13 Cheap DIY Halloween Decoration Ideas

As soon as October begins, everything gets a little spookier. It’s a month of cooler weather, fall flavors, and Halloween decorations everywhere. The best way to get in the spirit of this unique scary holiday is to decorate your home and yard. Store-bought Halloween decorations, however, can be quite expensive yet are often cheap-looking. Luckily there’s tons of DIY Halloween decor ideas that are both cheap and easy to make.

To create cheap and easy Halloween decorations, use things you already have like pumpkins and gourds, and decorate them. You can paint eyeballs on small white stones, make your own lanterns with paper bags, and create fun Halloween characters using white, orange, and black balloons. Make tombstones for your front yard using cardboard, and decorate a simple fall wreath with spooky Halloween accents. 

If you are interested in getting in the Halloween spirit but don’t want to spend a lot of money, this article is for you. As long as you enjoy DIY and crafting projects, you can create all sorts of fantastic Halloween decorations using household items and cheap materials you can find at most craft stores. Below is a list of some of the best and easiest Halloween decorations you can make this year.

13 Easy And Cheap DIY Halloween Decorations

1. Paint Your Pumpkins And Gourds

When you imagine Halloween and fall decorations, the first thought that likely pops into your head is a pumpkin. Pumpkins and fall gourds are synonymous with this time of year. Whether you are carving pumpkins with family and friends, or displaying unique gourds on your front steps, these fall vegetables make for the perfect decorations.

Not only are pumpkins and gourds cheap this time of year but there are many ways you can easily decorate them. Try to find gourds that look like ghosts or other creatures, and then paint them. You can simply paint white and black eyes, or let your creative juices flow and paint the entire thing.

If you can find cheap white pumpkins, you can paint ghostly faces on them and display them for all to see. What’s great about painting pumpkins is they last longer than when you carve them.

2. Make Tombstones Out Of Cardboard

If you want a cheap and fun outdoor Halloween decoration for your front yard, consider making scary tombstones out of cardboard boxes. This is a simple and free craft project you can enjoy with the family.

Simply trace a tombstone shape on a cardboard box, and then cut it with a box cutter. Spray the cardboard with gray spray paint, as this will make it look more authentic, and will help it last longer. Then add whatever text you’d like. 

Make these tombstones as scary or full of puns as your heart desires. Display them in your front yard to look like a graveyard.

3. Decorate Mason Jars With Spooky Faces

If you have Ball mason jars in your kitchen cabinets, then dust them off and decorate them for this holiday. You can draw directly on the glass, or even better, cover them with muslin or white gauze. This will make them look like either ghosts or mummies.

You can display them on shelves, and even fill them with Halloween candy, and use them as festive candy dishes.

4. Carve Your Pumpkins

No DIY Halloween decoration list is complete without talking about carved pumpkins. Jack-O-Lanterns are the most emblematic decoration of this October holiday, and they are also a ton of fun to create.

You can often find cheap pumpkins at local markets, or even large grocery store chains like Walmart. To ensure your pumpkin carving lasts until Halloween, use a sharp knife, and consider dipping it in a water and bleach solution. Keep it out of hot and sunny spots to ensure it doesn't shrivel up.

5. Crochet Spider Webs With White Yarn

If you like to knit or crochet, then consider putting your skills to use this Halloween. There are several fun patterns you can follow to make things like ghosts and pumpkins. If you want something quick and easy, however, opt to make crocheted spider webs using white yarn.

You can quickly make a spider web design that you can hang from various windows. This is a decoration that has a spooky yet homey feel and can last for many years if you store it properly after the holiday.

6. Create A Halloween Wreath For Your Front Door

Decorative wreaths work for nearly any holiday and season. They are easy to hang on your front door, and they cost very little if you are willing to put in some work. Try finding a simple fall wreath made of twigs and then add your favorite Halloween accents to it.

You can add spiders and spiderwebs, or small ghosts and eyeballs. If you want to find a pre-made Halloween wreath, try looking at home decor stores right after Halloween to find deep discounts on Halloween wreaths and all sorts of other spooky decorations.

7. Paint Eyeballs On White Stones

If you can easily find white or light-colored rocks, then you can use them as a canvas to paint scary eyeballs. White rocks of various sizes are great for painting eyeballs on. Not only are eyeballs easy to draw, but these decorations can be placed anywhere inside or outside the house. 

8. Give Your Candles An Eerie Dripping Effect

If you want your home to look like a haunted mansion, there is no better way to do so than with dripping candles. There are several ways to give your candles a dripping effect. One way is to buy very tall candles and burn them for a while.

Alternatively, take one candle and melt it over another one. This will give an exaggerated dripping effect. Placing these candles on various surfaces will give a creepy haunted feel to your home.

9. Create Paper Halloween Lanterns

If you have a walkway that leads to your front door, consider lining it with handmade paper lanterns. All you need to make Halloween lanterns are paper bags, votive candles, sand, and some creativity.

You can cut out shapes in the bags, or color designs using black markers. Some popular ideas include ghost faces on white paper bags or Jack-o-Lantern faces on orange bags.

10. Draw On White And Orange Balloons With Black Marker

Balloons are cheap, easy, and fun ways to celebrate most holidays. Orange and white balloons are great on Halloween as you can easily draw faces on them. Make the white balloons look like floating ghosts, making spooky eyes and mouths with black markers. You can also use the same black marker to paint a Jack-O-Lantern face on an orange balloon.

11. Display A Bowl Of ‘Poisoned’ Apples

If you’re a fan of displaying fruit bowls, then give your fruit ball a Halloween twist this October. Fall is the best season for apples, so load up on these juicy fruits. Place them in a bowl, and then put a skull and crossbones sign on the bowl. Or you can label the bowl “poisoned apples.” This is a playful way to display this delicious fall fruit, without spending extra money.

12. Cut Out Paper Spider Webs 

If you want a quick and free Halloween decoration, then simply reach for your scissors and white paper. Follow a basic spider web design (folding your paper in half or fourths works best) and cut out holes. This is a crafty way to create white spider web shapes that you can then attach to window panes. 

13. Glue Bat Wings On Black Helium Balloons 

Another fun balloon decoration that is great for Halloween parties involves black balloons. Fill black balloons with helium so they float, and then add bat wings to either side. This gives them the playful look of bats floating on the ceiling. You can easily make bat wings by tracing a design on thick black construction paper. 

Summing Up Cheap, DIY Halloween Decoration Ideas

One of the best ways to get in the spirit of Halloween is to decorate your home. If, however, you aren’t interested in spending a lot of money this year, then opt for some fun DIY decorations. Paint fall gourds and pumpkins, and draw faces on white and orange balloons. You can paint eyeballs on white rocks you find, and make your spooky lanterns using paper bags. You can even create a graveyard in your front yard by making tombstones out of cardboard boxes.

Related Guides:

• When Should You Decorate For Halloween?
• How Early Before Halloween Should You Carve A Pumpkin?
• 12 Different Types Of Pumpkins And Squash To Try This Fall