Halloween décor doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or Pinterest-perfect. Sometimes the best decorations are the ones you can whip up in 10 minutes with things you already have at home.
This guide gives you easy DIY Halloween decorations that anyone can make — yes, even if you’ve never picked up a glue gun.
From eerie lighting tricks to clever pumpkin hacks, you’ll find spooky-but-simple ideas to wow your guests and delight trick-or-treaters.
1. Floating Ghost Lanterns
All you need: white balloons, cheesecloth, and a black marker.
- Inflate the balloon, drape cheesecloth over it, and draw ghostly eyes.
- Hang them with fishing line so they “float” in the hallway or porch.
✨ Tip: Stick a battery-powered tea light inside for a glowing effect.
2. Spooky Silhouette Windows
Black construction paper = instant haunted house.
- Cut out bats, witches, or creepy trees.
- Tape them to the inside of your windows.
- Light from indoors makes them pop at night.
No drawing skills? Print templates online.
3. Mason Jar Mummies
A budget-friendly table decoration.
- Wrap mason jars with strips of gauze or toilet paper.
- Glue on googly eyes.
- Drop a tea light inside.
They look adorable grouped together on a mantel.
4. Creepy Hand in a Candy Bowl
Surprise trick-or-treaters with a simple gag.
- Fill a bowl with candy.
- Stick in a rubber glove stuffed with tissue.
- Let the fingers poke out like a hand reaching up.
Scary without being too intense for little kids.
5. Glow Stick Pumpkins
Skip carving mess but keep the glow.
- Hollow out a pumpkin.
- Crack a few glow sticks inside.
- Close the lid.
They glow in eerie neon colors — no candles required.
6. Hanging Witch Hats
This one’s a Pinterest favorite.
- Buy cheap witch hats.
- Thread fishing line through the tops.
- Suspend them from the ceiling or porch.
✨ Bonus: Hide battery-powered LED lights inside to make them glow.
7. Spider Web Tablecloth
Transform any surface in minutes.
- Stretch cotton spider webbing across a table.
- Sprinkle with plastic spiders.
- Add a black table runner for contrast.
Works for dinner parties or snack tables.
8. Broomstick Parking Lot Sign
Turn your entryway into a witch’s hangout.
- Grab a wood pallet or old board.
- Paint a sign that says: “Broom Parking – Violators Will Be Toad.”
- Lean it against the wall with a couple of brooms.
Funny, festive, and very Instagrammable.
9. Bloody Handprint Windows
For a creepier vibe.
- Dip hands in washable red paint.
- Press against glass windows or mirrors.
- Wipe away after Halloween with soap and water.
⚠️ Test a corner first to ensure no staining.
10. Pumpkin Balloon Garland
Skip pricey store-bought garlands.
- Inflate orange balloons.
- Draw jack-o’-lantern faces with black marker.
- String them along a wall or entryway.
Quick, bold, and perfect for parties.
11. Ghostly Milk Jugs
Recycling turned decoration.
- Rinse out gallon milk jugs.
- Draw ghost faces with a Sharpie.
- Pop LED candles inside.
Line them along the driveway to light the path.
12. Toilet Paper Roll Bats
Crafting with what you already have.
- Flatten a toilet paper roll.
- Cut bat wings from black paper and glue to the sides.
- Draw or glue on eyes.
Hang them from string or scatter on shelves.
13. Creepy Candlesticks
Turn ordinary candles into haunted ones.
- Drip red wax from a crayon onto white taper candles.
- It looks like blood dripping.
- Place in black candlestick holders.
🔥 Best for indoor-only décor.
14. “Eyes in the Bushes” Trick
For the front yard.
- Cut eye shapes into toilet paper rolls.
- Insert glow sticks.
- Hide rolls in bushes so glowing eyes peer out at night.
Cheap, effective, and gets people talking.
15. Skeleton Hands in the Garden
Plastic skeletons make endless fun.
- Bury just the hands in flower beds or planters.
- Pose them like they’re clawing their way out.
🌱 Works especially well if you spotlight them.
16. DIY Potion Bottles
Transform recycling into décor.
- Collect glass bottles and jars.
- Print or handwrite spooky labels: “Witch’s Brew,” “Eye of Newt,” “Deadly Poison.”
- Fill with colored water.
Cluster them on a shelf for an apothecary vibe.
17. Cheesecloth Cobweb Curtains
Age your house instantly.
- Tear strips of cheesecloth.
- Rub with tea bags for a weathered look.
- Hang in doorways or over windows.
Looks spooky blowing in the wind outside.
18. Black Cat Silhouettes
Minimal effort, maximum effect.
- Cut black cat shapes from cardboard.
- Tape to your porch railing or steps.
- Backlight with orange string lights.
Instant Halloween drama.
19. Witch’s Cauldron Cooler
Turn a party staple into décor.
- Fill a large plastic cauldron with ice and drinks.
- Drop in chunks of dry ice (handle safely!) for bubbling fog.
🎉 A guaranteed party hit.
20. Haunted Mirror Message
Channel a horror-movie vibe.
- Write a creepy phrase on your bathroom mirror with lipstick or washable marker.
- Add red “drip” lines down the glass.
Perfect for spooking guests at a Halloween party.
21. Shadowy Hallway Lighting
Set the mood with shadows.
- Place a lamp behind a cutout figure (witch, bat, skeleton).
- The shadow projects across the wall.
Instant haunted house energy without much effort.
Final Tips for Easy Halloween DIY Décor
- Keep it safe: Use LED candles instead of flames.
- Reuse what you have: Milk jugs, TP rolls, mason jars = free décor.
- Mix cute + creepy: Balance family-friendly with spooky depending on your audience.
- Layer lighting: Glow sticks, string lights, and lanterns create atmosphere faster than anything.
Halloween doesn’t need hours of crafting or a big budget.
With these quick, no-skill-needed ideas, you can turn your home into the spookiest (or cutest) house on the block — and still have time to enjoy the party.
I’m Anastasios Moulios, co-founder of DIY Cozy Living. I enjoy finding creative, practical ways to make small spaces feel warm, stylish, and lived-in. I started this blog with Katerina to share real ideas that make a home feel a little more personal and a lot more comfortable.