60 DIY Halloween Decorating Ideas for Every Kind of Crafter
So easy, it's spooky.
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Every holiday gets festive with on-theme decorations, but Halloween takes it to a scary new level. It's hardly spooky season without faux cobwebs, jack-o'-lanterns, and bowls of candy everywhere. If you're looking to go bigger than usual this October, these Halloween decorating ideas are just what you need. The best part? They're all super affordable because—drum roll, please—you can make them all yourself using stuff you probably already have on hand.
The other great thing about these Halloween decorations is that no matter how elaborate they may look, we're confident you can pull them off. They're actually easy to make, and we break them all down to make it foolproof. If you know your way around a hot-glue gun and paintbrush, you'll be fine. And if you don't have one of those, don't worry because plenty of our favorite Halloween decoration ideas don't require anything more than scissors and some orange and black paper. Others call for supplies you (or your kids) can easily scrape up. In fact, one of our favorite decorations is made entirely out of rocks you can find in your backyard.
These Halloween decorating ideas really set a scene too. One is a Halloween tablescape so elaborate your guests will have to watch their heads so as not to bump into the "flying" broomstick. There's also a slightly less terrifying front porch decoration involving a stack of jack-o'-lanterns that doubles as a personalized street lamp. Feeling inspired? Start decorating now and your house will be the coolest one in the neighborhood.
Paint Leaf Ghosts
Make use of your fall foliage by turning fallen leaves into miniature spooky ghosts. All you need is white acrylic paint and a black permanent marker to make cute wall decals, tablescape decorations, or name tags.
Put Up a Halloween Paper Garland
If you want to break out your Christmas bead garlands a bit early, add a cheeky Halloween element to make them fit in. Cut out spooky-season-themed shapes like ghosts, pumpkins, and spiders to make your holiday decor last through the changing seasons.
Twist a Spooky Branch Wreath
Halloween wreaths often lean toward treat rather than trick, but if you prefer scary Halloween decorating ideas, look to your yard for materials. Made from broken tree branches (real or fake!) and a coat of black spray paint, this scary wreath can work either indoors or out.
Assemble an Eyeball Wreath
With a bunch of Ping-Pong balls and googly eyes and equal amounts of patience, you can wow visitors and trick-or-treaters with this stunning wreath. Get the tutorial at The Love Nerds.
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Spin Spiderweb Placemats
A festive addition to any Halloween dinner party, these spiderweb placemats require only two materials (really): wax paper and puff paint. They're ideal for a busy weekend or last-minute project—just be sure to allow enough time for them to dry. Follow Delia Creates' tutorial.
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Craft Wizard Wands
If you're a big fan of Harry Potter, make your own magical wands as an accessory for your next spooky-season movie marathon. Display a bunch of them in a jar and let your party guests choose their own—or, as any true HP lover knows, let the wand choose the wizard. Get the full tutorial at Mom Brite.
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Paint Realistic Googly Eyes
No matter where you live, you'll be able to scrounge up a few rocks. Next? Paint. Even if you wouldn't consider yourself a talented painter, you can certainly master a few creepy eyes. Arrange them on a free table and cover the whole thing with a layer of wispy fuzz.
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Make a Broomstick Pendant Light
Now, this is a Halloween dinner party for the (spell)books. This dining room is fully decked out from the broomstick and black cat chandelier to the black fringed tablecloth, gourds, and black candlesticks. The romantic pink and red centerpieces make for a nice contrast that softens and elevates the themed decor.
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Bake Creepy Cakes
Let dessert do the talking. These cakes double as cute Halloween decorating ideas, while the skeleton serveware is actually chic enough to live beyond the grave of October 31. And while that cake decorating looks pretty intense, it's actually as easy as hitting the print button. Get more details from Sugar and Charm.
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Paint Your Pumpkins
Opt for pinks, peaches, and burgundies in your centerpiece rather than the classic warm orange-y fall palette. Then paint your pumpkins a neutral hue! (Faux pumpkins work, too.)
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DIY a Chalkboard Fireplace
Alicia Lund swathed the interior of her decorative marble fireplace in two coats of Benjamin Moore's chalkboard paint. Then, she drew a fun Halloween scene to work as a nice backdrop.
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Make a Marigold Garland
Perfect for displaying at any point during fall, a DIY marigold garland—like this one by blogger Alicia Lund—will add a pop of color to any area in your home. All you need are thread, scissors, needles, and flowers. Bonus: They'll also make your home smell good!
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Stitch an Eerie Pattern
If you know how to cross stitch or want to learn, consider downloading this spooky pumpkin and screaming ghost pattern from MIYAstitch on Etsy. It'll be a fun project to work on leading up to the holiday. Not to mention, you can display it in a variety of ways including in a frame or stretched over canvas. You can even put it on a throw pillow cover, kitchen towel, placemat, quilt, pillowcase, and more.
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Send Test Tube Invitations
Don't limit your best Halloween decorating ideas to the big event itself. Make sure your invitations are just as spirited and fun. These DIY test tubes from Sugar & Cloth will do the trick.
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Display an On-Theme Bouquet
If you're hosting a scary movie night, bring the on-screen horror to life with some scary decor. An on-theme bouquet surrounded by pumpkins and a skull decanter for the table and some flying paper bats for the walls will do. Floor cushions promise extra seating—power in numbers when it comes to scary movie marathons. Find out more from Sugar and Charm.
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Use a Contemporary Tablecloth
A black-and-white striped tablecloth adds a contemporary playfulness to an outdoor Halloween dinner party. Then, glue little ants to your napkin rings to be freaky but not too freaky.
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Display a Fall Garland
Don't forget to spruce up the bar cart while you're at it! Learn how to make this gorgeous garland (which also works for the fireplace or as a centerpiece) from Sugar and Cloth.
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Create String Art
In a similar vein, try creating string art. This project requires a hanging wood sign, colored string, nails, and a pattern. Luckily, you can buy everything you need in this kit by String Art From Heart on Etsy. Bonus: It includes easy-to-follow instructions, and no experience is required!
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Fashion Fabric Pumpkins
Turn a festive fabric, like an orange bandana or black and white plaid, into a mini pumpkin. You'll need a needle, thread, fiberfill, and sticks for the stems. Get the tutorial from Sadie Seasongoods.
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