I’ve hosted a Harry Potter halloween party multiple years in a row, so I have a little experience with trying to skew my halloween decor more toward the magical side. It’s a lot of fun to get creative and channel something a little more unique than the usual. Here are a few items and tips I think would be really helpful in creating a little magic in your home this fall!
Plus, if you want to get in the Harry Potter Halloween spirit, make sure to check out this YouTube video I filmed of the Harry Potter Halloween party I hosted two years ago!
Tips
Think about the books/universe before you decorate- Okay, the biggest tip I have is simple but important. Don’t buy decor items that you wouldn’t find in the Harry Potter universe. Cheesy character animals, haunted mansions, kitchy skeletons, none of that really fits the canon. It can throw off the Harry Potter vibe so fast! Try leaning more toward the items I include below and when in doubt, stick to a more natural color pallet.
Shop in person- After browsing the internet hardcore, I had so much trouble finding things online. I would highly recommend going to stores like Home Goods, At home, TJ Maxx, etc. It’s just better to see things in person to get an idea of how well they will fit in with your decor!
Repurpose things you already have- The best part of Harry Potter decor is the films’ setting in the “real world.” This means you can use things you have in everyday life to spice things up. Try looking at your cake stands, books you already own, blankets, etc. to take things up a notch.
Use the books- I can’t recommend this enough, use all the Harry Potter books you have at your disposal to make things obviously Harry Potter. I mean, why not?
Items
Paper bats + Paper spiders- These truly add the biggest pop to my Halloween decor. I think this will be my third year using them, and I love that these packs are so affordable and can be reused over and over! You may have to play around a little bit with the pattern and how you hang them, but I promise it’s not hard. I just use tape to adhere mine to the wall, and it lasts really well without messing up paint (mine at least!). You may want to test the tape out on your paint before doing an entire set.
Potions bottles- I couldn’t find an affordable online outlet to link these, but if you see any in stores like at home, home goods, hobby lobby, etc- definitely go for these. Snape’s potions dungeon is a total ~vibe~
Spell books, Candles + Candle Sticks– Candle sticks and tapered candles are an up and coming home decor trend, and I am so here for it.
Crows, Birds, Owls, etc.- I always think Harry Potter lends to the more natural colors of Halloween (avoiding purple, orange, etc!), and any kind of birds or animals really make big headway in conveying the HP theme. I found these Book Ends and think they would fit super well.
Harry Potter branded items- patterned plates, patterned napkins, spell plates – These are all a splurge, but I think they are really special items you can keep forever. I have the spell plates and even got two sets so i would not run out of them!
Herbology corner + Harry Potter font download- One of my favorite things is putting all my plants (real and faux) together in one corner and printing out a sign that says “Herbology” to make a little nod to Professor Sprout!
Framed print outs- Make sure to use the Harry Potter font download for this, but you can print out any saying or title in this font, frame it, and boom you have instant decor! You can even use frames you already have and just pop it in over your photos for the spooky season.
Leaky Cauldron corner- one year I bought some throw away black and white coffee cups and wrote “the leaky cauldron” on all of them, then stacked them by the coffee pot! I thought this was a fun and inexpensive way to add a big touch of the books.
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I love going the Harry Potter route for Halloween decoration because the possibilities are just endless. The only limitation is honestly just your own imagination, and I think with a few of these tips I have gathered in the past few years, we can all be off to a great start!!!
If anyone is getting close to the Christmas vibe and wanting to start shopping a little early, I did a post last year all about my mom’s Harry Potter Christmas tree (which she may or may not put up on Halloween and take down in March, ha!)
I hope you enjoyed this post, please tag me in any Instagram photos of your Harry Potter home decor, I would love to see!
