Create New Halloween Memories with these Exciting DIY Decorations

What Is Halloween?

Halloween often celebrated as a spooky fun event, is actually rooted in the ancient traditions, of the Celtic festival of Samhain. Celebrated on October 31st, every year it marks the evening before All Saints' Day. It is believed that on this day the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest, allowing spirits to roam freely. As a form of protection, the Celts wore these costumes and lit bonfires, to scare away the spirits or ghosts of the visiting dead. When the Irish immigrants settled down in the US in the 1800s they took their Halloween customs and incorporated them into their harvest festival. Over time this makes one of the principal holidays in the US and is therefore celebrated every year with great costumes, food, and Halloween decor.

Table of Contents

• Why Do You Need Halloween Decorations?
• Materials Needed for Halloween Decorations
• Types of Halloween Decorations
• Yard Decorations Ideas
• Indoor Halloween Decoration Ideas

Why Do You Need Halloween Decorations?

While the ancient customs have evolved, the tradition of Halloween decorations has taken newer and more creative forms. While originally, people settled for carved turnips or gourds to ward off evil spirits, today most people use modern jack-o'-lanterns made from huge orange pumpkikinsns. The whole event has spooky influences like skeletons and cobwebs, ghosts and ghouls, vampires, and whatnot for a frightening and fun atmosphere. And now with Halloween just around the corner, you might want to speed up on those decorations and get creative. This is also a good time for family activities, so you can embrace this spooky season by indulging in some diy halloween decorations. Here are some fun ways to create an exciting Halloween atmosphere without burning a hole in your pocket.

Types of Halloween Decorations

While some Halloween traditions have been repeated over the years, the styles have evolved as have their placement. To encapsulate the fun, whimsical as well as spooky terrifying element you can experiment with different types of Halloween décor mentioned here. 

1. Yard Decorations:

Outdoor décor is typically large, eye-catching, and designed to create an eerie atmosphere in yards or on porches. 

2. Indoor Decorations:

You can use all sorts of items to transform your living space with a more intimate, spooky ambiance.

Materials Needed for Halloween Decorations

For your halloween decorations , you can get a bunch of materials from your local hardware, stationary, or convenience store to create some amazing DIY projects that can be used outdoors and indoors. Here is a list of things to buy.

• Plastic and Foam:

Get some lightweight and easy-to-mold, plastic and foam from your local hardware store to create tombstones, skulls, skeletons, and other 3D props. 

• Wood:

You can acquire some wooden pallets, crates, and old boards to transform into signs, fences, or coffins. 

• Glass:

Glass jars, bottles, and mirrors are versatile items that can be repurposed into vases, candle holders, or unique pieces of wall art. 

• Metal:

Rusted metal items such as old garden tools or industrial objects can be turned into vintage décor, coat racks, or planters. 

• Fabric:

For the overall ghostly effect get some black, grey, and white fabrics and create spooky drapes or even eerie curtains for your porch or windows. Burlap is another material commonly found in homes and that can be turned into mummies or furniture covers. 

• Wire Mesh:

For structure, you can use some wire mesh for figures, skeleton frames, or ghostly bodies and then drape the fabric over them. 

• Lighting:

The best effect, of course, is incomplete without battery-powered LED lights, flickering bulbs, and colored spotlights as this sets the mood and tone for that perfect haunted glow.

• Paint:

For some more special effects get some glow-in-the-dark paint, maybe some in neon colors or even reds, and blacks as these can highlight DIY signs, tombstones, etc. 

• Fake blood:

Some fake blood, made with paint adds a gruesome touch to windows, walls, and props like weapons or dolls. 

• Cobwebs:

You can either buy stretchable spider webs or create your own with old fabric threads to drape over corners for a haunted house scene. 

• Plastic life-size skeletons:

Nothing is complete without hanging or resting skeletons so add that for a creepy ambiance. 

• Animatronic figures:

If you can splurge a bit then invest in some motion-activated witches, ghosts, or zombies, that emit sounds or move to startle guests. 

• Fog machines:

Essential for adding a mysterious, eerie atmosphere to your yard or haunted house. 

• Creepy dolls:

Old, broken dolls or figurines can be transformed into terrifying creatures with a little paint and fake blood. 

• Gravestones:

You can buy some Styrofoam or cardboard boxes, and paint them to create a DIY, gravestone when adding a cemetery feel to your yard. 

• Pumpkin Display:

Like the traditional pumpkins, you can arrange carved jack-o'-lanterns on your porch steps. Craving different facial expressions, from menacing to playful, can add some character while the strobe lights can make them flicker.

Yard Decorations Ideas

Halloween is the time to rile up that imagination and transform your normally trimmed yard into a terrifying scene. The best way to entertain the trick-or-treaters and delight your neighbors, is to unleash your creativity, making your front yard, the focal haunting point of an immersive experience with these ideas. Some cheap halloween decorations can save you a lot of money and they are listed below.

How to DIY Scary Yard Decorations

While there are quite a few ready-to-decorate options out there, for the environment or budget–conscious individual there are quite a few DIY ideas that will save you tons of money and also enable you to spend some family-building activity time. To do a halloween decorations outdoor, you can explore these great DIY suggestions.

• DIY Ghosts 

Put together somewhite sheets, balloons, cords, and black felt paper for eyes. Inflate the balloon, and if you do not have one you can just as easily use a foam ball. This is for the head ghost figure which then has to be attached to a fish line. Drape a white sheet over this structure and basically, use the cut-outs of the eyes over the head area. Hang these from the branches of your trees or your porch, to create a floating effect, that will be enhanced by the wind. If you have plenty of space then place some animal skeletons around the graves. And maybe add some animatronic zombies or hands emerging from the ground. You can create zombie hands from foam or latex. 

• Jack-o'-Lanterns

You need some pumpkins, carving tools, LED lights or candles. Use the carving tools to create the eyes, and broken mouth, with various expressions or even a haunted house or witch silhouette. Add the LED lights for a spooky effect, and line your walkway or porch steps with these glowing jack-o'-lanterns. 

• Gravestone Yard Signs

Get some boxes, cardboard or Styrofoam boards, black or grey spray paint, and a marker or paintbrush. Cut the boards or boxes into gravestone shapes, spray paint them any color you want, and then write down funny or spooky epitaphs. You could also create signboards with the same materials and add some cobwebs or plastic skeleton parts, for that extra scare factor. Adding some dim lighting and fog machines will create an ominous atmosphere. Colored floodlights often add to the eeriness and highlight shadows of the gravestones, hanging ghosts, or zombie figures so you can experiment with them too.

• Create a Haunted Pathway

Use faux gravestones to line your walkway, leading trick-or-treaters through a spooky graveyard. Add a fog machine along the path to create an eerie, low-hanging mist. A life-size scarecrow or skeleton placed near the driveway can set the tone for the rest of your yard. Place fake body bags or bones along the sidewalk to give guests chills before they even reach your door. 

• Fake Hanging Bats/ Spiders

You can use some old black fabric or pieces of burlap and stick them onto wing-shaped wire mesh to create hanging bats from ceilings or the eaves of your porch. Hold them or mold them using fishing wire. This will make them appear flying or crawling across the surface. 

• Creepy Drapes

Some ripped old, unused fabric can give a tattered effect when hung over your doorway. So you can use that to present a rugged appearance. 

• Creepy Clown Setup

You can paint a clown’s face on a balloon or a ball and place it onto a stuffed old onesie or dungarees. Add a colorful wig and some LED lights for an unsettling effect. Place some wooden crates or old cardboard boxes filled with balls, old tires, and juggling clubs for the stage. 

• Creepy Doll Garden

Another fantastic idea is to collect old dolls from thrift stores, and paint their faces white with blacked-out eyes, and red lips. Maybe, rip up the hair and dirty the clothes a bit with red paint for a gruesome effect. Set them up in corners of the yard, patio, porch, or gravestones, and maybe even the windows to add to the spookiness.

Indoor Halloween Decorations and DIY Ideas

Indoor spaces have as much potential for some crazy, spooky décor as outdoor spaces. Every nook and corner can be used as a stage or backdrop to place your creepy décor. Here are some equally crazy, scary halloween decorations ideas to create the right ambiance of thrill and fear within your home.

• Spider Webs and Giant Spiders

You need some black netting, wire mesh, and string li Create a web-like mesh with the wire, and stretch the black netting over it with glue creating web-like strands. Once they are dry hang these frames across your porch or drape them on bushes for a creepy-crawly feel. The string lights can add an eerie glow at night. 

• DIY Paper Bats

You need some black construction or ivory paper, scissors, and some tape. Cut out bat shapes and wings from the paper. Fold the wings slightly for some structure. Use some cello tape or double-sided to tape them to the walls or entryways in clusters. 

• Potion Bottles and Apothecary Jars

Get some old empty jars, or glass bottles, food coloring, stickers or labels, candles, rubber snakes, or fake eyeballs. Add water and food coloring, and stick on labels written in a scrawny script. Drop in the plastic snakes, eyeballs, and other spooky items. You can line these along windows, mantel tops, shelves, etc. for a haunted apothecary look. Some flickering and dripping candles could be placed beside them for a mysterious effect. 

• Cobweb Curtains

Gather some black lace or tattered cloth, along with scissors from grandma’s embroidery case. Cut the lace or cloth into uneven, torn strips to resemble cobwebs, and drape these over windows, doorways, or mirrors for a haunted house vibe. Pair them with Pumpkin Curtains to complete the spooky look, as the warm orange tones of the curtains contrast perfectly with the dark, eerie drapes, creating a festive yet haunted atmosphere in your home.

• DIY Witch's Cauldron

Get a large cauldron, bucket, or tub as well as some dry ice, water, and small LED lights. Arrange the dry ice carefully at the bottom of the cauldron and pour some water gently over it. As the vapors rise it creates a misty effect. Stick the small LED lights inside the edges for a glowing, bubbling look. You can place the cauldron as a centerpiece on your dining table or by the front door. 

• Bloody Handprint on Windows

For simpleroptions gather some red food coloring or paint and a sponge. Dip the sponge into the coloring or paint and press them onto your hands. Press the palm windows or mirrors for a gruesome effect. 

• Hanging Body Bags

Dig into the utility area for some black trash bags, old clothes, and some rope. Stuff the bags with old clothes, paper, etc, forming them into a human shape. Tie them off with rope and hang them from a door frame or set them up near the stairs. 

• Animated Creepy Dolls

If you have some old dolls, black spray paint, or red food coloring and paint then you can create some ghostly dolls. Paint the dolls’ eyes and clothes black, brush them with some red paint around the lips, and splatter some on the clothes for a gruesome effect. Place them on shelves in groups or chairs to create a nightmarish scene. You can also add these to your mantelpiece, as the higher they are placed the creepier they look with the shadows and all. 

• Creepy Portraits

Although, this might take some work, you could get some creepy posters and replace them with your family photos. Use some spray paint and fake blood to give your frames an old distressed look. 

• Bathroom

Take some washable red paint, or food coloring and dunk them in a bathtub full of water. Throw in a few eyeballs, creepy dolls, or skeletons for that extra shock effect. You could also place a fog machine behind the shower curtain and recreate the shower scene from Hitchcock’s movie, ‘Birds.’

• Witch’s Kitchen

If you old and unused peanut butter jars, pickle bottles or milk bottles then fill them up with red juices, like cranberry or strawberry. You could add some edible fondant shaped like eyeballs, worms etc. for a gory effect. Label them with spooky and creepy names like, “Devil’s Juice”,  “Evil Dead Delight” etc. 

• Bloody Utensils

Food coloring can also be used to mark and stain your dishes, knives, and countertops, and cutting boards. 

• Floating Candles

If you like Harry Potter then this floating candle idea will certainly be your main focus. Hang some LED candles on a fishing line, from the ceiling so they float above your guests’ heads, creating a magical yet haunting atmosphere. 

• Spider Egg Sacks

This can be created with cotton batting or pillow stuffing. Just shape them into an egg-like structure, and some DIY wire and paper spiders, and hang them in dark corners of your ceiling, near the doorway overhead, or across the mantelpiece. Some low lighting can be used to cast a shadow for extra effect! 

• Haunted Mirrors

The best way to spook someone is tocreate a ghostly reflection, on a haunted mirror. Spray some paint on the mirror edge, and scrape out an eerie figure or handprint in the center. This gives the impression of a spirit trapped in the mirror. 

• Doorway Monster

Use a pair of paper knives to craft jagged edged teeth on a cardboard or foam. Stick them to the doorframe with tape and spray paint them gray and red to resemble monster teeth. This makes it look as if you are walking into a creature's lair. 

With these great DIY suggestions, you can go for vintage halloween decorations or modern spooky ones. What matters is that you can do all of this under a budget, with a little creativity and some basic supplies. Impress and delight your trick-or-treaters and guests with scary pumpkins, spider egg sacks, and haunted mirrors, as the possibilities are endless when it comes to DIY Halloween decorations.