Halloween Skeleton Table Setting

Discover how to create stunning vintage Halloween decorations with thrift store finds! Perfect for a spooky Halloween party display and centerpiece decor that will wow your guests.

Halloween night is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time for vintage lovers to embrace the spooky season with unique decor.

Creating a hauntingly beautiful centerpiece for your Halloween party is one of my absolute favorites for setting the mood.

In this post, I’ll show you how to combine vintage finds with eerie elegance for the ultimate Halloween display.

Halloween Skeleton laying on table with wig, glasses, with Halloween decorations vintage.
Halloween Skeleton Table Setting

Celebrate the Holiday Blog Hop

I’m thrilled to join nine other very talented home decor bloggers here today for the “Celebrate the Holiday” Blog Hop, sharing all our Halloween inspiration hosted by Carol from Blue Sky at Home.

If you are joining me here from Leslie over at Feet Under My Table, welcome! Leslie has such amazing recipes, and how about her post today, Do You Need a Great Halloween Popcorn Ball? They look so yummy!

Halloween Skeletons

Halloween skeletons are classic symbols of the spooky season, representing Halloween night’s eerie and mysterious atmosphere.

These life-size or miniature skeletal figures are perfect for adding a creepy touch to your home decor.

For decorating inside, try placing a skeleton seated at the dining table for a Halloween party, paired with Gurley candles and a haunted centerpiece.

You can also display skeletons in unexpected places, such as lounging on a bookshelf or peeking out from behind curtains. For a whimsical touch, dress them up with accessories like hats or scarves to add personality to your Halloween decor while keeping the spooky vibe intact.

Halloween Decoration Vintage Inspired Centerpiece

First comes the skeleton…

Let me show you how I created this Halloween skeleton photographer table setting.

First, I laid my life-size skeleton on our dining room farmhouse table as the centerpiece and focal point.

Then comes the vintage Halloween decorations

Next, I foraged around the house and found:

  • Wig
  • Costume jewelry
  • Eyeglasses
  • Hat

To begin dressing our Halloween party skeleton table centerpiece.

Halloween Skeleton vintage inspired table centerpiece with Gurley candles, and vintage decorations.

I then added a few other vintage Halloween decorations, creating our Halloween vintage-inspired skeleton table centerpiece.

Vintage Halloween Decoration Cameras

I collected and staged up a few vintage cameras that I found at thrift stores this past summer, which instantly transformed our Halloween skeleton on the table into a photographer!

Apples

Fallen rotten apples collected from underneath a neighbor’s apple tree added color and texture, and our neighbors appreciated it, too.

Vintage Halloween Candle Decorations

By adding a scattering of candles, in my case vintage brass candlesticks with drippy orange candles, it creates an illusion of old-world charm and spooky details.

Purple masquerade mask on brown wig with witches hat for Halloween.

More Halloween Front Porch Decorations Vintage

Find more Halloween inspiration and ideas in this Witchy Decor Halloween Aesthetic Mannequin Ideas post.

How to Make Spooky Halloween Drippy Candles

Drippy candles are a must in obtaining that creepy Halloween vibe.

Because I didn’t want my vintage brass candlesticks to get melted wax on them, I created this drippy look by lighting another candle of the same color and dripping the wax from one candle to another.

Drippy Spooky Orange Candle next to Halloween Skeleton on table.

That way, the lighted centerpiece candles would not ruin the finish of my brass candlestick. I hope that makes sense.

Gurley Candles

Do you have any Gurley candles? You might want to find a few at your local thrift stores.

Gurley candles are iconic vintage candles from the mid-20th century. They are known for their charming, molded shapes, which include Halloween figures such as witches, pumpkins, black cats, and ghosts.

These collectible candles add an authentic vintage touch to Halloween decorations, making them perfect for a nostalgic party centerpiece.

To incorporate Gurley candles into your vintage Halloween decor, display them alongside antique finds like brass candlesticks, old books, and vintage tablecloths. Their playful yet eerie designs make them an eye-catching element that enhances any Halloween party setup’s spooky yet classic atmosphere.

Halloween Party

I then displayed a small cutting board with cheese, fruits, and small plates.

Outdoor Grazing Table

Pro Tip

Find more Halloween grazing table inspiration in this Fall & Halloween DIY Grazing Table with MacKenzie-Childs post.

This would be a fun Halloween skeleton table setting for a cocktail party or a small gathering of friends and family. The table could be turned into a fantastic grazing table filled with appetizers all around the skeleton centerpiece.

Halloween decorations vintage inspired with skeleton, apples and candles as table centerpiece.
21 Outrageous Scarecrows

Pro Tip

You may also find inspiration and more Halloween decorating ideas in this 29 Best Funny Scarecrows; It’s Fall in Vermont post.

Halloween Mantel with Vintage Decorations

Transform your mantle into a spooky, vintage-inspired masterpiece this Halloween season, too.

To set the tone, layer antique candlesticks, flickering candles, and vintage Halloween figures like black cats, witches, and pumpkins.

Add depth by incorporating vintage picture frames or mirrors draped with cobwebs or lace for an eerie, haunted house feel.

Complete the look with timeless pieces like old books, rustic lanterns, and Gurley candles for that perfect blend of nostalgia and spooky charm. A well-decorated mantle becomes the focal point of your Halloween decor, creating an inviting yet haunting display for any Halloween party.

Halloween Brass candlesticks vintage inspired mantel display, Halloween Decorations Vintage.

Halloween Display

I created this Halloween mantel as the backdrop to accentuate the skeleton table setting. You may see more of the details in the post, Halloween Vintage Mantel.

Witch’s Brooms

I had my husband draw a few witch’s brooms on a vintage chalkboard I found while out Thrifting with the Gals. Aren’t they so cute arranged around vintage windows, candlesticks, and old thrift store minks?

Halloween Mantel displayed with chalkboard with witch's broom drawings, vintageminks and candlesticks.  Halloween Decorations Vintage

Halloween Spirit Mantel Ideas

Here are five ways to decorate a vintage-inspired Halloween dining room mantle:

  1. Layer Vintage Halloween Decorations: Start with classic pieces like ceramic pumpkins, flying witch figurines, and black cats. A scaredy cat statue makes a great addition to the center of your mantle, drawing attention and adding a sense of nostalgia for vintage lovers.
Halloween Mantel with Halloween Decorations Vintage.

2. Incorporate a Spiderweb Design: Drape faux spiderwebs across the mantle and over vintage decor pieces like candlesticks or old books. This subtle touch enhances the eerie atmosphere without overpowering the vintage aesthetic.

Halloween Skeleton Table Setting, Halloween Decorations Vintage with skeleton centerpiece.

3. Display a Flying Witch Silhouette: Hang or prop up a flying witch silhouette behind your mantle decor. This nod to vintage Halloween imagery creates a haunting focal point, ideal for setting the spooky mood.

Spider and Apples on Table, Halloween Decorations Vintage

4. Use Vintage Candlesticks and Lanterns: Place antique candlesticks or lanterns on both ends of the mantle. Their timeless look adds a warm glow and a sense of nostalgia that perfectly complements your vintage Halloween decorations.

Halloween Decorations Vintage on YouTube

5. Add a Scaredy Cat Banner: Drape a vintage-inspired scaredy cat banner across the front of the mantle. This whimsical touch adds charm and fun to your Halloween decor, making it a great addition to creating a spooky yet nostalgic display.

Halloween Skeleton display on table centerpiece with vintage touches and mantel display.  Halloween Decorations Vintage
Mannequin dressed in witchy decor on front porch with blue cushions and sunflower bouquet for fall.

Looking for more vintage Halloween decorations:

Visit these Halloween decorating idea posts, sure to inspire you.

Your Guide to an Eclectic Style~

If you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions, I’d love to hear from you. Please share in the comments below. And be sure to share this blog post link with your friends who are also vintage enthusiasts.

Do you have a flair for all things vintage, too? I would love to see and feature you in our Reader’s Showcase Series. A place for you to share and be recognized for your talents and passion for all things thrifting, vintage, and antique decor-related inspired by your time here with Dabbling & Decorating. Email me at annck@dabblinganddecorating.com

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Halloween Decorations Vintage Party Centerpiece Decor
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“Celebrate the Holiday” Blog Tour

Be sure to stop by and visit with the others joining me on today’s blog hop. Next up on today’s tour are Anne and AnnMarie from Simply 2 Moms. You will love their Simply Spooky Ideas to Decorate Your Home for Halloween.

festive Halloween decorators for the entry
Festive Halloween Decorations for Your Entry

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17 Comments

    1. Thanks so much, Rachel, of course. I’m happy you like it!

  1. The tablescape with the skeleton is hilarious and off the charts creative !! My 5 and 7 yr old grandsons would LOVE IT !!!
    I love your blogs and look forward every week to reading them !!

    1. Awww thanks so much Wanda. That means so much to me. I had fun designing it!

    1. Thank you so much Kim, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  2. Oh my goodness Ann, this is the perfect way to display a skeleton… the wig, glasses, pearls and the hat too! Darling tablescape and your mantel makes the best backdrop ever!

  3. Ann this is seriously the cutest idea I have seen in a long time! I love how you dressed up the skeleton. Too much fun, pinned!

  4. Such a creative twist using the vintage cameras, Ann. This is such a fun Halloween table and your mantel looks fantastic! It’s been fun hopping along with you!

  5. Hi Ann –
    I’m not a huge Halloween decorator but this would be so fun sitting out on my front porch.

  6. Leslie Watkins says:

    Oh, my goodness! This is the BEST! My husband loved that this year he is a photographer. It’s a Halloween version of Elf on a Shelf! You never know where he will be next year. So creative this year…and I love the attire from last year. What a joy to hop with you!

  7. Ann, this is the most creative Halloween idea ever. I have witches and goblins, but no skeletons so I may just have to order one. Love how you styled your table and mantel. Miss Skeleton will be a hit on Halloween, I’m sure. Love the camera idea. Thank you for being a part of the first Celebrate the Holiday blog hop.