Harvest or Halloween: Outdoor Lighting Ideas for Fall

Some of us love changing our outdoor decor to match the seasons or celebrate a particular holiday. Now is the time of year when our annuals share their last blooms, and we are swapping out our peonies for mums.

Whether your vibe is spooky or cozy, there are plenty of outdoor landscape and lighting options to match your style.

Let’s get going.

Halloween is Your Favorite Holiday

For you, Christmas is lovely, but you’d rather hang out with Jack Skellington than Santa Claus. You love scary movies, and pumpkins are for carving, not lattes. Here are some of the best lighting ideas for transforming your yard into a spooky spectacle:

String lights are a versatile option for your Halloween decor. LED string lights can be draped over bushes, hung from trees, or outline your porch. Flickering lights mimic candlelight and add a touch of mystery.

Lanterns add an old-world charm (think Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman). You can position them along walkways and staircases or hang them from shepherd’s hooks to guide your guests to your doorstep (if they dare to step inside).

Choose rustic metal lanterns with black or dark finishes and fill them with battery-operated LED candles. For a ghostly garden theme, consider placing lanterns at varying heights among your plants to cast haunting shadows.

You can bring a little color psychology into your Halloween decor by utilizing purple, orange, and green lights. Purple adds a mystical, magical vibe, while orange and green are bold and playful. If you have spotlights, use colored gels and aim the lights at the front of your house to create dramatic shadows.

Layer your lighting and mix different types of lights, such as string lights, lanterns, and spotlights, to create depth and texture in your display.

Time to Bring in the Harvest

You love the Fall season with its vibrant colors. You would rather dance at the Harvest Moon Ball instead of doing the Monster Mash. Autumn means cozy blankets, comfort foods, and counting the days until the Hallmark channel starts its countdown to Christmas. Here are some ideas to make your outdoors warm and welcoming.

Accentuate the vibrant autumn colors around you with warm LED string lights. They add a touch of magic to your outdoor space and provide the perfect ambiance for relaxing with a good book.

Rustic lanterns bring a cozy charm to your outdoor decor. Choose lanterns made of wood, metal, or glass in earth tones to blend seamlessly with the natural fall palette. Place them along pathways or on outdoor tables, and fill them with LED candles for a soft, flickering glow. Group different-sized lanterns together for visual interest, or hang them from tree branches to create an ethereal canopy of light.

Make the most of your garden’s natural beauty by using accent lighting to highlight trees, shrubs, and other features. Uplighting trees with spotlights creates dramatic shadows and emphasizes the rich fall foliage. Combine warm white string lights with strategically placed LED candles to create a cozy pumpkin patch atmosphere. Arrange them around a collection of pumpkins, gourds, and hay bales for a charming and festive look.

Focus your lighting on areas where you gather most, such as patios, decks, or outdoor dining spaces. Layering lights at different heights can create a more interesting and inviting environment. Your outdoor living space will become a comfy haven perfect for enjoying chilly fall nights.

Bring Your Ideas to Houston Lightscapes

Whether you’re Halloween or Harvest, Houston Lightscapes can help bring your landscape vision into reality. Our family-owned business has transformed residential homes and commercial properties throughout the Houston area with our customized designs. 

Contact us for a free consultation by calling (713) 461-3600 to discover what we can do for your place.