Let’s be real—Halloween decorations can get ridiculously expensive. One trip to the craft store and suddenly your “simple DIY project” turns into a full-blown financial crisis. But hey, spooky season doesn’t have to drain your wallet! With a bit of creativity (and maybe some glue gun burns 😅), you can transform your home into a haunted masterpiece on a serious budget.
Here are 10 DIY spooky season home decor ideas that’ll give your space major Halloween vibes—without the terrifying price tag.
Floating Ghosts with Cheesecloth
You know those eerie, floating ghosts that look like they cost a fortune? You can totally make them at home.
All you need is cheesecloth, balloons, and a little fabric stiffener (or a cornstarch-water mix if you’re thrifty like me). Drape the cheesecloth over inflated balloons, spray or brush the stiffener, and let it dry. Pop the balloons, and voila—your ghosts are ready to haunt!
Pro Tip: Add battery-operated tea lights underneath for that extra creepy glow. Ever walked into your own kitchen and scared yourself? Yeah, it’s like that.
DIY Candle Jars of Doom 🕯️
Empty mason jars lying around? Perfect. Paint them with orange, black, or blood-red acrylic paint. Then use a black Sharpie or cutout stencils to draw bats, jack-o’-lantern faces, or cobwebs.
Drop in tea lights, and boom—you’ve got instant spooky ambiance.
If you’re feeling fancy, wrap some twine around the top for a rustic touch. Who says witches can’t have style?
Creepy Crawly Candle Holders
Want to level up your dinner table decor? Get a pack of cheap plastic spiders and hot glue them onto old candle holders or even wine bottles. Spray-paint everything matte black, and you’ve got gothic chic on a dime.
Bonus points if you drip red candle wax over them for that “freshly cursed” vibe.
Spooky Silhouette Windows
Nothing says “haunted house” like creepy shadows in your window. Cut out bat, witch, or ghost silhouettes from black construction paper (or black trash bags, FYI—they work great). Tape them inside your windows, then backlight them with orange LED lights.
From the street, your house will look like it belongs in a Tim Burton movie—and who doesn’t want that?
DIY Pumpkin Lanterns (Without the Pumpkin Mess) 🎃
Pumpkin carving is fun… until you’re knee-deep in slimy guts. If you’d rather skip the cleanup, paint old glass jars or plastic containers orange and draw on spooky faces instead.
You can even wrap them in orange tissue paper for texture. Drop in a flameless candle, and you’ve got a reusable pumpkin lantern—no rot, no mess, just pure Halloween magic.
The Haunted Mirror Trick
This one’s simple but so effective. Find an old mirror (thrift stores are gold mines for this) and distress it with a mix of vinegar and water spray, then lightly rub off parts of the reflective backing.
Next, tape a printed photo of a ghostly face or old portrait behind it. Hang it up and wait until your guests walk by. Their reflection + that ghostly image = instant chills.
Ever jumped at your own reflection? Yeah… this makes it worse (and funnier).
Bone-Chilling Table Centerpiece
For a dinner that’s equal parts spooky and stylish, fill a bowl or tray with:
- Fake skulls or bones (Dollar Tree FTW)
- Dried flowers or leaves
- Mini pumpkins or candles
- A sprinkle of black glitter for that touch of drama
Arrange it all in layers, like you’re some kind of witchy Martha Stewart. Guests will think you spent hours—just don’t tell them it took five minutes and $10.
Spider Web Doorway Decor 🕸️
You can buy fake spider web material anywhere, but IMO the best DIY version uses white yarn. Tie and twist strands across your doorway or arch like a web pattern.
Throw in a few fake spiders and—bam!—you’ve got a creepy entryway that’ll tangle up anyone brave enough to enter. (Don’t worry, it’s mostly safe. Mostly.)
