When I was a child, my mom let me start decorating for Halloween right after Labor Day. This was mostly a consolation prize for not having a Christmas tree (my family is Jewish), but also, it was my favorite holiday even then, so I wanted to celebrate it for as long as possible.
Now as a respectable and sane adult, I’ve typically waited until at least October to break out anything pumpkin shaped or scented—but with retailers releasing their Halloween collections earlier and earlier each year, I started decorating my apartment in August for this guide. Childhood me would have been thrilled. To be honest, grown-up me was thrilled, too.
Below, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite items to make the season feel special; all of which have been tested and vetted by me and my Wirecutter colleagues, so they should last well beyond the holiday (and even year after year).
