With autumnal colours all around, crisp cold air, and the thrill of spooky season, it’s the perfect time to transform your camper into a little haunted haven on wheels. Here are some tips and ideas for creating a festive Halloween vibe in your VW camper while keeping it cosy, unique, and functional for road travel!
1. Choose a Halloween theme
- Classic Halloween: Think pumpkins, witches, and skeletons in classic orange and black.
- Vintage Horror: Add vintage horror movie posters, black-and-white photos, and classic horror props.
- Ghostly Glam: Use subtle but spooky elements like white pumpkins, faux cobwebs, and twinkling lights.
- Cozy Cottage Halloween: For a warm, spooky cottage vibe, use plaid blankets, earthy tones, and fall leaves.
Decide on your theme to keep the look cohesive and make decorating simpler.
2. Create a Haunted Van Entrance
- Cobwebs and Spiders: Use removable spider webs and hang plastic spiders around your door frame.
- Hanging Ghosts or Skeletons: For a bigger wow factor, hang mini skeletons or ghosts around the outside door.
- DIY Banners: Make a “Happy Halloween” or “Beware!” banner to drape above the entrance. String lights along the edge of your van’s roof for an inviting (and slightly eerie) glow.
3. Spooky Lighting for Atmosphere
- LED String Lights: Choose purple or orange string lights to give the interior a cosy, spooky vibe without taking up much power.
- Battery-Operated Lanterns: For a classic Halloween feel, use vintage-style lanterns with flickering battery-operated candles.
- Mini Jack-o’-Lantern Lights: Look for battery-powered jack-o’-lantern or ghost lights to add cute, festive lighting inside or outside the camper.
4. Decorate with Mini Pumpkins and Gourds
- Mini pumpkins and gourds are classic Halloween decor and perfect for a VW camper! These can be placed on countertops, dashboard, or shelves for a touch of Halloween spirit.
- Use fake pumpkins if you’re on a long trip to avoid any spoilage, or pick up fresh ones along the way from local farms.
5. Add Halloween-Themed Linens and Textiles
- Blankets: Cosy up your van with Halloween or fall-themed blankets—think plaid, burnt orange, or spooky designs.
- Pillows: Swap out your usual pillows for some Halloween-themed covers with bats, skulls, or witches. Removable pillow covers are an easy way to switch up the decor without taking up much storage space.
- Curtains: Hang up black or orange curtains, or choose a spooky pattern with bats, pumpkins, or haunted houses.
6. Decorate with Removable Wall Decals
- For an easy, non-damaging decor idea, use removable wall decals of bats, spiders, or Halloween sayings like “Boo!” or “Happy Hauntings.” These decals are easy to apply and take off, so you won’t have to worry about permanent changes to your van.
7. Create a Mini Halloween Altar or Display
- If you have a small table or shelf space, set up a Halloween display. You can use small decorative items like potion bottles, crystals, and mini pumpkins.
- Add in a cauldron with candy or even a mini spell book for a witchy vibe. This can be your camper’s spooky focal point!
8. Use Smell to Set the Scene
- Smell can make a huge difference! Try using fall-scented, battery-operated candles or essential oil diffusers with scents like pumpkin spice, cinnamon, or clove to create an autumnal and slightly spooky atmosphere.
9. Don’t Forget the Dashboard!
- The dashboard is a great spot for Halloween decor, and it won’t get in the way of sleeping or moving around. Add a spooky bobblehead, a mini pumpkin, or Halloween-themed trinkets. You can even find mini skeletons that grip onto the dashboard to add a spooky companion to your ride.
10. Campfire Accessories for the Full Halloween Experience
- If you’re setting up camp for the night, consider Halloween-themed camping accessories. Bring along pumpkin mugs, Halloween-themed marshmallows for ghostly s’mores, and blankets for an evening of storytelling.
