50 Cheap DIY Halloween Decorations for the Spookiest Holiday Ever
Updated: Apr. 28, 2021Whether you caught the DIY bug from creating homemade Halloween costumes for your kids, putting together pretty decorated pumpkins, or you're getting crafty for the first time, these homemade Halloween decorations make it easy to trick out your house for the holiday inexpensively — but without looking cheap.
Boo it yourself
It may scare you just how easy and cheap these DIY Halloween decorations are! From witches to pumpkins to bats to spiders, we’ve got something for every avid spooky season lover. So bust out the paints and glue guns—it’s time to get to work creating your most haunting Halloween yet. Cheap Halloween decorations aren’t the only thing you can DIY—you can whip up a homemade Halloween costume, too! Check out the cutest homemade costumes for kids and our favorite DIY disguises for adults.
Halloween gingerbread house
Why wait until Christmas to create your perfect gingerbread house? This delicious DIY Halloween decoration is as tasty as it is spooky. All you’ll need is some frosting, candy corn, and creativity to get started on this craft. Ever wondered why we pass out candy on Halloween? We’ve got you covered.
Get the full tutorial at The DIY Mama Blog.
Shadowbox pumpkins
Take pumpkin carving to a whole new level with these creative shadow box beauties. All you’ll need for this DIY Halloween decoration are some scissors and some creativity. After carving out a round hole in your pumpkin, choose from a variety of designs to cut out your picture-perfect shadowbox scene—or better yet, create your own. For an extra special twist, place a tea light behind your cut-outs and watch your Halloween scene spring to fiery life. Try one of these 31 free pumpkin carving stencils.
Get the full tutorial at Crazy Little Projects.
Bread tag monsters
We all know those little plastic clips used to keep bread fresh—but what do you do with them after the loaf is gone? This DIY Halloween decoration is a two in one win: Not only will you get an adorably spooky craft out of it, but you’ll be giving a renewed purpose to old bread tags. Paint the clips with acrylic paint and add designs to create your newest favorite little monsters. Here’s the psychology behind why you hate scary movies.
Get the full tutorial at Crafts by Amanda.
Halloween countdown calendar
Can’t wait until Halloween? With this Halloween DIY decoration, you’ll be able to literally count down the days. All you’ll need is a bulletin board, some card stock, and push pins to create the Halloween countdown calendar of your dreams (or better yet, nightmares). Are you brave enough to handle the most terrifying haunted houses in America?
Get the full tutorial at Spooky Little Halloween.
Pumpkin witch
Are you squeamish about pumpkin guts but still love their festive look? Well, this no-carving-necessary Halloween DIY decoration is perfect for you. With the use of some colorful duct tape, you can create the witch-o-lantern of your dreams sans mess. Speaking of spooky faces, did you know there’s a totally logical reason you’re scared of clowns?
Get the full tutorial at The Crafty Blog Stalker.
Halloween jars
Even your jars can get festive this holiday season with this super simple (yet super spooky!) Halloween DIY craft. With the help of some Mod Podge, paint pens, and LED tea lights, you’ll be able to turn your old glass jars from trash to flash. We bet you didn’t know these facts about the history of Halloween.
Get the full tutorial at Create and Craft Blog.
Bat paper puppet
Thanks to the paper template that can be found on redtedart.com, making your very own boo-tiful bat paper puppet is as easy as 1, 2, 3. You’ll be able to awe your kids (and fellow parents alike) with this particular Halloween DIY decoration by making the bat’s wings move up and down. Score! To ensure that everyone can enjoy Halloween, stock up on these candies safe for kids with food allergies.
Get the full tutorial at Red Ted Art.
Spider web earrings
Who says kids are the only ones that get to have all the DIY fun? These adorably spooktastic spider web earrings are sure to catch someone’s eye (and possibly also an unlucky insect). Just make sure you avoid getting caught in its web! For your next Halloween party, show up in one of these popular costumes.
Get the full tutorial at Crafts for All Seasons.
Ghostly globes
Don’t let how impressive-looking this Halloween craft scare you away: It’s easy to make and only requires a quick and cheap trip to the craft store. Made mainly from cheesecloth (along with a few other materials), these ghosts are sure to make for a ghoul-tastic holiday. Get the full tutorial at Sparkle Living.
Sugar skull mason jar
Do you prefer sugar skulls over typical skeletons? If so, this Halloween craft is sure to satisfy all your spooky cravings. All you’ll need to create the sugar skull of your dreams is a mason jar, white spray paint, acrylic paint, and a whole bunch of creativity. Not to be ominous, but…this is how your Halloween tradition may be changing soon.
Get the full tutorial at Ann’s Entitled Life.
Spider web cookie jar
You don’t have to wait until after Halloween to use extra candy in a creative way; fall-hued M&Ms make a colorful replacement for traditional chocolate chips in cookies. To keep your batch fresh in the most spooktackular way, store them in this DIY Halloween decoration. Trick-or-treating with your little? Try one of these adorable mom and baby Halloween costumes.
Get the full tutorial at Crazy Little Projects.
Wood slice pumpkins
If you love to craft for the holidays but don’t like it to get in the way of your usual home decor style, we hear you. And that’s why this wood slice pumpkin craft is perfect for anyone wanting to add a sophisticated and rustic twist to your Halloween decorating style. Feel free to freehand your designs, or use a template to make sure your pumpkin is picture-perfect. This is the best pumpkin patch in every state.
Get the full tutorial at DecoArt Blog.
Pumpkin spice slime
Remember when the slime craze swept the world? This Halloween season, bring back the slime with this recipe perfectly suited for the spooky October holiday. What’s so great about this particular Halloween craft is that you’ll already have most of the materials at home, and playing with it will keep your kids occupied for hours. Win-win! Find out what folks used to carve before pumpkins came into play.
Get the full tutorial at My Big Fat Happy Life.
Frankenstein tin cans
Recycling and crafting? Sign us up! These adorably terrifying Frankenstein tin cans will be the perfect silly addition to your Halloween decorations. Make as many as you want to create your very own little army of tin can monsters. Check out these 13 ways Halloween is celebrated around the world.
Get the full tutorial at You Brew My Tea.
Haunted welcome mat
Enter…if you dare, with this haunting welcome mat. One thing you don’t have to be spooked about is how to make this craft: All you need is some spray paint and DIY stencils. Get the rest of your house in on the action too with these creepy Halloween yard decorations.
Get the full tutorial at Crafty Lumberjacks.
Coffin table planter
Mix your green thumb with some spookiness this holiday season with a creepy coffin planter. Just plant as you normally would, but stick some skeleton bones in there to create the perfect Halloween ambiance. If you’re a fan of clever Halloween themes, these puns will have you laughing ’til your coffin.
Get the full tutorial at Revamperate.
Fairy graveyard centerpiece
Looking to spook up your dining room table for the season? This fairy graveyard centerpiece is sure to get heads rolling. Although this craft is one of the more involved ones on the list, you’re sure to be impressed with the turnout. Find out how to make your carved pumpkin last two weeks or longer.
Get the full tutorial at A Crafty Mix.
Fabric pumpkins
What requires no sewing, takes under an hour to make, and is sure to add to your Halloween decor? This incredible fabric pumpkin DIY, of course! All you’ll need is some fabric and beans (or the stuffing of your choice) to give the pumpkin its perfect shape. Ever wonder how these 14 Halloween superstitions came to haunt us?
Get the full tutorial at Happy Hour Projects.
Ghost balloons
Boo! This craft is so simple yet so spooky, we’re surprised more people haven’t thought of it. Turn white balloons into ghostly masterpieces by drawing on a face with black Sharpie and adding some crepe ribbons to the bottom. Learn about 12 of the most haunted places in America where you just might encounter a ghost.
Get the full tutorial at Design Improvised.
Spooky silhouette window decorations
Do you love all things vintage? If so, this is the Halloween DIY decoration for you. These embroidery hoops with silhouettes of witches, goblins, and ghouls will definitely provide some spook factor for your house. If you’re ready to be spooked, read on to find out about 17 creepy real events that actually happened on Halloween.
Get the full tutorial at Sadie Seasongoods.
Boo Bottles
Raid your recycling bin to make these glass ghosts in four easy steps: First, remove labels and caps from bottles (we used Perrier ones here). Spray-paint them white, then draw faces on with a black marker. To finish this cheap Halloween decoration, throw in colorful straws for cute centerpieces. Find out where to score the best Halloween candy deals in 2020.
Cobweb Coasters
Cups look creepy when sitting on these spindly saucers. To make these DIY Halloween decorations, hook five bobby pins onto a 3/8-inch flat metal washer. Then, wrap twine around and thread through each bobby pin. Spray-paint everything white for that ghoulish look, and scatter small toy spiders around the table. Brush up on the basics of what Halloween is and why it’s celebrated.
Spooky Terrarium
The cute woodland world gets a spooky twist with this DIY craft. After you search the backyard for twigs, moss, and rocks, scour the house for small Halloween-themed decorations like skulls and scary birds for these cheap Halloween decorations. Then, build your scene on an upside-down lid of a Mason jar. When your miniature landscape looks complete, screw the jar onto the lid and place it in the window or next to your front door in lieu of a pumpkin. Not sure what to dress up as this year? Start with these most popular Halloween costumes.
Get the full tutorial at Today’s Creative Blog.
Vampire Napkin Rings
Serious chompers make your table settings look so cute it’s scary. Splash white cloth napkins with red Kool-Aid, thread a white twist tie through a set of plastic vampire teeth, and finally secure a twist tie around the center of your napkin. Learn the history behind how vampires—and 13 other things—came to be classic Halloween symbols.
Creepy Wall Hangings
The Graphics Fairy blog makes DIY Halloween decorations easier with three free printables and a simple technique to transfer the images directly onto fabric using your regular printer. (Make sure you have a full black ink cartridge.) Wooden embroidery hoops come from the craft store for under $2. If fabric hangings aren’t your thing, pop images into frames and hang them up around the house. When should you toss your Halloween candy? Find out how long it is good for.
Get the full tutorial at The Graphics Fairy.
Ghostly Lanterns
These DIY Halloween decorations are cheap and cheerful. Draw spooky faces on empty, clean gallon milk jugs, then fill with white holiday lights to decorate your porch or walkway with a ghostly Halloween glow.
Get the full tutorial at KiwiCo Corner.
Wicked Witch leg candy bucket
This creative take on a candy bucket for Halloween will have you cackling, “I’ll get you my pretty…and your little dog, too.” Although things may not end so well for the Wicked Witch of the West, this candy bucket will have your local trick-or-treaters oohing and ahhing. These are some of the spookiest Halloween decorations you can only get at Target.
Get the full tutorial at Porch Daydreamer.
Village graveyard
Want to create your very own fun take on a Halloween graveyard? If so, then this easy Halloween DIY decoration is perfect for you. All you’ll need is cardstock in a bunch of different colors and some creativity. Check out these 16 non-candy treats kids will love.
Get the full tutorial from The Craft Blog by Trimcraft.
Forever Pumpkins
For cheap Halloween decorations that look like jack-o-lantern and will last past Halloween, cover clean, empty jars with orange construction paper or tissue paper. Add features with black construction paper, then pop in a tea candle—with flames, or battery-operated—and watch your “pumpkin” glow. Find out which candy is the biggest Halloween hit in your state.
Get the full tutorial at The Creative Place.
Crafty Spider Sacks
You won’t want to dust away these Halloween cobwebs: Create chic, cheap yarn spider webs to decorate light fixtures, drape over curtains, or hang from a railing. Don’t forget to attach a tiny plastic spider to each sack. Brush up on these trick-or-treating safety tips before you head out.
Get the full tutorial at Modern Parents Messy Kids.
Bloody Table Runner
Halloween is that much more festive with this so-simple-it’s-insane DIY Halloween decor. Your materials: Poster board, red acrylic paint, and a paintbrush. Don’t forget to create some blood-splattered placemats, as well. Find out the most popular Halloween costumes on Amazon.
Get the full tutorial at Jollity & Co.
Lace Pumpkin
To give the classic lantern a new look, spray your pumpkins with white paint before wrapping them in strips of lace. No lace fabric handy? Try using a thick lace headband, or cut a strip of lace stocking and fit around the widest part of the pumpkin for cheap Halloween decorations. Check out more of our favorite no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas.
Get the full tutorial at Positively Splendid.
Spider Garland
We screamed when we saw this creepy, crawly banner. Glue black yarn “legs” onto a pom-pom and add a small dot of glue upon which to sprinkle orange sparkles. Get inspired by checking out these 14 most beautiful spiderwebs found in nature.
Get the full tutorial at Oh My! Creative.
Candy Corn Garland
Using paint chips in shades of yellow and orange, you can knock out these cheap DIY Halloween decorations—sweet candy corn garland! If you’re having a Halloween party, make your guests laugh with these “corny” Halloween jokes.
Get the full tutorial at Wendy Hyde Lifestyle.
Witchy Wreath
Who says wreaths are only for Christmas time? Spruce up your front door with this witch-tastic wreath. Complete with boots and a hat, this wreath will help bring the holiday spirit directly to your front doorstep. Looking to up your game this Halloween season? Check out these easy Halloween makeup looks nearly anyone can master.
Get the full tutorial at Alayna’s Creations.
Candy Corn Vases
Set the scene with cheap Halloween decorations are candy corn vases by decorating a table, windowsill, or mantel. For these DIY Halloween decorations, simply spray clean, empty bottles with orange, yellow, and white paint. Find out which candy was the most sought-after the year you were born.
Get the full tutorial at Meatloaf and Melodrama.
Front Door Mummy
Make a ghoulish first impression with this five-minute DIY Halloween decor. First, tape paper streamers to the front door, overlapping the strips to give a wrapped look. Then, cut sheets of black and white construction paper into circles to make eyes. Place the eyes on the top of the door and tape to secure.
Get the full tutorial at Whisking Mama.
Halloween Ornaments
Christmas ornaments make festive, cheap Halloween decorations for your house or yard. Cover ornaments in paper mache, then paint with Halloween designs like striped witch’s stockings, pumpkins, or ghosts. We bet you didn’t know these 12 surprising facts about Halloween candy.
Get the full tutorial at Mod Podge Rocks.
Mummy Seating Cards
Decorate inside and out for Halloween with these ingenious DIY Halloween decorations. Glue gauze, googly eyes, and cardboard to fashion small, square mummies. Set them out as place cards for a Halloween party, drop a few into the candy bucket for trick-or-treaters, or send to school with the kids to give out to classmates.
Get the full tutorial at Curly Birds.
Can Boo!
To make these boo-tiful cans, you’ll need to first spray paint your can black. Then, after making dots in the outline of the letters B, O, O use a drill or hammer to cut the dots. Stick in a battery-operated votive and voila!
Produced and Photographed by Matthew Mead – Country Woman, October/November 2017
Creepy Cottage
Create your dream creepy cottage by spray-painting a ceramic house and the inside of a pumpkin before placing the house inside the pumpkin to make the perfect Halloween scene. Ever wonder why stores put out Halloween decorations so early? Find out now.
Craft by Christina Spalatin – Country Woman, October/November 2017
Yarn Pumpkins
Getting a head start on your DIY Halloween decorations is the best way to save time. But you can also save money by making cheap Halloween decorations like this yarn pumpkin.
Get the full tutorial at One Little Project.
Monster Rocks
If you’re in need of really cheap Halloween decorations, look no further than your front yard. Creating Halloween monster rocks is the perfect DIY Halloween decoration if you have young kids too because all you need is paint, googly eyes, and rocks. This project is so easy that you’ll finish in no time and have time to binge-watch the scariest Halloween movies ever made.
Get the full tutorial at The Inspiration Edit.
Pool Noodle Witch Legs
The witch legs are back, albeit in a different way. Who said that pool noodles were only useful during the hot summer season? Find out 18 more clever reuses for foam pool noodles.
Get the full tutorial at East Coast Mommy.
Floating Cheesecloth Ghost
Make your house spookier than ever with these cloth ghosts that you can hang practically anywhere. Everyone will think you bought these at the store when really they’re just cheap Halloween decorations you made yourself! Find out the spookiest ghost story from every state.
Get the full tutorial at Love and Laundry.
Floating Witch Hat Luminaries
Trick-or-treaters only stop by houses that are lit up. But if you want to do more than just turn your front porch light on, try making these light-up witch hats. You don’t need anything expensive because cheap Halloween decorations work just as well.
Get the full tutorial at Polka Dot Chair.
Halloween Candy Door Hanger
If you’re not going to be home on Halloween night because you’re taking your kids trick-or-treating but you still want to hand out candy, here is your solution. This is one of the cheap Halloween decorations on this list that involves a tool that might not be the most kid-friendly, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help write the message on the chalkboard! Even after Halloween, there are clever ways to use your extra candy.
Get the full tutorial at Cherished Bliss.
Sugar Skull Wreath
Bring together the U.S. Halloween holiday with the traditional Mexican Day of the Dead holiday to create one of the easiest DIY Halloween decorations ever. All of the materials you need can easily be found in your local craft store. Did you know that sugar skulls are a key symbol in Dia de Muertos? Here are 10 more Day of the Dead facts that might surprise you.
Get the full tutorial at The Crafted Sparrow.
Ghost Piñatas
Who said that Halloween candy could only be stored in orange jack-o-lanterns? Put a spooky twist on a typical birthday party favor making it the perfect Halloween party decoration. These ghosts are so friendly they’re just waiting for all the trick-or-treaters to open them up and get some tasty candy. Did you know that even Disney World gets a spooky makeover for Halloween?
Get the full tutorial at Make + Tell.
Halloween Spider Web Placemats
Here’s one of the DIY Halloween decorations that might excite adults more than kids. This DIY spider web placemat instantly amps up your Halloween party without you needing to spend more money. All you need is black puffy paint, wax paper, and invisible tape. Wanna save a few bucks on your Halloween costume? Check out these cheap and punny DIY Halloween costumes.
Get the full tutorial at Delia Creates.
For more fun facts, costume ideas, traditions, candy inspiration, spooky entertainment, and updates on how October 31 will look different this year, check out our Halloween Guide.
