Our 75 Favorite Halloween Decorating Ideas

Get ready to spook up your home — both indoors and out — with our favorite ideas for handmade Halloween decorations you can craft.

By: H. Camille Smith
Related To:
Halloween Decorating Holiday Decorating Design 101 Halloween Halloween Crafts Holiday Crafts Crafts Plants Pumpkins Vegetables

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Pop Fizz

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Pop Fizz

Photo By: Marian Parsons Mustard Seed Inte

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Pop Fizz

Photo By: Sarah Busby, Styling by Jill Tennant Anderson

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Sam Henderson

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Sam Henderson

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Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Photo By: Rennai Hoefer

Photo By: Image courtesy of Ruth Meharg

Spook Up the Front Porch

Even if Halloween guests never enter your home — like trick-or-treaters — they'll definitely see the front porch so give it a festive feel with a colorful rug, lanterns, mums and piles of pumpkins. For a spooktastic finishing touch, we added a pair of gnarled faux trees that are wrapped in mini orange lights that'll cast a spell long after the witching hour.

From: H. Camille Smith

DIY Some Spooky Spiders

Easily craft these larger-than-life spiders with the kiddos for a fun Halloween craft that'll spook up your home -- either indoors or out. Inexpensive craft store materials and a little imagination are all you need to build these creepy Halloween props. Make your own with our step-by-step instructions.

Pick a Palette

Limiting your decor's color palette to just a few shades creates a look that's perfectly pulled together. For our Halloween mantel, we chose black-and-white and shades of orange. Metallics are a must for any well-style vignette so mix in copper, gold or silver for an added touch of glam.

From: H. Camille Smith

Craft Some Spellbooks

Make brand new books look like old leather-bound tomes by covering them in a removable leather jacket that you've distressed and antiqued. Stack them as part of a vignette beside wine (aka potion) bottles for a touch of spooky sophistication. Magic up your own with our step-by-step instructions.

From: H. Camille Smith

Mummify Your Front Door

Trick-or-treaters and Halloween guests are headed your way; trick out the front door with this frightful facelift that's a snap to craft. Learn how with our step-by-step instructions.

Or, Mummify a Beverage Tub

Need a quick and easy decorating idea for your monster mash? Turn a galvanized tub into a friendly mummy, ready to keep ice and cold drinks at the ready. Just a few craft materials and our step-by-step instructions are all you need.

Turn Pumpkins Into Black Cats

Welcome trick-or-treaters and Halloween guests with a litter of black cat pumpkins. These carve-free kitties are easy to craft, making them a fun project for older children or small kids with a little help from a crafty adult.

Or, Magic Up a Lucky Black Cat Mum-ster

Add a little personality to your planters with our tips for magicking a fall mum into a lucky black cat, just in time for Halloween. Craft your own with our step-by-step instructions.

From: H. Camille Smith

Or, Even a Crafty Candy Hanger

Delight trick-or-treaters by turning a faux pumpkin and old frame into a playful black cat-themed candy holder. Hang or lean it against an interior or exterior wall to create an interactive candy bowl the kiddos will love. Our tips will help you craft your own.

Distressingly Dress the Windows

Give the front of your home a haunting makeover in a flash with curtains stencilled with Halloween designs to transform windows or clear doors into a spooktacular scene.

Or, Create a Shadowy Scene

Adhesive black vinyl sheets and a bit of creativity turned this ordinary garage door into a shadowy Halloween scene. Best of all: It's easily removable when the season has passed. Get more tips for recreating this look.

Eerily Greet Guests

Give trick-or-treaters and Halloween party guests a (slight!) scare with this smaller-than-life-size headless horseman figure. Add his jack-o'-lantern head to one hand and a sign leading the way to the festivities in the other. Add a little character to your front porch with our free template and step-by-step instructions.

From: Sam Henderson

Create a Colorful Display

Make a grand entrance with front porch planters filled with colorful fall annuals — like purple fountain grass, mums and ornamental sweet potato vine — surrounded by piles of pumpkins and candle-filled lanterns.

From: H. Camille Smith

Safely Set a Spooky Tone

Dry ice + spooky decor = a match made in Halloween heaven — but, you must use this subzero substance safely. Get all our tips for spooking up your haunted house without getting burned. Learn how to safely use dry ice.

From: H. Camille Smith

Create a Candy Corn Piñata

What's Halloween without the candy, right? Construct this colorful piñata to serve as both a party decoration and crowd-pleasing game for your Halloween get-together. Get started with our free templates and step-by-step instructions.

From: Sam Henderson

Turn a Peaceful Plant Into a Man-Eating Monster

Betcha never thought about giving your houseplants a Halloween makeover, right?! Hit the hardware and craft stores for supplies to turn the humblest of household residents into a devilish denizen. Get crafting with our step-by-step instructions.

From: Sam Henderson

Or, a Mum Into a Friendly Ghost

This project's easy assembly makes it perfect to craft with the kiddos. Get an assist from your little ghouls to make this cute planter with personality. Our step-by-step instructions show you how.

From: H. Camille Smith

Give Arachnophobes a Fright

Inexpensive (and removable) supplies give an everyday shade a creepy-crawly makeover that's only visible when illuminated. Learn how to craft this lampshade with a scary surprise.

From: Sam Henderson

Craft a Few Ghostly Visitors

Create these fun, floating ghostly shapes with a little formed chicken wire, gauzy cheese cloth and liquid fabric starch. A battery-operated florescent light give the apparitions a spooky glow. Get more tips for throwing an elegant Halloween fete. 

Witch Up Your Pumpkin

Magic up this not-too-scary witch for your front porch or entryway using a faux pumpkin and basic supplies from the craft store. Create a friendly witch to welcome Halloween guests or a scowling witch to keep mischief-makers at bay. Our step-by-step instructions make it easy to craft your own.

Or, Monster Up Your Mum

Give your entryway a not-too-scary Halloween update with this easy-to-craft blooming beastie. Our step-by-step instructions will make this front porch fix-up a snap.

From: H. Camille Smith

Make a Mini "Pumpkin" Wreath

Although the tiny orange shapes covering this wreath look like diminutive pumpkins, they're actually putka pods. A great stand-in for mini pumpkins, the dried organic seed pods don't deteriorate, so your wreath can be displayed year after year. Get crafting to make your own.

From: Marian Parsons

Or, Ditch the Wreath for a Basket Instead

1 basket, 3 holidays. Make swapping out your Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations a snap by upgrading multiple wreaths for a single straw tote or basket you can fill to fit the season. Bonus: Add vinyl house numbers for a custom touch.

From: H. Camille Smith

Craft a Classic Banner

You certainly don't need sorcery on your side to magic up this budget-friendly decoration. Our free printable template makes it a snap. Get our step-by-step instructions.

Stencil One On

Pumpkin-carving patterns and paint markers are put to good use to turn a bit of white fabric into a festive Halloween tablecloth. Learn how to make your own. 

Craft a (Cute!) Owl Pumpkin

You don't need an intricate pattern or advanced pumpkin-carving skills to turn a fresh pumpkin and white gourds into this adorable decoration. Learn how to make your own.

Tiny Ghost Town

Matte black spray paint turns craft store birdhouses into an eerie mini landscape. To bump up the creep factor, add oversized spiders, rubber snakes or faux birds to your scene.
From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Glam Glittered Pumpkins

School glue and black glitter are all you need to give natural or faux pumpkins a chic makeover. Choose an easy pattern for crafting with kids or go with a timeless design, like a monogram or graphic pattern, for a sophisticated look. Get step-by-step instructions.
From: Marian Parsons

Craft a Cheery Orange Wreath

Bright orange tow rope makes it a snap to craft a cheery orange wreath you can display from Halloween through Thanksgiving. Just swap out the saying on the mini pumpkins for an easy holiday update. Learn how to make your own with our step-by-step instructions. 

Whip Up a Little Poison

Don't toss that old bottle. Instead turn it into sleek Halloween decor. To get the look: Thoroughly clean the glass; once dry, coat each bottle with one coat of spray primer and 2-3 coats of matte black spray paint. Add a handwritten label and display your potent potables as a group. Check out 20+ hip Halloween decorating ideas for more inspiration.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Craft a Litter of Black Cats

Turn a sheet of plywood into these simple cat silhouettes that keep a baleful eye on Halloween visitors with glowing eyes created by backing moon-shaped cut-outs with small, battery powered lights. Get more tips for decking out your home with silhouettes. 

Haunted Terrarium or Cookie Jar

Add a little Halloween "spirit" to your kitchen counter. All you need is a large glass jar, basic craft supplies and a little imagination. This easy project is perfect to do with kids, they'll love coming up with ideas for spooky details. Get crafting with our step-by-step instructions.

Turn a Pallet Into a Jack-O'-Lantern

Spook up your front porch, walkway, foyer or any dark corner with this rustic recycling project that uses a (free!) wood pallet to craft a Halloween pumpkin you can display year after year. Learn how to make your own with our step-by-step instructions.

From: Sam Henderson

Light Up Your Front Porch

Prep your front porch or entryway for the arrival of trick-or-treaters or Halloween guests with the sweet aroma of candy-corn-filled hurricanes. To create them, place pillar candles inside clear glass hurricanes of different sizes then fill each hurricane, roughly halfway, with candy corn. For safety, be sure to blow out the candle before it burns below the candy. Get more Halloween front porch decorating ideas.
From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Invite Bugs to the Dinner Table

Give inexpensive white dinner plates a creepy-crawly makeover with black ceramic paint and easy-to-create bug silhouettes. Learn how to make the painted plates food-safe.

From: Marian Parsons

And, Ever-Watchful Owls to the Porch

These denizens of the dark are a just-spooky-enough way to decorate your front porch without making it too scary for the littlest trick-or-treaters. Learn how to attach them to the banister.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Craft a Gaggle of Ghosties

This quick-and-easy craft is a great Halloween project to make with the kids. Best of all, the inexpensive materials ensure you can whip up a whole gaggle of ghosts for your front yard.

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Fake Some Formaldehyde

Fill lidded jars with water, green food coloring, rubber creatures (like mice, snakes, bats or insects), leaves or dried flowers to give any room the look of a mad scientist's lab.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Fashion-Forward Wreath

Wrap chevron fabric around a foam wreath form to craft this trendy wreath that will add a big graphic punch to your front door, living room, kitchen or anywhere. Learn how to make the bat garland.

Ghostly Draperies

These billowing, tattered draperies made from budget-friendly cheesecloth will add an eerie atmosphere to your front porch or an interior doorway. Get step-by-step instructions.
From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Witch's Broomstick Place Cards

Made from a twig, raffia and a scrap of paper, these diminutive brooms add an enchanting touch of whimsy to any Halloween get-together, plus they're a fun party favor that guests can take with them.
From: Marian Parsons

Turn Mini Pumpkins Into Cute Bats

Mix a little mischief into your Halloween decorations with these mini bat pumpkins. These not-too-scary creatures are fun to create and will look great grouped together on your mantel, entry table or as a centerpiece.

Conjure Up a Lifesize Ghost

Turn craft-store materials into a life-sized (or at least afterlife-sized) ghost that appears to float several feet above the ground. Learn how to make your own.

Turn Scrapbook Paper Into "Specimens"

Another great craft to do with kids, this project couldn't be simpler. Just stamp creepy animal shapes — like vampire bats, snakes or spiders — out of colorful card stock to create a collection of "specimens" to fill a shadowbox-style frame.

Whip Up a Spider Web Pillow

Fuzzy yarn on gray wool fabric is used to make this arachnophobic (but cute!) Halloween pillow. This project involves basic machine- and hand-sewing, so it's a snap to make, even for crafters new to sewing.
From: Marian Parsons

Let Your Yard Go to the Birds

Print out our free template to turn plywood and paint into a larger-than-life raven you can display either indoors or out. Get step-by-step instructions.

Playful Hanging Bats

Black craft foam, googly eyes and fishing line are all you need to create a colony of swooping, weatherproof bats. Kids big and small will love this quick and easy Halloween craft, perfect for adding a spooky touch to your front yard. Get step-by-step instructions.

Creep-Tastic Wreaths

Give your front door a fun Halloween touch with one of our 22 easy-to-craft wreaths.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Chicken-Wire Cloche

Upcycle a metal lamp frame and chicken wire into a rustic cloche you can use year-round. Add pumpkins, plastic spiders and webbing to create a Halloween vignette. Learn how to make your own.
From: Marian Parsons

Edible Candy Topiaries

Cover inexpensive foam topiary forms with fondant and candy to create a sweet Halloween decoration or centerpiece that kids will love helping to craft. After the festivities are over, they'll have just as much fun pulling the candy off and devouring it.
From: Marian Parsons

Stack a Jack-O'-Totem

Add some personality to your entry with a pumpkin topiary in the shape of a totem pole. All it takes is a few faux pumpkins, basic craft supplies and a little imagination. Get crafting to make your own.

Set Up an Outdoor Trick-or-Treat Station

Weather permitting, bring a lightweight table or shelf outside then fill it with an assortment of kids' favorite treats packaged using one of our free printable templates. Have adults on hand to make sure everyone gets their fair share and with cameras at the ready to snap photos of the neighborhood kids enjoying the spread. Get more tips for setting up a candy station.
From: Kim Stoegbauer

Phantom Chair Slipcover

Use gauzy fabric and cheesecloth to give a traditional dining chair a tattered, ghostly silhouette for Halloween. With raw edges and a simple shape, this slipcover is a snap to make using basic sewing skills.
From: Marian Parsons

Creepy-Crawly Napkin Rings

Spook up your Halloween get-together with these easy-to-make (and cute!) felt and pom-pom napkin rings — a perfect project to craft with kids. Learn how to make your own.

Add a Trendy Silhouette

Bring sophistication to your Halloween decor by embellishing a pumpkin with a trendy black-and-white silhouette. Our Get step-by-step instructions show you how.

Craft a Graveyard for Your Front Yard

Whether you choose to add funny sayings or be deathly serious with traditional designs, our step-by-step instructions show you how to turn inexpensive foam sheets into realistic-looking grave markers.
From: Marian Parsons

Peekaboo Pumpkins

Kids will love helping you create a spooktacular vignette of peeking pumpkins with mini gourds and a variety of inexpensive bowls and lidded dishes. Get step-by-step instructions.

Craft a Chalkboard Tray

Serve Halloween guests in style with this easy-to-create and totally customizable chalkboard tray. Get step-by-step instructions.

Make Your Mark With a Monogram

Add a sophisticated, personalized touch to your Halloween decor with an easy-to-create monogrammed pumpkin. Learn how to make your own.

Make a Haunted Mirror

Transform a modern mirror into a spooky, antiqued looking glass with this simple technique. In a gothic black frame, it's perfect for Halloween, but this mercury-glass look can work year-round if you use a warm wood, silver-leaf or gilt frame.
From: Marian Parsons

Turn a Pumpkin Into a Candy Dish

Cut a faux pumpkin in half to create a cute lidded container for serving Halloween candy. The waterproof foam interior also makes these a great cooler when filled with ice and beverages. Get step-by-step instructions.

Felt Bat Pillow

This oh-so-cute felt pillow requires basic sewing skills and will bring a handmade touch to your Halloween decor. Download bat templates and get step-by-step instructions.
From: Marian Parsons

Make a Vintage-Inspired Banner

Add a sophisticated touch to your Halloween decorations with this inexpensive hand-painted banner. Get crafting to make your own.
From: Marian Parsons

Go for a Gothic Look

Give a humble pumpkin sophisticated style by painting it to resemble an antique European grain sack. Our step-by-step instructions show you how.
From: Marian Parsons

Craft a Dramatic Wreath

Glam up your front door with an over-the-top black feather wreath. Use feathers in a contrasting color and menswear-inspired ribbon for a fashion-forward embellishment. Get crafting to make your own.
From: Marian Parsons

Set the Scene for a Fiendish Feast

Gather a few of your favorite ghouls for a dinner party where handmade Halloween decor with a macabre twist sets the scene.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Scaredy Cat Cut-Out

Create an arched-back black cat for your front yard to give trick-or-treaters and Halloween guests a fright. Learn how to make your own.

Turn Your Family Into Pumpkins

OK, not really, but you can add signature characteristics to pumpkins and gourds that resemble your nearest and dearest. Fresh produce, felt, a permanent marker and a few bits of clothing are all you need. Get step-by-step instructions.

Jack-O'-Lantern Luminaries

Fill clear buckets or cylindrical glass vases with battery-operated tea lights to easily craft kid-safe, fireproof luminaries to light up your Halloween celebrations. Get step-by-step instructions.
From: Kim Stoegbauer

Bling Out Pumpkins With Upholstery Trim

Easily embellish pumpkins with paint, nail-head trim, ribbon and spiders to create a chic Halloween display — no carving required. Learn how to get this look.

Quick-and-Easy Banner

Turn brown coffee filters and our free printable template into a cute Halloween banner in a snap. Get step-by-step instructions.
From: Kim Stoegbauer

Craft a Giant Rat

Our free printable template makes it easy to turn plywood and paint into a creepy indoor or outdoor decoration in the shape of an oversized rat.

Flying Bat Wreath

Easily craft this sculptural Halloween wreath that resembles bats taking flight with craft foam, floral wire, fabric and yarn. Get step-by-step instructions.
From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Make a Pretty Fretwork Pumpkin

Looking for a new pumpkin-carving technique? Requiring just two different-sized drill bits, this sculptural and intricate design is easier to create than you may think. Learn how to make your own.

Felt Leaf Wreath

A grapevine wreath covered with double-sided felt leaves will add festive fall color to your front door from Halloween until Thanksgiving. Learn how to make your own.

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