Halloween in the city can be a lot of fun, especially if you have little ones. Of course, if you’re looking to escape the onset of zombies, witches, and ghosts for a weekend, you might consider taking a little trip instead. Not only are vacations a fun alternative to staying at home for the holidays, they can also help you feel more relaxed when you return. More than 52% of those who take a vacation say they feel more rested when they come back home — and because the stresses of the holiday season will be upon us before you know it, Halloween can be a great time to get away.

If you love spending Halloween in the city, you might want to adorn your home with some chilling cheer. Depending on where you live, you may not have all the space you’d like to decorate for the holidays. If you love all the creepy, scary elements of All Hallow’s Eve but are stumped on how to deck out your apartment, here are three great ideas to spookify your place this Halloween:

• Dress up the doorway
  If you have a neighborhood or building full of kids, you’ll definitely want to decorate your door to appeal to your trick-or-treaters. Whether your front door has a street view or goes into a hallway, you can make your place look spooky and appealing by getting a little creative. You can find or make a Halloween wreath, use decorative stickers, cobwebs, or ghostly ornaments to give your entryway some flair. There are also interactive pieces you can buy that encourage visitors to press a button (or are sometimes equipped with motion sensors) to add some scary fun.

• Set the mood
  You can use Halloween twinkly lights, light-up Halloween houses, or candles (either real or electric) to make a dark and stormy atmosphere. Not only will it be fun for trick-or-treaters to peek in and see, but you can watch one of your favorite Halloween movies (and sneak a bit of candy) by flickering candlelight. Make a scary sound effect soundtrack — or use one of the many awesome ones that come pre-made — and serve witchy goodies while you dance the night away to the “Monster Mash.”

• Don’t forget the pumpkins!
  Sometimes, one little gourd is all you need. Placing a pumpkin outside your door or as a table centerpiece can be a simple way to celebrate the season. Of course, carving jack-‘o-lanterns is even more fun, and it instantly puts you in the mood for scary-good fun. Pumpkins are also a versatile decorative element because they can carry you through Thanksgiving (as long as they aren’t carved). After October 31, you can add other types of fall squash and gourds for a natural harvest look.

No matter what your plans are this season, you can celebrate the Halloween holiday with flair and fun. If you’re in the city, you can check out the annual Halloween parade in the East Village, head to Bayside for the Halloween Festival or a haunted lantern tour, or check out the creepy, crawly events in Prospect Park. There’s no shortage of things to do this Halloween!