Ghost Décor & Ornaments

A white sheet, two dark eyes and suddenly Halloween has one of its most recognizable characters. Ghosts can be wonderfully simple, but artists have found seemingly endless ways to give them personality. Some float quietly with long flowing forms, others carry pumpkins and candy buckets, and plenty seem much more interested in joining the Halloween party than haunting anyone.

That versatility is part of what makes ghosts so much fun to collect. A softly sculpted white figure can feel eerie and atmospheric, while a round paper mâché ghost with enormous eyes and a crooked grin can look as though it wandered straight out of an old Halloween party decoration. Trick or treat ghosts bring a sweeter, more nostalgic personality, especially when they're carrying jack o lantern buckets, wearing costumes or gathering with other children on Halloween night.

Materials can completely change the character. Bethany Lowe Designs interprets ghosts through paper mâché, paper pulp, resin, tin, fabric, glitter and other mixed media, creating everything from tiny ornaments to substantial luminaries and figures. Meadowbrooke Gourds uses the natural curves and irregularities of dried gourds to create handcrafted ghosts with personalities shaped partly by nature itself. Fabric, gauze, glass, ceramic and resin offer still more interpretations from artists and makers throughout the collection.

Ghosts are also remarkably easy to work into an existing Halloween display. Gather several white figures against a dark backdrop for a dramatic little haunting, or mix ghosts among orange pumpkins and black cats for a classic Halloween palette. Lighted ghosts and luminaries can create an especially effective glow after dark, while hanging ghosts add movement and height above tabletop collections. A single ghost can be charming. An entire gathering begins to suggest that something has gone terribly, wonderfully wrong.

Why Shop Halloween Ghosts at Traditions?

We love Halloween characters with personality, and ghosts may be the most expressive characters with the fewest actual features. Two eyes and a mouth can somehow look frightened, mischievous, cheerful or completely bewildered depending on the artist. We look for ghosts with memorable expressions, interesting materials and enough character to make collectors want to introduce them to the rest of the haunting.

Serving collectors since 1994, Traditions is a family-owned holiday store with a carefully curated assortment of Halloween ghost decorations from Bethany Lowe Designs, Meadowbrooke Gourds, Transpac, Joe Spencer, Lori Mitchell and many other favorite artists and makers. We personally inspect products as they arrive and photograph our pieces in-house so you can see their expressions, materials, textures and decorative details clearly. Whether you're looking for one friendly little phantom or assembling an entire ghostly gathering, our knowledgeable customer service team is always happy to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I build a Halloween display around ghosts?

Start by varying the size and height of the ghosts so the arrangement feels like a gathering rather than a row of identical figures. Black bottle brush trees, orange pumpkins, lanterns and darker backgrounds help white ghosts stand out beautifully. Lighted ghosts or luminaries can become focal points, while smaller figures and ornaments fill in the surrounding scene.

What types of Halloween ghost decorations are available?

Ghosts appear across nearly every kind of Halloween collectible, including tabletop figures, paper mâché characters, natural gourds, dolls, ornaments, candy buckets, lanterns, luminaries, pillows and hanging decorations. Materials and styles range from rustic folk art and vintage-inspired designs to colorful contemporary characters and more atmospheric lighted pieces.

How can I create a vintage-inspired ghost collection?

Look for simple sheet ghost silhouettes, exaggerated expressions and traditional materials such as paper mâché, pressed paper, crepe paper, gauze, tin and glitter. Mixing newly made vintage-inspired pieces from different artists can create the feeling of a collection gathered over time. Pumpkins, black cats, moons and old fashioned candy buckets are natural companions for completing the display.