Enchanting Witches Broom Decorating Ideas!

When autumn arrives, most homeowners immediately reach for pumpkins and mums, often overlooking one of the most sculptural and versatile elements of the season: the witch’s broom, or besom. In my years of designing seasonal interiors, I have found that brooms offer a unique verticality and texture that wreaths simply cannot match. They bridge the gap between rustic farmhouse charm and the moody, “whimsigoth” aesthetic that has taken current design trends by storm.

I recall a specific project for a client who wanted a Halloween vibe without the kitsch of cartoon ghosts or plastic skeletons. We utilized artisan birch brooms as architectural elements, flanking her fireplace and suspending them above the dining table. The result was sophisticated, slightly mysterious, and entirely grounded in natural materials. If you are looking for specific visual examples of these setups, make sure to look at our curated Enchanting Witches Broom Decorating Ideas Picture Gallery at the end of this blog post.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to select, style, and install these enchanting pieces. We will move beyond simple leaning placement and discuss gravity-defying installations, proper scale for entryways, and the specific mechanics needed to hang these items safely without damaging your walls. Let’s explore how to elevate this humble tool into a stunning piece of seasonal decor.

1. Sourcing and Selecting the Right Besom for Your Space

Not all brooms are created equal, and the success of your design depends heavily on the quality and scale of the broom you choose. In professional design, we look at “visual weight” and material authenticity. A mass-produced plastic broom will always look like a toy, whereas a broom made from natural heather, birch, or cinnamon-scented pine straw acts as a textural art piece.

Understanding Material and Texture

For a high-end look, prioritize natural materials. Birch twigs offer a dark, spindly look that works perfectly for moody, gothic-inspired spaces. If your home leans more toward a light and airy farmhouse aesthetic, look for corn straw or sorghum brooms with a lighter, golden hue. The handle is just as important as the bristles; look for gnarled wood, driftwood, or smooth-sanded hickory.

Scale and Proportion

One of the most common mistakes I see is selecting a broom that is too small for its intended location. If you plan to mount a broom on a standard front door, the broom should be at least two-thirds the height of the door’s window or paneling. A 30-inch craft broom will get lost on a standard 36-inch wide entry door. Aim for brooms that are 48 to 60 inches long for floor-standing displays or main door features.

Designer’s Note: The Scent Factor

Be cautious with cinnamon-scented brooms found in grocery stores. While festive, the oil concentration can be overwhelming in small interiors like powder rooms or foyers. I once placed two in a small entryway, and the clients had to move them outside within an hour. If you are sensitive to fragrance, buy unscented natural brooms and add your own essential oils sparingly to the back of the bristles.

2. Curating the Front Porch Statement

Your exterior entryway sets the tone for the entire home. When using witch’s brooms outdoors, we have to consider wind, moisture, and curb appeal from a distance. A single broom leaning against a wall often looks accidental. To make it look like a design choice, we use grouping and layering techniques.

The Rule of Odds and Grouping

In landscape and interior design, odd numbers create a more pleasing composition than even numbers. For a porch corner, group three brooms of varying heights. You can achieve this by purchasing different sizes or by propping the bristles of one on a small hidden brick to elevate it. Secure the handles together loosely with jute twine or hidden zip ties to prevent them from toppling over in the wind.

Door Mounting Mechanics

Replacing a traditional wreath with a broom requires specific placement. The “center of mass” for a broom is different than a wreath. If you hang it perfectly vertical, it can feel stiff. I prefer hanging brooms at a slight 15 to 30-degree angle. This adds dynamic movement, as if the broom was just parked there mid-flight.

Common Mistakes + Fixes: Outdoor Instability

• Mistake: Simply leaning brooms against the siding. One gust of wind knocks them into the mud, ruining the bristles.
• Fix: Use a clear fishing line to anchor the handle to an existing fixture, railing, or a small screw hook in the porch ceiling. If you are renting and cannot drill, use a heavy decorative pot or cauldron as a base to hold the bristle ends, weighing the pot down with gravel.

3. Interior Wall Styling and Mantel Scapes

Bringing brooms indoors requires a shift in thinking. Here, they function as wall sculptures. The placement needs to respect the geometry of the room, specifically regarding “negative space”—the empty space around the object that lets it breathe.

The Mantel Focal Point

A horizontal broom mounted above a fireplace is a stunning alternative to a mirror or canvas art. To make this work, the broom must be substantial. It should span roughly 75% of the mantel’s width. If your mantel is 60 inches wide, your broom should be roughly 45 inches long. If the broom is too short, the display will feel dinky.

Mounting Without Damage

For interior drywall, I rarely recommend heavy nails for seasonal decor unless you have a designated picture rail. Instead, use command hooks with a weight capacity rated 2 pounds higher than the broom. Because broom handles are round, they can slip off standard hooks. Wrap a small section of the handle in matte floral wire or twine to create a secure loop that hooks onto the wall mount.

Creating a Gallery Wall Moment

If you have a large blank wall, consider a “crossed brooms” installation. This mimics a coat of arms or a crest. This works exceptionally well in dining rooms or above a console table. Ensure the center point where the handles cross is at eye level, which for standing art is generally 57 to 60 inches from the floor.

What I’d Do in a Real Project: The Entryway Console

For a client’s foyer, I would lean a tall, 5-foot birch broom in the corner between the wall and a console table. I would pair it with a tall, antique brass floor lantern to ground the arrangement. The metal texture of the lantern contrasts beautifully with the dry wood of the broom. This setup requires zero holes in the wall and fills awkwardly empty corners effectively.

4. Floating Installations and Ceiling Features

For those willing to take a bolder design risk, suspending brooms from the ceiling creates a magical, “Great Hall” effect. This is particularly effective over a kitchen island or a dining table. This technique moves the eye upward and makes the ceiling feel higher.

Clearance and Height Rules

When hanging anything above a dining table, the bottom of the object should generally be 30 to 36 inches above the table surface. Since brooms are irregular shapes, measure from the lowest dangling twig. If you are hanging them in a walkway or hallway, the clearance needs to be at least 7 feet (84 inches) from the floor so guests do not walk into them.

The Mechanics of Suspension

Do not rely on adhesive hooks for ceiling suspension; gravity works against them, and they will eventually fail, potentially dropping a broom on your dinner guests. You must use screw hooks (cup hooks) anchored into a ceiling joist or toggle bolts if going into drywall.

Lighting Integration

A floating broom is a perfect vessel for lighting. I recommend using battery-operated copper wire fairy lights. Wrap the battery pack in black electrical tape or brown floral tape and tuck it deep into the bristles. The copper wire is thin enough to disappear, leaving only the glimmer of the lights. This creates a floating “cloud” of light that is truly enchanting in the evening.

5. Customizing Your Broom for the Aesthetic

A plain broom is beautiful, but a customized broom is a design statement. As a designer, I rarely use store-bought items exactly as they come. Adding layers allows you to coordinate the broom with your existing room color palette.

The Ribbon Technique

Avoid stiff, cheap craft ribbons. Look for velvet, frayed linen, or wired satin. For a luxurious look, use a “French knot” or simply let long tails of ribbon drape down from the handle. The tails should be varied in length, with the longest tail reaching just past the ends of the bristles. This elongates the silhouette.

Floral Additions

Dried florals are preferable to faux plastic flowers. Dried lavender, wheat, bunny tails, or amaranth add texture that matches the organic nature of the broom. Secure these stems to the handle using floral wire, then cover the wire mechanics with your ribbon.

Color Coordination Guide

• For Moody/Gothic Rooms: Use black velvet ribbon, dried deep red roses, and dark birch brooms.
• For Neutral/Scandi Rooms: Use cream linen ribbon, dried pampas grass, and light sorghum brooms.
• For Traditional Fall Rooms: Use burnt orange satin ribbon, dried wheat, and cinnamon-scented brooms.

Final Checklist: The Pro Design Review

Before you finish your installation, run through this quick checklist to ensure the look is polished and professional.

• Check the Scale: Step back 10 feet. Does the broom look like a toothpick on the wall? If so, layer a second broom or add more volume with florals.
• Hide the Mechanics: Can you see the command strip tab, the nail head, or the floral wire? Tuck them away or paint them to match the broom.
• Secure the Swing: If the broom is on a door, open and close the door aggressively. Does the broom bang against the glass? If so, use a small piece of double-sided foam tape or adhesive felt at the bottom of the handle to stabilize it.
• Lighting Check: If you added lights, is the battery pack accessible? You don’t want to dismantle the display every time you need to change batteries.
• Floor Protection: If the broom is leaning on a hardwood floor, place a small felt pad on the bottom of the bristles or handle to prevent scratches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I store natural brooms so they don’t shed or mold?

A: Natural brooms need to breathe. Do not seal them in plastic bins or bags, as trapped moisture can cause mold. Wrap them loosely in an old cotton sheet or pillowcase and hang them vertically in a closet or garage. Laying them flat for 11 months can flatten the bristles on one side.

Q: Can I use real candles near my broom display?

A: Absolutely not. Dried straw and twigs are incredibly flammable. Even if the candle is several inches away, heat rises and can dry out the wood further. Always use high-quality LED flameless candles near natural fiber decor.

Q: My broom bristles look messy and bent. Can I fix them?

A: Yes. You can steam them gently. Hold the bristles over a pot of boiling water (carefully) or use a garment steamer. The steam relaxes the fibers. While they are warm and damp, smooth them down with your hands and tie a string around the bottom to hold the shape while they dry. Remove the string once dry.

Conclusion

Decorating with witches’ brooms offers a delightful departure from standard fall decor. It allows you to play with height, texture, and a touch of whimsy while keeping your home elegant and grounded. Whether you choose to suspend a fleet of brooms from your dining room ceiling or simply lean a beautiful artisan piece in your entryway, the key is to treat the object with the same design consideration you would give a piece of art.

By focusing on scale, natural materials, and secure installation, you can create a space that feels curated and magical. I encourage you to experiment with these ideas and find the perfect spot in your home for a little bit of enchantment this season.

Picture Gallery