As someone who absolutely loves Halloween and fully embraces spooky season the minute summer ends, I’m always ready to fill my cart as soon as pumpkin and ghost-themed decor hit the shelves. Unfortunately, my budget doesn’t share the same enthusiasm. While I’m obsessed with Halloween decor, I can’t justify spending hundreds of dollars on items that only get used for a month or two. Thankfully, there are tons of DIY ways to recreate the spooky decor on retailer shelves without the hefty price tags. After a crafty girl summer, I’m ready to channel that same energy into my fall decor. And don’t worry—these DIY projects are quick, easy, and inexpensive, with no expert skills or special tools required. If you’re ready to upgrade your spooky setup, keep scrolling for 16 incredible DIY Halloween decorations.
1. DIY ghost painting
If you’re not the most confident painter but still love the idea of a spooky paint-and-sip for girls’ night, this viral DIY is a great pitch to your group chat. It’s beginner-friendly, yet polished enough to look like it came straight from the Halloween aisle of your favorite retailer. All you need is a blank canvas, acrylic paint and brushes, a tub of spackle, and a couple of ghost-shaped cardboard cutouts to use as a template. It’s super easy and just the right mix of spooky-chic.
2. DIY spooky doormat
Have an old doormat you’ve been meaning to replace? This cute stencil craft is a fun and easy way to give your welcome mat a festive Halloween refresh. All you need are some spooky stencils, acrylic paint, and a few brushes. Trace over the existing lettering if it could use some reinforcing, then add some spooky flair with ghosts, bats, spiders, or whatever spooky designs you fancy.
3. Stacked jack o’lanterns
The entire Pottery Barn Halloween collection is on my wishlist every year, and these light-up stacked jack o’lanterns are at the top. But thanks to their steep price tag, this DIY version is much more my speed. All you need to do is grab some faux pumpkins, trace a jack o’lantern face on each one, and cut it out with a utility knife. Then spray the inside with gold spray paint, cover the holes with tape, and spray the outside black with a satin finish. Lastly, stack the pumpkins, add flameless candles inside, and you’re done. The finished product looks very close to the original and makes a perfect front porch accessory.
4. Anthropologie-inspired spooky taper candles
No matter the time of year, it’s hard for me not to spend all my money at Anthropologie, and the temptation only grows when their Halloween decor drops. I especially love their candles, but when they’re this cute, I never want to burn them. This DIY lets you recreate the Anthro spooky taper candle look, but with flameless candles that you can reuse again and again. All you need are flameless taper candles and Halloween-themed temporary tattoos, and your mantel will look fantastic.
5. DIY ghost wreath
Sure, you could drop $90 on this adorable ghost wreath, but if you’re not looking to go crazy on Halloween decor this year, it can be hard to justify that cost. Luckily, making your own dupe is easy to do with a few budget-friendly items from the craft store. The result is simple, adorable, and versatile enough to hang on a door, mirror, or anywhere else your spooky heart desires.
6. Woven bats
At first glance, these woven bats might seem difficult to DIY, but following this video makes it incredibly simple. Start with a basic bat decoration from the dollar store; the outside doesn’t matter since you’ll be covering it up. Next, wrap black jute twine around the bat frame and add some twinkling fairy lights. The finished DIY is so cute, and it looks far more expensive than it actually is.
7. Mini sherpa ghosts
Pottery Barn’s Gus the Ghost pillow has become a fan favorite among Halloween decor lovers, and with this DIY, you can make your own version at home. It’s the perfect DIY Halloween decoration if your vibe is spooky not scary. This video demonstrates how to transform a styrofoam cone, two mini pumpkins, a sherpa blanket, and two felt cutouts into a ghost using only a hot glue gun.
8. DIY sock pumpkins
Ok, how adorable are these little pumpkins? Grab an inexpensive pack of socks to make cute and cozy mini pumpkins to scatter around your living room or bedroom. You’ll also need some fiber fill to stuff into the socks and jute twine to create the pumpkin shape. Once you get the hang of it, these pumpkins are super quick and easy to make.
9. Ghost pillow
Making your own throw pillow covers might not seem like it would fall under the category of easy DIY Halloween decorations. However, with this tutorial, you don’t need any sewing skills to create your own pillow. Start with a plain beige pillowcase as your canvas, and use white yarn and fabric glue to design a repeating ghost pattern. Add felt eyes to complete your ghosts, and you’ll have a unique Halloween pillow that’s sure to get lots of compliments.
10. Spiderweb mirror
This DIY Halloween decor idea turns any mirror into a spooky spiderweb, though a round one works best. Start by cutting out four strands of black twine and attaching them to the mirror so they crisscross in the middle (think how you would cut a pizza). Next, cut another piece of twine and tie it around one of the strands. Then move to the next strand and tie another knot, continuing until you’ve tied a knot around each strand of the web and created a circle. Repeat this process until you’ve created as many circles as you want for your web. Weaving the pattern takes a bit of time, but the final spiderweb mirror is well worth the effort.
11. Ghost tea light cover
You may not have worked with clay since elementary school art class, but this DIY will have you racing to the nearest craft store to grab some. To start, roll out some air-dry clay, trace a circle, and cut off the excess. To create the ghost shape, drape your piece of clay over a small cup or water bottle, pressing it in to achieve a hanging sheet look. Next, poke small holes for eyes and a mouth. Once dry, place a small tea light underneath for the cutest homemade candle holder.
12. Porch ghost decoration
Porch decor is arguably the most important part of your Halloween decorations. After all, everyone wants to be the coolest house on the block on trick-or-treat night. This DIY ghost is sure to be a showstopper, and no one will be able to tell you made it yourself. Just grab a tomato cage, a pool noodle, some lights, a sheet, and some sticky felt, and your ghost will come together in no time.
13. DIY hanging bats
While having a family of bats take up residence on your porch might be alarming under normal circumstances, for Halloween, it makes a fantastic decor addition. This DIY project uses store-bought plastic bats and some fishing line to create the illusion of bats flying around your home. It doesn’t get any easier than this project, but you’ll have all your neighbors asking how you pulled it off.
14. Halloween centerpiece
I’m always a sucker for a seasonal centerpiece, and this DIY vase idea is such a fun way to add a little Halloween charm to your table. Start by decorating a glass vase with a few Halloween-themed stickers, then cover it with black spray paint. After peeling off the stickers to reveal your design, fill the vase with faux flowers and some twinkle lights for a thematic effect. The result looks super chic and moody, making it a festive way to add some drama to your coffee table this season.
15. Creepy cloth ghosts
With their see-through bodies, these spooky ghosts almost resemble real apparitions. However, there’s nothing supernatural about them—just a clever DIY project. Using some stringy white cloth, a balloon, glue, and felt, you can create a stunning DIY Halloween decoration that looks store-bought, even though it only takes a few minutes to make yourself.
16. Spooky message mirror
If you want to transform your mirrors into Halloween decor but don’t love the previous spider idea, this spooky message hack offers plenty of creative freedom. Start by cutting out a stencil of your desired message from paper. Place the stencils flat on the mirror and cover the surface with hairspray. Before the hairspray dries, lightly sprinkle baking soda over the mirror. Once it’s dry, remove the stencils and shake off the excess baking soda. This technique provides a simple yet creepy Halloween decor idea using items you likely already have at home.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.
Madigan Will, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Madigan writes and edits content for every topic under the digital media sun. As the oldest of four siblings, she enjoys utilizing her big sister persona to connect and inspire readers—helping them discover new ways to maximize their everyday.
