21 Halloween DIY Decorations for a Budget-Friendly Spooktacular
21 Halloween DIY Decorations for a Budget-Friendly Spooktacular
Halloween is the perfect time to get creative with decorations, and the best part is, you don’t need to break the bank to make your home look spooktacular!
Whether you’re decorating indoors or outdoors, for kids or adults, there are Halloween DIY decorations that can make your home the haunted highlight of the neighborhood—all without spending a fortune.
Let’s explore 21 DIY Halloween decorations that are not only budget-friendly but also fun and easy to create, using materials you might already have at home or can pick up from the dollar store.
Whether you’re into scary, cute, or aesthetic designs, these ideas will have your home ready for trick-or-treaters in no time!
1. Dollar Store Ghosts
You can make Halloween ghost decorations for your outdoor DIY by visiting your local dollar store. All you need are white cheesecloths, empty milk jugs, and some LED lights. Place the cheesecloth over the jugs, then add the lights inside.
Voila! You have some creepy DIY ghost decorations for your front porch. For a more spooky effect, you can even add some face shapes to the cheesecloth using black markers.
| Materials | Cost | Time |
| Cheesecloth, milk jugs, LED lights | $5-$10 | 20 mins |
2. Pumpkin Paper Lanterns
For a Halloween DIY decoration that’s affordable and aesthetic, paper lanterns shaped like pumpkins are perfect. Use orange construction paper and glue to create paper lanterns in pumpkin shapes. Add a tea light or LED candle inside for a soft glow, perfect for indoor or outdoor use.
3. Spider Webs with String
You can create an eerie Halloween spider web DIY using some white string, yarn, or cotton balls. Stretch the web across your porch, windows, or even inside the house. You can even add plastic spiders for an extra creepy effect. This is one of the easiest and cheap DIY Halloween decorations that gives a big visual impact!
4. DIY Witches’ Cauldron
Make your own witch’s cauldron for your Halloween decorations at home with a large plastic bowl, some black spray paint, and LED candles. Fill it with dry ice for a foggy, mystical effect or just set it by your front porch for a fun outdoor decoration.
| Materials | Cost | Time |
| Plastic bowl, black paint, LED candles, dry ice (optional) | $10-$15 | 30 mins |
5. Cardboard Graveyard
Set up a Halloween graveyard DIY right in your front yard with some cardboard, scissors, and gray spray paint. Cut out tombstone shapes, spray paint them gray, and add creepy epitaphs using a marker. Place them in your garden or on your front porch to create a scary atmosphere. If you want to make it more spooky, add some faux cobwebs or plastic skeletons.
6. DIY Halloween Bats
Nothing says Halloween like a bunch of bats flying through the air! Make bats for Halloween outdoor decorations by cutting out bat shapes from black construction paper or cardstock. Hang them with fishing wire from trees, walls, or ceilings. This easy and cheap DIY will create an eerie atmosphere for any Halloween party or outdoor gathering.
7. Spooky Candle Holders
Transform empty toilet paper rolls into creepy candle holders for Halloween decorations indoor. Cut out spider shapes or Halloween motifs like skulls and pumpkins, then glue some black construction paper around the roll. Place candles inside to create a flickering, spooky effect for any table or mantle.
8. Ghost Lanterns from Milk Jugs
Make ghostly lanterns using milk jugs! Cut out eyes and mouths on the sides of milk jugs, then spray paint them white. Place LED lights inside for a glowing ghost decoration DIY for your outdoor Halloween decorations. This is an easy DIY that will give your home a haunted vibe without spending a fortune.
| Materials | Cost | Time |
| Milk jugs, spray paint, LED lights | $5-$10 | 30 mins |
9. Hanging Paper Bats
For a Halloween DIY decoration that is both cute and creepy, use black construction paper to create small hanging bats. Cut out bat shapes and attach them to string or fishing wire, then hang them from doorways, windows, or the ceiling. You can mix them with spider webs DIY for added impact!
10. Pumpkin Balloons
Make your front porch decorations DIY stand out with some creative balloon pumpkins! Use orange balloons, green ribbons for vines, and black markers to create faces on the balloons. Cluster them together for a pumpkin patch effect on your porch.
| Materials | Cost | Time |
| Orange balloons, green ribbon, marker | $5-$10 | 15 mins |
11. Zombie Hand Yard Stakes
Create zombie hand decorations for your Halloween outdoor decorations using plastic gloves, sand, and some sticks. Fill the gloves with sand to give them weight and attach them to sticks to create the appearance of zombie hands rising from the ground. It’s a fun Halloween craft for adults and adds a scary effect to your yard.
12. DIY Creepy Crawly Critters
Make your own Halloween critter decorations DIY by collecting small plastic animals (spiders, snakes, rats) and painting them black or neon green. Place them around your porch, on steps, or in the garden to give your guests a fright. This is a budget-friendly and easy DIY Halloween decoration that can be done in no time.
13. DIY Witch’s Broomstick
Repurpose a broom into a witch’s broom by adding black spray paint to the bristles and attaching some faux cobwebs or black ribbon. You can place the broom by your front door, giving it a spooky aesthetic for Halloween front porch decorations.
14. Hanging Skeletons
Create DIY Halloween skeleton decorations by purchasing inexpensive plastic skeletons from the dollar store and hanging them from trees, doorways, or chandeliers. For a more scary Halloween atmosphere, you can spray them with some fake blood or add a dim light to the area where they hang.
15. DIY Halloween Wall of Eyes
Take some Halloween paper decorations to the next level by cutting out large eyes from white paper. Use black markers to draw pupils, and then glue them to the walls of your living room or front porch. You can even give them a creepy glow by using glow-in-the-dark paint or LED lights behind them for a haunting effect.
16. Halloween String Lights
If you’re looking for an easy way to add some Halloween flair to your home, consider using DIY Halloween string lights. Take a strand of white lights and wrap them with orange or black construction paper to resemble pumpkins or bats. This works for both outdoor and indoor decorations and will add a warm, festive glow to your home.
17. Haunted Mirror with Creepy Quotes
Turn an old mirror into a haunted centerpiece for your home by adding some creepy quotes or Halloween sayings. Use black spray paint or adhesive vinyl to write on the mirror. You can even paint the edges of the mirror black to give it a ghostly appearance.
18. Mummy Doorway
Wrap your doorway in white gauze or fabric to create a mummy entrance. Attach plastic eyes or a creepy face to the door for added spookiness. This is a fun DIY Halloween decoration that works great for Halloween party decorations or even to scare trick-or-treaters.
19. DIY Pumpkin Patch
Set up a pumpkin patch in your living room or outside using orange balloons or plastic pumpkins. You can make this DIY even more affordable by collecting cardboard boxes and painting them to resemble pumpkins. It’s an easy and fun way to decorate for Halloween on a budget!
| Materials | Cost | Time |
| Balloons, plastic pumpkins, paint | $10-$15 | 25 mins |
20. Black Cat Door Hanger
For a cute DIY Halloween decoration, create a black cat door hanger from black construction paper or felt. Add googly eyes and use string for a suspicious tail that dangles. Hang it on your door or in your window to bring a charming Halloween vibe to your home.
21. Creepy Candle Jars
Transform empty jars into creepy candle holders by painting them black and sticking Halloween-themed stickers or painting spooky faces on them. You can fill the jars with candles or fairy lights to create an eerie atmosphere inside your home.
With these budget-friendly DIY Halloween decorations, your home will look both fun and festive without costing a fortune! Whether you’re decorating outdoor or indoor spaces, for kids, adults, or for a Halloween party, these easy and affordable DIY crafts will leave your guests in awe and your wallet still happy!
