Soto loves to keep a bouquet of fresh-cut mixed autumn flowers on her dining room table around Halloween, along with a festive bowl of mixed nuts and spices that create a natural scent, perfect for the season. She shares a few more fun — but stylish ways to embrace Halloween.

Play with patterns

Not every surface needs to be covered in ghosts and goblin-printed items. Branch out when it comes to patterns as a way to give your home an understated Halloween twist, suggests Soto. "Chevron, striped or plaid patterns in a variety of autumn colors are great to incorporate into your sofa pillows or throws, even on a picture frame," she says. Along with the obvious choice of orange, think red, yellow, rust and even deep greens.

Use pumpkins in new ways

Pumpkins don't always have to be carved; you can do a lot more with them than you might think. "Embellish them with sequins or even spray paint them white for a classy, modern look," says Soto. For something even easier, simply display a few to create a more festive atmosphere. "Pumpkins are the classic fall accents. For a subtle touch of Halloween spirit, just place a few small pumpkins in a festive bowl for a fun and quick centerpiece," she advises.

Decorate with nature

One of the easiest ways to get into the Halloween spirit at home without decking out every room in plastic Jack-o'-lanterns is to get inspired by the season and use nature in your decor. "Display orange flowers or berry branches on your coffee table for a beautiful centerpiece or gather some maple leaves and display their beautiful fall colors in a vase," says Soto. She also suggests decorating with fall flowers, wheat stems or even autumn leaves from your backyard.

Light it up

Candles make a great way to set the scene and create a spooky atmosphere without going over the top. "Cinnamon apple or spice scented candles awaken your sense of smell just in time for Halloween," Soto says. If you're not keen on scented candles, think about adding a few pillar candles in eye-catching hues. "Sparkly orange or purple candles make great dining room centerpieces."

Embrace more colors

While we love orange and black, they don't have to be your only Halloween colors. "Deep purple, dark brown and even midnight blue are great color additions to your classic Halloween color scheme," notes Soto. "Black and purple add that spark of mystery, while orange and dark brown hint at perfect autumn nights." She also advises switching out your sofa pillows for a beautiful blood orange, black or deep purple chevron pattern. "Mix and match your Halloween colors."