Halloween Tree Decorations: 27 Spooky Ideas for Your 2026 Tree
Halloween tree decorations turn an ordinary artificial tree into a spooky October centrepiece: baubles swapped for mini pumpkins, fairy lights glowing purple and orange, a witch’s hat where the angel would sit. It is one of the biggest decorating trends of 2026 — UK retailer Wilko reports September sales of artificial trees were 200% higher than a year earlier (Retail Gazette, October 2026).
The idea has even earned its own name: Halloweenmas — retailers borrowing Christmas traditions (trees, wreaths, ornaments) and giving them a ghoulish twist.
This guide covers everything: tree types, colour schemes, DIY versus shop-bought, a full budget breakdown, and where to buy Halloween tree decorations in the UK.
Key Takeaways
– A Halloween tree is an artificial tree (usually black, orange or bare twigs) decorated with spooky ornaments, lights and a themed topper.
– “Halloweenmas” is the UK’s fastest-growing seasonal trend: Halloween product listings rose over 500% in four years (Faire via Retail Gazette, October 2026).
– Start from under £10 with a tabletop LED tree, or go all-out with a full-size black tree for £40–£80.
– No rules — mix shop-bought baubles with homemade paper bats and felt pumpkins.
– A black tree can be restyled for Christmas afterwards, so it works twice as hard.
What Is a Halloween Tree?
A Halloween tree is an artificial tree decorated for Halloween instead of Christmas. Most are black, though orange, white and bare twig trees are popular too. People hang mini pumpkins, ghosts, bats, skulls and spiders, add purple or orange fairy lights, and finish with a spooky topper like a witch’s hat.
The concept comes from Christmas, but Halloween trees follow your imagination, not tradition. As Wilko puts it, “there really aren’t any rules with a Halloween tree” — go all-out or keep it simple (Retail Gazette, October 2026).
Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday, a better excuse for a proper display. Nearly half of those celebrating plan to decorate their homes, according to research firm IGD (via Retail Gazette, October 2026).
What Types of Halloween Tree Can You Buy?
There are four main types: tabletop LED spooky trees, full-size black artificial trees, bare twig trees, and coloured trees in orange or white. Tabletop trees suit small spaces. Full-size black trees make a dramatic statement. Twig trees are the cheapest and most DIY-friendly.
Tabletop LED Spooky Trees
These are the easiest way in: small black trees (20–60 cm) with built-in LED lights, usually battery-operated with a timer. Wilko sells a 60 cm Halloween LED tree for £7.99 — pop it on a mantelpiece or windowsill and switch it on each evening.
They are ideal if you are short on space or just want to test the trend. Many come pre-lit in orange and purple. One tip: check whether batteries are included — most budget LED trees need AAs, sold separately.
Full-Size Black Artificial Trees
For maximum impact, buy a full-size black artificial Christmas tree — typically 4 ft to 7.5 ft — and dress it for Halloween instead. UK retailers like Christmas Tree World now sell Halloween trees directly, and any black Christmas tree works as a Halloween backdrop.
A black tree is the most versatile choice because it does double duty. Once Halloween is over, restyle it with Christmas baubles and it carries you through to January. Black suits every Christmas colour scheme, from red and gold to silver and white.
Expect to pay £30 to £80 for a decent 6 ft black tree, depending on fullness and whether it comes pre-lit.
Bare Twig Trees and Branches
Twig trees are the budget hero of Halloween decorating: bare branches — black, white or natural — in a vase or weighted base. Buy ready-made or make your own from garden prunings sprayed black.
They suit a minimalist spooky look: hang a few paper bats, drape fake cobwebs, add orange fairy lights. Hobbycraft suggests DIY spiderwebs from lolly sticks and felt pumpkins for twig trees — cheap and effective.
A shop-bought twig tree costs £10–£20. A DIY one from the garden costs almost nothing.
Orange and White Trees
Orange trees scream Halloween without much help — add black and purple ornaments and you’re done. White trees give a ghostly haunted-forest feel, especially with purple or green lights. Both photograph well, though they’re less common than black trees so you may need to shop around.
How Much Do Halloween Tree Decorations Cost?
A basic Halloween tree setup costs £10 to £25, a well-dressed medium tree £30 to £60, and a full-size statement tree £80 to £150. The tree itself is the biggest cost; ornaments and lights are cheap.
| Setup level | Tree | Ornaments | Lights | Topper | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget tabletop | £8 (60 cm LED tree, Wilko) | £2–£5 (paper decorations) | Included | Skip or DIY | £10–£15 |
| Medium DIY | £10–£20 (twig tree) | £5–£10 (homemade + a few bought) | £5 (battery fairy lights) | £3–£8 | £25–£40 |
| Full-size statement | £30–£80 (black tree 6 ft) | £15–£30 (bauble sets) | £8–£15 | £8–£20 | £60–£145 |
Money-saving tips that actually work:
- Buy a black tree, not a “Halloween” tree. Plain black artificial trees are often cheaper than ones marketed for Halloween, and identical.
- Reuse Christmas lights. Orange and purple strings cost £5, but warm white fairy lights you already own work fine with coloured baubles.
- Go DIY for fillers. Paper bats, cheesecloth ghosts and pom-pom garlands cost pennies and fill gaps between shop-bought ornaments.
- Shop Etsy UK for toppers. Handmade Halloween tree toppers start around £2.50, with designs the big retailers don’t stock.
What Colour Schemes Work Best for Halloween Trees?
The five colour schemes that work best are classic orange and black, purple and green, monochrome gothic, candy pastel, and natural autumn. Orange and black is the safest. Purple and green gives a witchy feel. Monochrome looks expensive. Pastel is playful. Natural autumn suits a rustic home.
Classic Orange and Black
The can’t-go-wrong combination. Orange ornaments on a black tree, or black on orange — either way it reads “Halloween” instantly. Add warm white or orange fairy lights. Cheerful rather than creepy, so it suits families decorating with kids.
Purple and Green Witchy
Purple and green is the colour of witches, potions and haunted forests. It looks magical on a black tree, especially with green or purple LEDs instead of plain white. Add hanging witches’ hats and crescent moons for maximum atmosphere.
Monochrome Gothic
Black, white and silver only. Skulls, ravens, black roses, silver baubles, white fairy lights. Genuinely elegant — more haunted manor than party shop. It photographs beautifully, suits a grown-up Halloween dinner party, and transitions neatly to a chic Christmas look.
Candy Pastel
Pink, lilac, mint and baby blue with cute ghosts and candy corn. The “spooky cute” look is huge on social media. Perfect for kids’ bedrooms or anyone who finds traditional Halloween decor a bit grim.
Natural Autumn
Dried leaves, pinecones, wooden ornaments, warm amber lights. Rustic and cosy rather than spooky. Wooden Halloween baubles — pumpkins, bats and haunted houses laser-cut from sustainable wood — fit this scheme and are widely sold by UK craft sellers on Etsy.
Should You DIY or Buy Your Halloween Tree Decorations?
Do both: buy the statement pieces (tree, lights, topper) and DIY the fillers (paper bats, ghosts, garlands). Shop-bought saves time and looks polished; DIY saves money and adds personality.
Easy DIY Halloween Tree Decorations
These all cost under £5 in materials:
- Paper bats. Fold black card in half, cut a bat shape, unfold, hang with thread. Twenty bats in half an hour.
- Cheesecloth ghosts. Drape muslin over a small ball, tie with string under the “head”, draw eyes with marker. Hang at different heights.
- Pom-pom garland. Thread orange and black pom-poms onto string and drape around the tree.
- Lolly-stick spiderwebs. Glue lolly sticks into a web shape, wrap with white string, add a plastic spider.
- Felt pumpkins. Cut two pumpkin shapes from orange felt, glue together, stuff lightly, add a green stem.
Get kids involved — wonky homemade decorations have more charm than perfect shop-bought ones.
Best Shop-Bought Halloween Tree Decorations
- Bauble sets. Shatterproof plastic baubles in Halloween designs cost £8–£15 for 30–60 pieces. Light, safe around kids and pets, reusable for years.
- Hanging ornaments. Mini witches’ hats, ghosts and bats on strings, £5–£10 per pack.
- Tree toppers. The finishing touch. Etsy UK has hundreds, from a £2.50 mini ghost to elaborate £30+ designs.
- Tree skirts. A black or orange skirt hides the base and makes the display look finished. Around £8–£12.
Where Can You Buy Halloween Tree Decorations in the UK?
The best UK shops are Wilko (budget trees), Christmas Tree World (full-size trees), Etsy UK (handmade toppers and ornaments), Hobbycraft (DIY supplies), Amazon UK (bauble sets) and Tesco (convenience). Start with Wilko or a supermarket for the tree, then Etsy for the pieces with personality.
- Wilko — the budget champion. Its 60 cm black LED Halloween tree costs £7.99, and Wilko named Halloween trees one of its biggest trends for 2026. Check stock early; popular lines sell out in October.
- Christmas Tree World — the specialist. Sells Halloween trees, wreaths and garlands, plus black Christmas trees that double as Halloween trees. Good advice on restyling for Christmas afterwards.
- Etsy UK — the personality shop. Hundreds of UK sellers offer handmade Halloween tree toppers (£2.50–£58), mini ornaments and wooden baubles. Order by mid-October.
- Hobbycraft — the DIY headquarters. Everything for homemade decorations: felt, card, lolly sticks, paint, string lights, plus free online guides.
- Amazon UK — the one-stop shop. Huge range of bauble sets, LED trees and ornament packs, often with next-day delivery for last-minute decorators.
- Tesco and other supermarkets — the convenient option. YouGov research found Tesco was the most popular UK destination for Halloween products in 2025 (33% of shoppers). Expect a small seasonal range from late September.
- The Range and Home Bargains — worth checking for discounted decorations, especially in the final week before Halloween when prices drop.
A note on timing: buy the tree in September if you can. Wilko’s September tree sales were 200% up year-on-year, which tells you other shoppers are buying early — the best stock goes first.
How Do You Decorate a Halloween Tree Step by Step?
Decorate in six steps: assemble and position the tree, add lights, hang garlands, place large ornaments, fill with small ornaments, and finish with the topper. Work from the inside out and step back regularly to check the balance.
- Assemble and fluff. Put the tree together and spread the branches — allow 30–45 minutes for a 6 ft tree. Place it where it will be seen: hallway, living room corner or front window.
- Add lights first. Wrap fairy lights from the top down, weaving them inside the branches so cables hide. Battery-operated LEDs with a timer are easiest.
- Drape garlands. Fake cobweb fabric, pom-pom garlands or bead strands go on next. Drape loosely rather than wrapping tightly.
- Hang large ornaments. Place your biggest pieces first — large pumpkins, statement skulls, witches’ hats — spacing them evenly around the tree.
- Fill the gaps. Add smaller baubles, paper bats and hanging ghosts to fill bare spots. Odd numbers look more natural than even ones.
- Crown it. Add the tree topper last, step back, and adjust anything unbalanced. Finish with a tree skirt to hide the base.
Common mistakes: hanging everything at the front (walk around the tree), using only one size of ornament (mix large and small), and overloading weak branches — twig trees especially, so keep heavy items low.
How Do You Store and Reuse Your Halloween Tree?
Pack ornaments in tissue paper, coil lights loosely, and store the tree in its box somewhere dry. Better still, keep the black tree up and restyle it for Christmas — that is what many Halloweenmas fans do.
After 31 October, strip the pumpkins and bats, add red and gold (or silver and white) baubles, swap the topper, and you have a Christmas tree without buying a second one. Christmas Tree World specifically recommends this: a Halloween or black tree can stay up from October through January rather than being packed away after one night.
Good Halloween decorations last for years, so keep them. Shatterproof plastic baubles are the best investment because they survive the loft. Store delicate handmade pieces in a separate rigid box so they don’t get crushed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Halloween tree?
A Halloween tree is an artificial tree decorated for Halloween instead of Christmas. Most are black, orange or bare twigs, dressed with spooky ornaments like mini pumpkins, ghosts, bats and skulls, plus themed lights and a topper. The trend, nicknamed “Halloweenmas” in the UK, borrows Christmas decorating traditions for October.
When should you put up a Halloween tree?
Put your Halloween tree up in late September or early October. Retail data shows shoppers buy earlier each year — Wilko’s September tree sales were 200% up year-on-year in 2026. Putting it up early means you enjoy it for a full month, not just one night.
How much does a Halloween tree cost in the UK?
A budget setup costs £10–£15 (Wilko’s 60 cm LED tree is £7.99 plus a few decorations). A full-size 6 ft black tree with baubles, lights and topper typically costs £60–£145. A plain black tree plus DIY decorations keeps you at the lower end.
Can you use a Christmas tree as a Halloween tree?
Yes — a black artificial Christmas tree makes an ideal Halloween tree. Decorate it with Halloween ornaments, purple or orange lights and a spooky topper. After Halloween, restyle it with Christmas decorations and keep it up through December. It is the most economical option.
Where is the best place to buy Halloween tree decorations?
Wilko is best for budget trees, Christmas Tree World for full-size specialist trees, Etsy UK for handmade toppers and unique ornaments, Hobbycraft for DIY supplies, and Amazon UK for fast delivery. Supermarkets stock a small seasonal range from late September.
Are Halloween trees just for kids?
No. Halloween trees are increasingly an adult decorating trend. Monochrome gothic schemes — black, white and silver with skulls and ravens — suit dinner parties, and many decorators treat it as “Halloweenmas”: a month-long, low-pressure festive season for grown-ups too.
How do you make DIY Halloween tree decorations?
The easiest DIY decorations are paper bats cut from black card, cheesecloth ghosts draped over small balls, pom-pom garlands in orange and black, and lolly-stick spiderwebs wrapped in string. All cost under £5 in materials from any craft shop, and they fill gaps between shop-bought ornaments nicely.
Conclusion
Halloween tree decorations have grown from a niche novelty into one of the UK’s biggest seasonal trends — and it is easy to see why. A Halloween tree is fun to decorate, cheap to start, and, if you buy black, pulls double duty at Christmas. Go spooky, go cute, go gothic, or mix all three.
Start simple this year: a small LED tree, orange lights and a handful of ornaments is enough. Next October, you’ll probably want the full-size one.
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