent pastel-frosted shortbread or powdered sugar cookies with blood-red jam tucked into the middle. Throw some eyeball-ice cubes in that pink lemonade, and the Gemini has the quirky Halloween party of their fondest nightmares!

Cancer (June 21—July 22)

Cancer feels so comfortable during this mystic time of the year that they may even come out of their shell long enough to host their own dinner party. Fortunately, Cancer’s livespace is already suitably spooky and sinister, as they’re living in a Victorian-esque house known to all their neighbors as the “Witch House”. Cancer’s yard is tangled and overgrown; and the interior of their house is equally as gloomy. Thick drapes hang from all the windows, the walls are dark, and the curio cabinets are packed with unusual artifacts. Every room is filled with imposing antiques, and ghosts seem to be hiding in the shadows. In preparation for their dinner party, Cancers will make an attempt to clear away the cobwebs and they’ll serve the meal on their best vintage china, although it may be hard for guests to see what they’re eating. The dining room is, after all, only lit by the candelabras artistically arranged on the tables and the sideboards.

Signature (Spooky) Dish: A hearty stew, followed by a delicious pudding. And a good strong cup of tea to fortify the guests before the Cancer sends them out into the cold night. Don’t worry, it’s not poisoned…maybe!

Leo (July 23—August 22)

Even during the Halloween season, Leo never sacrifices their intrinsic sense of style. They’ll be on trend, or even ahead of the fashion- and interior-design curve. They’ll bring in olive greens, corals, and pale golds to add a subtle bit of autumn warmth that won’t clash with the pre-existing neutral palettes of their country modern home. Leos will solely be focused on making their interior spaces seasonal (as opposed to decorating the outside of their homes) as they reserve their stylish seasonal showcase for their specially selected guests.

Signature (Spooky) Dish: To go over each and every menu item the Leo will have on their party menu would take up all the space here (which the Leo wouldn’t mind), but the Leo will have unique twists on staple foodstuffs served at this time of year. They may serve enchiladas stuffed with pumpkin, Gouda, and a hint of chile or roasted corn with mango and a selection of savory greens.

Virgo (August 23—September 22)

Normally quiet and reserved, prim Virgo will seize the Halloween season to let all their guts hang out, and maybe even some brains, too! Their livespace (and their yard, too, if they have one) will not only be decorated from top to bottom, but will be a fully immersive experience that this industrious sign has worked on all year. They may even go so far as to turn their party locale into one extensive escape room, replete with not only the most depraved individuals from history or movies/books (serial killers, mass murderers, black widows, etc.) but also a long series of really elaborate puzzles. These complex clues may serve a dual purpose, and is probably the only time the Virgo ever gets up to any sort of subterfuge—in that they use this event to keep their company around as long as possible.

Signature (Spooky) Dish: Elaborately decorated candy apples. They’re healthy—well, the apple part is, anyway!

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Are you ready for Halloween?