How to Decorate Double Front Doors for Halloween

Double front doors can look incredible decorated for Halloween, but there's one thing I'd keep in mind from the beginning:

You're decorating one entrance, not two separate doors.

That becomes especially important when you're choosing a double door wreath setup. The wreaths don't necessarily have to be identical, and the decorations on each side don't have to match piece for piece.

They just need to look like they belong together.

Here's how I'd approach it.

Do You Need a Wreath on Both Doors?

Usually, yes.

If you have two equal-size front doors, putting a wreath on only one can make the entrance feel visually heavier on that side.

Two wreaths create balance immediately.

That doesn't mean they have to be identical, though.

You have two basic options:

Matching wreaths: Two of the same design create the cleanest, most symmetrical look.

Coordinating wreaths: Two different designs can work if they share enough colors, materials, size, and overall style to clearly belong together.

For Halloween, either approach can look great.

Matching Halloween Wreaths

If you love symmetry, this is the easiest choice.

Two matching orange-and-black wreaths, ghost wreaths, witch wreaths, or purple-and-black designs make the entire doorway feel intentional before you add anything else.

Matching wreaths can also handle plenty of detail because the repetition itself creates order.

If you've got two big, colorful handmade Halloween wreaths, you may find that you don't need nearly as much additional decoration around the doors.

Coordinating Halloween Wreaths

Coordinating wreaths give you a little more freedom.

Maybe both wreaths use purple, black and white, but one features a ghost and the other a witch.

Or they both use orange and black ribbon but have different centerpieces.

I'd still keep their finished dimensions and visual fullness fairly similar.

Putting a very large, full deco mesh wreath on one door and a much smaller, simpler wreath on the other is harder to balance, even if the colors match.

For a deeper look at choosing a pair, see How to Choose a Wreath for Double Front Doors.

Choose the Right Wreath Size

This is especially important with double doors.

Don't assume that having a larger overall entrance means you need enormous wreaths.

Size each wreath to its individual door.

If each door is a standard width, use the same general proportion you'd use if that door were standing by itself.

You also want some visible door around each wreath. That separation helps you see two distinct wreaths instead of one giant mass of ribbon across the entrance.

Before buying, measure the individual doors and compare those measurements with the wreath's finished width, including ribbon, mesh and decorations.

Our wreath-sizing guide explains how to take those measurements.

Keep Both Wreaths at the Same Visual Height

Two beautiful wreaths can look strangely mismatched if one sits a few inches higher than the other.

Don't rely only on measuring the hooks.

Hang both wreaths, close the doors, then walk several feet away and look at them together.

You want the visual centers of the wreaths to line up.

This matters with handmade wreaths because bows, signs, characters and other elements can change where the visual center appears to be.

Make Sure the Doors Can Still Open

This is one of those things that's easy to forget until both wreaths are hanging.

Open the doors.

Open them at the same time.

Check the handles.

If the wreaths extend toward the inside edges of the doors, make sure they don't hit each other when the doors move.

You should also check the depth of the wreath if you have storm doors.

A beautiful setup isn't worth much if you have to move a wreath every time somebody comes through the door.

Pick One Halloween Direction

Once you've chosen the wreaths, use them to establish the rest of the entrance.

Cute ghost wreaths?

Keep the porch playful.

Orange-and-black pumpkin wreaths?

Carry those colors into the pumpkins and other decorations below.

Dark purple, black and spiderwebs?

You can take the porch in a spookier direction.

Our Halloween Wreath Ideas guide has several different styles you can build around.

Balance the Porch Without Mirroring Everything

You don't need three pumpkins on the left because you have three pumpkins on the right.

I'd rather balance visual weight.

For example, one side might have a tall planter and lantern.

The other might have a larger grouping of pumpkins.

Stand back and look at the entire entrance. If one side immediately feels much heavier than the other, move something.

If your eye naturally lands near the center of the doors, you're probably close.

Use the Space Between the Doors Carefully

Depending on your particular double-door setup, there may not be much space between the wreaths.

That's another reason I wouldn't oversize them.

Give each wreath enough breathing room that you can still see the shape of the individual design.

And be careful with decorations hanging from the inside edges of the doors. Ribbon tails, dangling characters and other pieces can potentially interfere with each other as the doors open.

Carry Lighting Across the Whole Entrance

Halloween is different from a lot of seasonal decorating because people may see your front door most when it's dark.

Treat both doors as one lighting zone.

Matching lanterns on the outer sides of the entrance are an easy solution.

You could also use lights around the entire doorway rather than outlining only one door.

Whatever you choose, step outside after dark and check that both wreaths are actually visible.

There's no point putting two beautiful handmade wreaths on the doors if one disappears into a dark corner at night.

Keep the Walkway Clear

Double doors can tempt you to fill all that extra space.

Remember that people still need to get through them.

That's particularly important on Halloween when trick-or-treaters may be approaching the entrance after dark.

Keep pumpkins, lanterns and props away from the main walking path and the swing of both doors.

You can make the entrance feel full without making people navigate an obstacle course to reach the doorbell.

Step Back Before Adding Anything Else

This is probably the easiest decorating trick.

Put up both wreaths.

Add your pumpkins, planters or lanterns.

Then walk out toward the sidewalk or driveway.

Look at the whole entrance, not each individual door.

Do the wreaths feel balanced?

Does one side feel heavier?

Can you clearly see both wreaths?

Does everything look like the same Halloween display?

If it does, you're finished.

You don't have to fill every empty space.

Find Halloween Wreaths for Double Doors

Whether you want two matching wreaths or coordinating designs, start with wreaths that are properly sized for each individual door.

Browse our handmade Halloween wreath collection to find the style you want to build your double-door display around.

Shop Halloween Wreaths →