Misty mornings, leaves shining in bright red, yellow, and orange hues, and spooky creatures making an appearance — October has a very special charm. So, how about some new desktop wallpapers to celebrate October’s beauty, and the upcoming Halloween season, of course? Well, we’ve got you covered.
Just like it has been a monthly tradition here at Smashing Magazine for more than 15 years already, the wallpapers in this post were created by artists and designers from across the globe. All of them come in a variety of screen resolutions and can be downloaded for free. A huge thank-you to everyone who shared their designs with us — you are truly smashing!
Now, before you pick your favorite for the month, did you know that you can also get featured in one of our upcoming wallpapers posts? We are always looking for creative talent, so please don’t hesitate to join in. We’d love to see what you come up with!
- You can click on every image to see a larger preview.
- We respect and carefully consider the ideas and motivation behind each and every artist’s work. This is why we give all artists the full freedom to explore their creativity and express emotions and experience through their works. This is also why the themes of the wallpapers weren’t anyhow influenced by us but rather designed from scratch by the artists themselves.
A Night Of Universal Magic And Joy
From candlelit streets in Europe to vibrant festivals across the Americas, Halloween has become a global celebration that unites people of all ages. It is a magical night where children step into the shoes of their favorite heroes for candy-filled adventures, while adults rediscover the pure, playful excitement of childhood. Across cultures and continents, glowing pumpkins and festive costumes light up the autumn dark, bringing neighbors together, sparking laughter, and proving that joy knows no age limit. — Designed by PopArt Studio from Novi Sad, Serbia.
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Voodoo You
Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.
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Hanging
Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.
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Under The Floodlights
October football begins under the lights. This geometric illustration captures the quiet moment before kickoff: an empty pitch, warm floodlights, and a dark autumn sky. A few fallen leaves hint at the season, while the open composition leaves room for the everyday things on your desktop. — Designed by Football Charts from Serbia.
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Coffee Weather
October is here, which means colder mornings, warmer clothes, and coffee that somehow tastes better outside. A small autumn scene for one of the coziest months of the year. — Designed by Ginger IT Solutions from Serbia.
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Midnight Mischief
Designed by Libra Fire from Serbia.
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Magical October
‘I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.’ (L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables) — Designed by Lívi Lénárt from Hungary.
The Night Drive
Designed by Vlad Gerasimov from Georgia.
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Bird Migration Portal
When I was young, I had a bird’s nest not so far from my room window. I watched the birds almost every day, because those swallows always left their nests in October. As a child, I dreamt that they all flew together to a nicer place, where they were not so cold. — Designed by Eline Claeys from Belgium.
The Crow And The Ghosts
If my heart were a season, it would be autumn. — Designed by Lívia Lénárt from Hungary.
Spooky Town
Designed by Xenia Latii from Germany.
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Hanlu
“The term ‘Hanlu’ literally translates as ‘Cold Dew.’ The cold dew brings brisk mornings and evenings. Eventually the briskness will turn cold, as winter is coming soon. And chrysanthemum is the iconic flower of Cold Dew.” — Designed by Hong, ZI-Qing from Taiwan.
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Ghostbusters
Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.
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Hello Autumn
Did you know that squirrels don’t just eat nuts? They really like to eat fruit, too. Since apples are the seasonal fruit of October, I decided to combine both things into a beautiful image. — Designed by Erin Troch from Belgium.
Transitions
To me, October is a transitional month. We gradually slide from summer to autumn. That’s why I chose to use a lot of gradients. I also wanted to work with simple shapes, because I think of October as the ‘back to nature/back to basics month’. — Designed by Jelle Denturck from Belgium.
AI
Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.
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First Scarf And The Beach
When I was little, my parents always took me and my sister for a walk at the beach in Nieuwpoort. We didn’t really do those beach walks in the summer but always when the sky started to turn gray and the days became colder. My sister and I always took out our warmest scarfs and played in the sand while my parents walked behind us. I really loved those Saturday or Sunday mornings where we were all together. I think October (when it’s not raining) is the perfect month to go to the beach for ‘uitwaaien’ (to blow out), to walk in the wind and take a break and clear your head, relieve the stress or forget one’s problems. — Designed by Gwen Bogaert from Belgium.
Shades Of Gold
We are about to experience the magical imagery of nature, with all the yellows, ochers, oranges, and reds coming our way this fall. With all the subtle sunrises and the burning sunsets before us, we feel so joyful that we are going to shout it out to the world from the top of the mountains. — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.
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Tea And Cookies
“As it gets colder outside, all I want to do is stay inside with a big pot of tea, eat cookies, and read or watch a movie, wrapped in a blanket. Is it just me?” — Designed by Miruna Sfia from Romania.
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Autumn Deer
Designed by Amy Hamilton from Canada.
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Discovering The Universe
“Autumn is the best moment for discovering the universe. I am looking for a new galaxy or maybe… a UFO!” — Designed by Verónica Valenzuela from Spain.
King Of The Pirates
Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.
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Autumn In The Forest
“Autumn is a wonderful time to go for walks in the forest!” — Designed by Hilda Rytteke from Sweden.
Autumn Gate
“The days are colder, but the colors are warmer, and with every step we go further, new earthly architecture reveals itself, making the best of winters’ dawn.” — Designed by Ana Masnikosa from Belgrade, Serbia.
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Game Night And Hot Chocolate
To me, October is all about cozy evenings with hot chocolate, freshly baked cookies, and a game night with friends or family. — Designed by Lieselot Geirnaert from Belgium.
A Very Pug-o-ween
“The best part of October is undoubtedly Halloween. And the best part of Halloween is dog owners who never pass up an o-paw-tunity to dress up their pups as something a-dog-able. Why design pugs specifically in costumes? Because no matter how you look at it, pugs are cute in whatever costume you put them in for trick or treating. There’s something about their wrinkly snorting snoots that makes us giggle, and we hope our backgrounds make you smile all month.” — Designed by Trillion from Summit, NJ.
Roger That Rogue Rover
“The story is a mash-up of retro science fiction and zombie infection. What would happen if a Mars rover came into contact with an unknown Martian material and got infected with a virus? What if it reversed its intended purpose of research and exploration? Instead choosing a life of chaos and evil. What if they all ran rogue on Mars? Would humans ever dare to voyage to the red planet?” Designed by Frank Candamil from the United States.
Halloween 2040
Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Spain.
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Dope Code
“October is the month when the weather in Poland starts to get colder, and it gets very rainy, too. You can’t always spend your free time outside, so it’s the perfect opportunity to get some hot coffee and work on your next cool web project!” — Designed by Robert Brodziak from Poland.
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Happy Fall!
“Fall is my favorite season!” — Designed by Thuy Truong from the United States.
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Get Featured Next Month
Feeling inspired? We’ll publish the November wallpapers on October 31, so if you’d like to be part of the collection, please don’t hesitate to submit your design. We are already looking forward to it!
