Halloween is right around the corner, and while the stores are packed with spooky décor, who says you need to spend a ton of money to transform your home into a haunted haven? The truth is, you probably already have everything you need for some killer Halloween decorations right at home!
Grab your scissors, tape, and a little creativity because these five easy, DIY Halloween decorations are about to take your space from basic to BOO-tiful—without even leaving the house.
1. Paper Towel Ghosts
This one is a total classic and couldn’t be simpler. If you’ve got a roll of paper towels (or tissues), you’re all set!
What you need:
• Paper towels or tissues
• String or rubber bands
• Markers
How to make it:
Take one sheet of paper towel or tissue and crumple it into a ball—this will be the ghost’s head. Place another sheet over the ball, so it drapes down like a ghost’s body. Use a string or rubber band to tie the “neck,” and then draw on some spooky (or silly) faces with markers. Hang them around your house for an instant eerie vibe!
2. Spooky Milk Jug Lanterns
Next time you finish off a gallon of milk, don’t toss the jug—turn it into a lantern instead!
What you need:
• Empty plastic milk jugs
• A black marker
• A string of fairy lights or glow sticks
How to make it:
Rinse out your milk jug and let it dry. Using a black marker, draw some ghoulish faces on the front. Then, pop in a few glow sticks or stuff the jug with fairy lights. Line them up along your driveway or front steps to create a spooky glowing path!
3. Creepy Crawly Spider Webs
You don’t need to spend money on fake spider webs—just grab some cotton balls or white yarn!
What you need:
• Cotton balls or yarn
• Scissors
• Tape
• Small plastic spiders (optional)
How to make it:
If you’re using yarn, cut long strips and stretch them across doorways, furniture, or windows, securing with tape to form a spider web. If you’re using cotton balls, stretch them out into thin, wispy strands and place them in corners or across surfaces. Add some fake spiders if you have them, or skip them for a minimal yet spooky effect!
4. Toilet Paper Roll Bats
You’ve already got the base material for this craft—empty toilet paper rolls. Turn them into a colony of bats to hang around your house.
What you need:
• Empty toilet paper rolls
• Black paint or black markers
• Black construction paper (optional)
• Googly eyes (optional)
How to make it:
Paint or color the toilet paper rolls black. If you have black construction paper, cut out bat wings and glue them to the sides of the roll. If not, just draw on the wings. Add some googly eyes or draw spooky faces, and hang these bats from string or place them around the house.
5. Pumpkin Jar Luminaries
You don’t need a pumpkin patch to create some glowing gourds—just use old jars!
What you need:
• Empty glass jars
• Orange tissue paper or paint
• Glue or Mod Podge
• A tea light candle (real or battery-operated)
How to make it:
If you’ve got some tissue paper, tear it into small pieces and use glue or Mod Podge to stick them onto the jar, covering it completely in orange. No tissue paper? No problem—just paint the jar instead! Once it’s dry, draw on a jack-o’-lantern face with black paint or marker. Pop a tea light inside, and you’ve got yourself a glowing pumpkin jar luminary.
There you have it—five easy Halloween decorations that are spooky, simple, and budget-friendly! Not only will these DIY projects save you a trip to the store, but they’re also a fun way to get the whole family in on the Halloween spirit.
So go ahead, transform your home with items you already have, and make this Halloween your most creative one yet!
