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<?xml encoding="utf-8" ?>The Pumpkin House
Halloween 2026 has come and gone, but it’s never too early to start thinking about next year! Known simply as The Pumpkin House, @jessicarchibald lines her roof, porch, and yard with hundreds of jack-o’-lanterns every Halloween season. The piles of pumpkins make a big impact both during the day and at night.
Steal This Idea: All you need is pumpkins! Attach faux pumpkins to long boards to make them easier to display on the roof.
Salt Lake City, Utah
2 / 11
Via @krakenhousenola/instagram.com
The Kraken House
The Kraken House (@krakenhousenola) captured here by @amournola, uses blow-up decor to explore the haunted seas. The blow-up tentacles hint at a sea monster hiding beyond the windows, but the dramatic lighting is what really makes this house shine.
Steal This Idea: Skip the kid-friendly Bluey holiday inflatable this year, and attach these terrifying tentacles instead. Then turn up the drama with solar up-lights in green and purple.
New Orleans, Louisiana
3 / 11
Via @allset_bygabrielle/Instagram.com
Vintage Black Cat Porch
Can you believe this amazing black cat is a DIY project? To transform this front porch into a Halloween stage, @allset_bygabrielle hand-carved the cat figure out of wood and painted every detail.
Steal This Idea: In addition to the vintage-inspired cat, the spooky forest framing the door was made with a mix of dead branches and faux botanicals; providing texture and a subtle sparkle.
Cold Spring Harbor, New York
4 / 11
Via @victoria.nycvisit/Instagram.com
Spooky Gothic Entry
This front entry in New York City (photographed by @victoria.nycvisit) uses dark drapery, black roses, and a wide variety of unique pumpkins and squashes to create a gothic masterpiece. Trick-or-treaters beware!
Steal This Idea: It’s amazing what a few swathes of black and burgundy fabric can do. Drape the fabric around your front door to make an eerie entrance. Then use pumpkins and vases full of dark flowers to complete the look.
Upper West Side, Manhattan
5 / 11
Golden Harvest Stoop
This viral townhouse @stoopandthecity, is dressed to the nines for every holiday. This autumn harvest display features patterned pumpkins and cascades of fall foliage. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving or for those that prefer to skip the ghosts and goblins.
Steal This Idea: Choose faux and glass pumpkins in a cohesive color scheme, and don’t hold back on the fall foliage. Use faux stems to make the display last all season long.
Upper East Side, Manhattan
6 / 11
River Oaks Christmas Lights
When it comes to Christmas lights, you can’t find much better than the extravagant homes in the River Oaks neighborhood of Houston, Texas. Each home goes all out with sparkling lights on its exterior, wrapped around every tree.
Steal This Idea: The secret to this colorful tree, captured by @houstonhotspots, is wrapping the lights tightly around the trunk and every single branch. The technique takes time but makes a big impact. Use LED lights to cut back on electricity use.
Houston, Texas
7 / 11
Via @415urbanadventures/instagram.com
Castro Street Christmas House
This famous house on Castro Street in San Francisco does not hold back! (Photo by @415urbanadventures.) Every exterior surface is covered in decor. The symmetrical layout keeps it looking classy instead of gaudy. And of course, the star of the show is Santa hanging in the middle, ready to deliver gifts.
Steal This Idea: The key element of this display is the garland covered in shiny Christmas ornaments. When you think you’ve gathered enough baubles, you’ll probably need even more!
San Francisco, California
8 / 11
Via Ohiogirltravels.com
Cascading Lights in Ohio
The historic mill in Clifton, Ohio, is known for its over-the-top Christmas light display, featuring over four million lights! While you might not have a historic mill to decorate, the lighting techniques can be used on your own home to dazzle the entire neighborhood.
Steal This Idea: The most memorable element of this display is the iconic red lights cascading down the hillside. Try laying strings lights in rows along your entire yard to get a similar look.
Clifton, Ohio
9 / 11
Giant Red Bow
Make your house look like one giant Christmas present by adding a larger-than-life red bow. This Pittsburgh mansion is famous for its red Christmas bow that looks beautifully whimsical in the daytime and lights up at night.
Steal This Idea: You don’t need a mansion to recreate this look. Get your own giant red bow and hang it above your front door. Here’s one available on Etsy!
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
10 / 11
Pink Christmas Cottage
One way to set your house apart for Christmas is to use a non-traditional color scheme —like pink! This darling cottage from @pinkdreamcollection is a frosted pink confection complete with pink trees and pink nutcracker figurines.
Steal This Idea: Pink or pastel Christmas decor will make your home look playful and unique. Use different shades of pink to add dimension.
Portsmouth, Ohio
11 / 11
Light-Up Gingerbread House
This spectacular residential light display by Walter Hazard (@hazardsgingerbreadhouse) makes his home look like a technicolor gingerbread house. The secret is the wire-fencing frames he uses to create methodical light patterns. Visitors come from all over the area to witness the gorgeous lights in action.
Steal This Idea: We might not all have the same light-manipulation talent as Walter, but you can get the same grid-like coverage with LED curtain lights like these.
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
