Create the Perfect Halloween Aesthetic On a Budget  

Spooky season is almost upon us, and if you are the type of person who prefers Jack-o-lanterns to pumpkin spice lattes, then you are probably already beginning to plan your 2022 Halloween aesthetic. When it comes to creating the perfect ambiance for this frightfully fun holiday, you are going to need to think about your everyday wear, your home décor, your porch scape, and of course, your Halloween costume.

Fortunately, designing and implementing a Halloween aesthetic doesn’t have to send your budget into overdrive. When you take a thrifty approach, you will find that you can create the perfect look for a price that allows you to feel good about your purchases.

These tips will help you create the perfect Halloween aesthetic on a budget:

Refresh Your Halloween Outfits from Last Year with New Accessories

Halloween is more than just a day on the calendar — it’s essentially a month-long celebration where you can don your best black-and-orange outfits. The key to any good aesthetic is refreshing your wardrobe, but that doesn’t necessarily require you to purchase brand-new clothes off the rack each year. You can look great throughout all of October by relying on the Halloween statement pieces that you already have and recreating a fresh look with new accessories.

Don’t forget that you can find some of the most unique and creative accessories at your local Goodwill store. By thrifting in the jewelry and clothing section, you may discover vintage finds that will instantly glam up your favorite Halloween outfit from last year. Some accessories that you may want to keep an eye out for include:

• Holiday earrings. There are many pairs of Halloween earrings just waiting to be discovered, as well as vintage earrings that may add a ghostly touch to your outfit.
• Halloween scarves. You can dress up a plain colored shirt with a Halloween scarf that includes the motif that suits your aesthetic.
• Vintage holiday clothing. There’s nothing better than a retro Halloween shirt from the 90s. You may have some old favorites at home that you love to wear year after year, but when you find used clothing items at a thrift store for an affordable price, it’s easy to add to your clothing collection.

Plan Your Costume Early and Pick Up What You Need Along the Way

In order to be the winner of the annual costume contest, you will need to incorporate every detail into this year’s look. The best way to do that — and stay within your budget — is to decide on your costume early and spend time searching for the perfect pieces to complete it.

Some of the trending Halloween costumes for 2022 include:

• Retro Cheerleaders — Possibly inspired by Stranger Things, the cheerleader costume of decades gone by is everywhere this year.
• Hollywood Glamour — Everyone was obsessed with the classic Hollywood looks that celebrities donned on the red carpets this year, leaving Halloween partiers clamoring for this same golden look.
• Pop Culture Costumes — As always, pop culture costumes are in. This year, you can expect to see a lot of Ted Lasso’s, All American Girls Baseball League players, and Barbies and Kens.

Whether you are going to go with the most talked about costume of the season or attempt to create your own look, you will find everything you need at Goodwill. When you shop at Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley stores, you will find those hidden gem pieces that will instantly complete your costume.

Take Advantage of the Vintage Halloween Trend and Shop for Décor at Goodwill

It seems this year that everyone is looking to recreate the Halloween looks of the past, and retro décor from nearly every decade is in style. From Victorian-era Halloween displays to kitsch-filled 1950s aesthetics, there is something for every style this Halloween season. 

Obviously, the large chain stores are going to try to take advantage of this trend, and it’s possible to buy brand-new, vintage-like home décor pieces for full price. However, why settle for something expensive that isn’t even authentic?

When you go thrifting at your local Goodwill, you can find authentic home décor items that were used for Halloween celebrations decades ago. Not only will you avoid spending too much on something for your home, but you also will enjoy a one-of-a-kind statement piece that no one else will have.

There is nothing more satisfying than being on trend with your Halloween aesthetic, while simultaneously knowing that you didn’t break the bank. With a unique look and a defined decade, your retro Halloween display is sure to be scary good.

DIY the Décor for Your Eerie Porch Scape

Your porch is going to set the scene for your Halloween festivities, so you will want to make sure that it has all of the elements of an eerie entrance. Some DIY décor projects that you might consider for your porch include:

• Creating a stretchy spiderweb for the corner of the porch. You can do this with some old cotton that is stretched across an area. Add a touch of whimsy by sprinkling glitter onto the faux web.
• Design a Halloween welcome sign by repurposing an old sign that you found at a thrift store. You can easily repaint and redecorate any wooden plank sign that you find, making this pivotal piece of décor much more affordable than the ones that you would find at a big box store.
• Revitalize an old wreath and transform it into a Halloween décor item. You can use a variety of Halloween craft supplies in order to refresh any wreath design and turn it into a complementary décor item for your porch scape.

Consider Your Halloween Party Plans as You Redecorate Your Room

Before you begin making your purchases and decorating your home for Halloween, think about your Halloween plans. If you are going to host a party this year, you will want your home décor to complement the theme of the party. By creating a plan for your party in advance, you can thoughtfully and intentionally purchase Halloween décor items that match your overall Halloween aesthetic.

Some Halloween party theme ideas that you might consider include:

• A Night at a Haunted Mansion
• A Halloween Tea Party
• A Halloween Boo Bash
• A Halloween Glow Party

No matter what theme you choose, you are surely going to be able to find affordable props, décor items, clothing and more when you shop in the right places. By sticking to your budget, you will be able to do more and fully carry out your 2022 Halloween aesthetic.

Whether you are looking to create a Victorian Halloween aesthetic with touches of glamour and hints of horror, or you are going all out with the cheeky pumpkins and cartoonish ghosts, you will be able to create a look that you love for an affordable price when you do your shopping at Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley. Our storefronts are stocked with Halloween décor items, clothing that suits the season and plenty of trinkets that can be transformed into DIY masterpieces.

For more information about how you can create your best Halloween aesthetic yet, stop by one of our Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley stores today.