I Gave 2 Designers $50 to Spend on Fall Decor at Target — Here’s What They Bought

published Oct 17, 2025

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If you managed to make it all the way to this corner of the internet, you’re in a pickle: October 31 is right around the corner, and there’s a chance you’ve yet to begin decorating for Halloween. Thankfully it’s easier than ever to buy something in the eleventh hour — but what will make it in time without totally breaking the bank?

Truthfully, you might be moving so quickly that you’re not thinking so much about what looks good and goes together. It’s okay — we’ve all been there. To help, I asked two interior designers to “shop” for fall and last-minute Halloween decor at Target; and I challenged them to keep their total to $50 or less.

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Their picks run the gamut from spooky to seasonal, and quite frankly? Last-minute decorating has never looked so good. Check out what’s in their carts below — there’s still time to get beautiful, budget-friendly fall decor delivered straight to your door.

Designer Sasha Basso’s Halloween Picks from Target

Every Halloween, Sasha Basso of Capiz Studio loves to create an “eerily creepy, elevated” experience in her home. Her secret for a spooky space? Buying multiples. “A single candle is not that interesting, but a room filled with dozens of black candles is chilling and cool,” the Bay Area designer explains.

Hyde and EEK! Boutique Plastic Spiders Halloween Prop, 150-Count

If you ask Basso, very few things are as spine-tingling as spiders. “Make it look like you have an arachnid infestation by buying two to three sets of these little spiders and using sticky tack to create a horde of eight-legged creepers on the walls and ceilings of a room,” she recommends. “You can also stick a bowl-full of these next to the chips and dip and snicker as guests accidentally grab a handful of these instead of their intended snack.”

$5 at Target

Hyde and EEK! Boutique Stretchy Spiderweb Halloween Decorative Prop

Because spiders and webs go hand in hand, Basso recommends picking up two of these nets from Target. “Stretch it across doorways and drape it over furniture to create an abandoned effect,” she shares. “If you have a hallway, use Command hooks to string it across the ceiling for a tunnel feeling. It’s so simple, but it ties back to the spiders.”

$5 at Target

Hyde and EEK! Boutique Skull Halloween Decorative Prop

The perfect finishing touch? Five skeletons — really. “I love a good skull moment. Scattered around a room in places people would least expect, or lined up in a row on a mantel, they add an air of ‘my last guests mysteriously disappeared’ to any fête.” Haute and horrifying? Yes, please.

$5 at Target

Julia Newman’s Fashionable Fall Decor

Want to stretch your decorations for longer? Julia Newman of Julia Adele Design takes a more seasonal approach. “This option is for people who love all things fall,” the Los Angeles designer explains. “These pieces would create a great moment on a console table, entryway, or mantel.”

Threshold Designed with Studio McGee Moody Leaf Painted Board Wall Art

$16

This fall, swap this lithograph print into one of your picture frames. Not only will this option bring some visual intrigue to your gallery wall, but it’s also a festive piece that doesn’t feel “in your face.” And why take it down once winter rolls around? “This piece is so great it can be used year-round,” she says.

$16 at Target

Threshold Ceramic Fall Pumpkin

$10

No seasonal decor is complete without a pumpkin, and this option from Threshold feels considerably more polished than the one you’d pick up at your grocery store. Bonus points: Because it's made of a glossy ceramic, you won’t have to worry about this pumpkin going bad mid-season. Rather, it’ll last for many years to come.

$10 at Target

Threshold Turning Artificial Fall Leaf Stem

$12

Fresh florals might be hard to find in fall, so why not opt for some leafy stems? This faux set from Threshold will look seasonal and stylish in a vase, plus you can keep them around long after October 31. “These are perfect for Thanksgiving, too,” Newman shares. If your budget allows, grab a few stems to create a lush arrangement.

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I Gave 2 Designers $50 to Spend on Fall Decor at Target — Here’s What They Bought

Designer Sasha Basso’s Halloween Picks from Target

Julia Newman’s Fashionable Fall Decor

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