How is it October already?! The year is flying by, but for us in Dubai, this is the start of the upcoming winter season, which brings some of the best times of the year with various celebrations and outdoor activities. 

The cooler temperatures are perfect for outdoor gatherings, and Halloween marks the beginning of all the seasonal fun.

Halloween in Dubai is a unique experience. Not only is the weather perfect for being outside - no chilly nights here! - but depending on which community you live in, Halloween decorations can get truly spectacular. 

Some communities go all out with intricate displays, transforming entire streets into spooky wonderlands. The festive spirit is contagious and everyone gears up for trick-or-treating. It’s an opportunity to embrace creativity, let your spooky side shine, and decorate to your heart's content!

At Heart Cottage Lane, we’re big fans of Halloween crafts , and we have a soft spot for easy, eye-catching decorations that can make your Halloween even more special. This year, we’ve crafted some charming pumpkin candle centrepieces that will look perfect on your spooky Halloween tablescape. Plus, they’re super easy to make and fun to customise! You can get creative by swapping out flowers, colours, and even adding themed trinkets – and the kids can help out too!

Pumpkin Candle Holder Centrepiece

If you’re looking to add a chic touch to your table while keeping it spooky, this pumpkin candle holder centrepiece is the perfect DIY project. Whether you're hosting a Halloween dinner or just want to decorate your home, this centrepiece brings the Halloween season into your space with a bit of style. And the best part? You can adapt it to match any theme you’re going for - whether it’s spooky elegance, rustic farmhouse, or something more whimsical.

To complete your Halloween table, don’t forget to check out our pumpkin lamps for a glowing addition to your decor.

What you need:

• Spray paint (if you want to change the colour of your pumpkins)
• Small pumpkins (we used 15cm diameter ones)
• Selection of foliage, flowers, or even fruits like berries or mini apples
• Toothpicks
• Halloween candles (1 per pumpkin)
• Apple corer

Instructions:

1. Paint the pumpkins (optional) and leave them to dry overnight. If you're a fan of the classic Halloween look, go with natural orange pumpkins, but for something a little more modern, consider painting them white, black, or even metallic for some glam!
2. Cut off the stalks of the pumpkins carefully
3. Use the apple corer to create a well where the stalk was. This is where the candle will sit
4. Use toothpicks to make small holes around the top of the pumpkin
5. Add the halloween candle into the well you’ve created
6. Select some foliage, flowers, or fruits, keeping their stems in place, and arrange them into the toothpick holes to give your pumpkin candle holder, festive look
7. Now, they’re ready to be displayed on your table!

Top tips:

• If you’re spray painting, make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area or outside.
• Ensure your pumpkins can stand upright before adding the candle—you don’t want any wobbles and wax spillages!
• Mix in small fruits like cherries or add a dash of autumnal spice with cinnamon sticks for both visual and aromatic appeal.
• Take care when cutting into the pumpkins—they can be quite tough!
• Why not make a couple of these in different sizes and display them at varying heights on your table for a beautiful Halloween scene?

Twisted Ghost Candles

These twisted ghost candles are such a fun project, especially if you love crafting with a twist (lol!). Perfect for Halloween, these spooky candles add a ghostly elegant side to your décor. Plus, they’re incredibly easy to make and offer an excellent opportunity for fun Halloween crafts for kids, friends or family.

What you need:

• Acrylic paint or acrylic marker pens
• White tapered candles (paraffin candles work best; avoid soy candles for this project)
• Paper towels
• Heatproof dish or large baking sheet with sides
• Hot water in a jug

Instructions:

1. Place your candles in the heatproof dish
2. Pour the hot water over the candles, enough to cover them fully
3. Let the candles sit in the water for about 5-10 minutes until they become soft and bendable
4. Once they’re soft, carefully bend them into shapes—whether you want a subtle twist or a more dramatic curve is up to you! Then, place them on paper towels to dry
5. Allow the Halloween candles to cool thoroughly before decorating them
6. Use your acrylic paint or markers to draw spooky ghost faces or any other Halloween arts and crafts designs you like.

Top tips:

• Bend the candles as soon as you take them out of the water to avoid breakage.
• If you want candles of varying heights, cut the bottoms off before soaking them in water.
• Draw new faces as the candles burn down past the original designs - it’s like getting a brand new decoration as the night goes on!
• Make sure the candles are completely cool before decorating them.
• Keep the base of the candle straight while twisting the top so they can still fit neatly into the holders.
• For an extra fun touch, consider using glow-in-the-dark paint for the faces or even adding little Halloween accessories, like mini plastic spiders stuck around the base or use spooky wax moulds to create wax skulls or webs and “glue” them to the candle stick with melted wax!

Mix and match different sizes of pumpkin candle holders alongside your carved Jack-o’-lanterns. Together, they’ll create the ultimate Halloween table display.

Get Crafty and Have Fun!

Halloween is the perfect time to get creative with Halloween arts and crafts. Whether you're making a Jack-o’-lantern, decorating with Halloween candles, or tackling fun Halloween crafts for kids, we’d love to see your spooky creations! 

Tag us with #heartcottagelane to share your crafty Halloween decor.