Some people get into the Halloween spirit by dressing up their homes in spooky lights and wicked decorations. Others prefer a home with a less haunting appeal. If you’re one of the latter and haven’t already, consider decorating with autumn-themed accessories this season. Items such as pumpkins, scarecrows, and warm yellow lights represent fall itself more than Halloween, allowing you to keep them up for longer than you would typical October decorations. Moreover, you won’t be upsetting the younger kids on the block with ghoulish props. If you’re looking to express your festive spirit in a friendlier way, try adorning your home with the following fall lighting décor this year.

Light Stringers

Light stringers are a great way to decorate for almost any occasion, including holidays as different as Halloween and Christmas. This alone proves it’s really the color of the lights and how you use them that gives your home its desired aesthetic. By matching your changing leaves with yellow, brown or orange string lights, you can celebrate rich fall colors even at night. You can even purchase string lights with wire colors that blend in with the place you’ll be using them, such as green for in trees or bushes and brown for around tree trunks. LED string lights, particularly in yellow, are a great option because they can be left up until December without putting a dent in your electricity bill.

Lanterns

Whether you light them with candles or LEDs, portable lanterns seem to be associated with fall more than any other light fixture. Although candles are the more traditional option, we recommend battery-operated LED lanterns instead. LED lanterns allow you to enjoy brighter light than candles without having to deal with the mess of melted wax. Lanterns can be used indoors on mantles or end tables, or as dining room centerpieces. They can also be used outdoors on either side of your front or back entrances or to illuminate pathways and steps.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins don’t have to be made into frightening jack-o-lanterns. They can be carved into fun designs or used in more elaborate light-up projects, too. Since candles leave a mess once the wax starts melting (which can unfortunately ruin your pumpkins prematurely) consider wrapping battery-operated LED mini string lights around mason jars and placing them inside. This will allow you to enjoy your pumpkin lanterns all season long (or more realistically, until the pumpkins go bad).

Antique Lamps

Antique lamps are the light source of choice for many restaurants and businesses, and as of late, even homes. As dim orange light emanates from these lamps naturally, they are an ideal choice for fall lighting décor. Not only will they help you bring the warm glow of autumn into your living room, bedroom or dining room, but they will also mesmerize guests with their beautiful winding filaments. Vintage lamps can be purchased in many shapes and sizes from standard A19 bulbs to chandelier lights, but it is important to note that most are only approved for indoor use.

Flicker-Flame Lights

Flicker-flame decorative lights are most often used in chandeliers, wall sconces, and electric candles. These lights flicker like real candles, which can give your home a tasteful bit of  Halloween appeal. As an added bonus, they have thick filaments in the shape of a flame that allows them to last longer than ordinary decorative lights. However, they should be used sparingly in accent lighting fixtures rather than for general illumination as you still need to be able to see.

Other fall lighting tips include dimming your lights or using lights in a lower color temperature, since both options will result in a desirable warmer, orange-colored light. It would also be wise decision to start replacing your incandescent and CFL lights with LEDs. While the days are getting shorter the nights are also getting longer, which means your lights will need to stay on for more time than usual. As LEDs are the most long-lasting, energy-efficient light sources on the market, they will be a huge money-saver during the colder months and even beyond.

Although there are many ways to bedeck your home with fall lighting, these are just a few of our ideas. The main takeaways to keep in mind are to choose lights that emit warm-toned light and to use fixtures such as pumpkins or lanterns that represent autumn. Are there any unique ways you like to light your home for the fall? Tell us in the comments or reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Pinterest!