As the leaves turn golden and a chill fills the air, it’s time to transform your living space into a haunting haven. Halloween home decor isn’t just about scaring trick-or-treaters; it’s an opportunity to express your creativity and set the perfect mood for the spookiest season of the year.
From eerie entryways to ghostly gardens, this guide will help you create a bewitching atmosphere that’ll impress both the living and the dead.
Easy DIY Halloween Home Decor Ideas
1. Cupcake Liner Pumpkin
Mike Garten
You likely have everything you need in the house already to create these stylish pumpkins. Once you gather your tools, begin by folding cupcake liners in half. Starting at the top of the pumpkin, attach a matte black folded cupcake liner as close to the stem as you can with double stick tape. Overlap liners slightly as you fill a vertical line into the bottom. Using the metallic folder liners, make another vertical row being sure to overlap slightly to get a nice textured look making sure the rounded edges are what show. Repeat steps until you completely cover your pumpkin.
2. Magic Potion Bottles
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Make your own potions and turn your home into a magical witch’s cottage. Fill a glass bottle (you can even reuse an old candle jar) with fake bloody fingers or use foods like gummy candies and beef jerky to create the appearance of severed body parts. Use a funnel to pour water, food coloring and glitter into the jars, so the creepy parts float around.
3. Spider web Pumpkin
Mike Garten
Let’s put a spin on traditional pumpkin carving — cut out an oval shape in the front of your pumpkin instead of carving out the top. Scrape out the seeds and pulp. Spray paint the entire pumpkin black (be careful around the stem). Then, use an awl tool to punch holes around the edge of the opening. Thread string through the holes to create a web. Finish your creepy pumpkin by hot gluing a plastic spider to the web.
4. Creepy Candles
Mike Garten
Give your home a haunted makeover with this simple DIY. Use bright red candlesticks in matte black candle holders, and then add drips of red hot glue to resemble dripping blood.
5. Painted Baby’s Breath
Instantly add some drama to your space by spray painting branches of dried baby’s breath black and using them as your centerpiece.
6. Headstone Pumpkin
Mike Garten
This eerie pumpkin design is inspired by old cemetery headstones. Start by carving out our headstone template onto a tall, dark pumpkin. After adding lights, you can place your new headstone in the yard, porch or lawn.
7. Crow Pumpkin
Mike Garten
To create this stunning look, pick out a fresh pumpkin, wipe away the dirt and clean it with a water and vinegar spray mixture.
- Using a good pumpkin carving knife, keyhole saw or sturdy serrated kitchen knife, cut a round opening from the bottom of the pumpkin (this makes it easier to add lights).
- Scoop out the inside pulp and seeds and trace this crow template onto the pumpkin using washable chalk markers.
- Use a craft knife set to cut along the template’s lines before placing the carved pumpkin over string lights or a LED votive.
8. Day of the Dead Pillow
Club Crafted
Blogger Holly created this colorful pillow design using felt and a sugar skull printout. You’ll also need fabric glue to attach the felt sheets and dimensional paint.
Get the tutorial at Club Crafted »
9. Candy Cave Pumpkin
Mike Garten
This decoration doubles as an easy way for kids to take their treats. Create a hole at the bottom of the pumpkin and scoop out the guts inside. Carve out a hole in the pumpkin’s front, before painting the entire pumpkin black and filling it with delicious candy that trick-or-treaters will want to eat.
10. Halloween Lanterns
Mike Garten
Light up the night with these crafty paper lanterns. We have various designs to choose from, including mummies, spiders and full moons.
11. ‘Batty’ Pumpkin
Mike Garten
Don’t shy away from bold hues this year. Spray paint pumpkins a neon pink or bold red, then hot glue paper bats to create a unique and “batty” display.
12. Spiderweb Drink Umbrellas
Mike Garten
Use a Cricut machine and 12×12 black craft paper to DIY these adorable spider web umbrellas for your drinks. Then, hot glue the center of the webs to skewer sticks. When the night ends, you may find a few of them missing because they’re oh-so-cute!
13. Spa Pumpkin
Mike Garten
An easy and quite silly decor idea is dressing your pumpkin in spa attire. Think cucumbers for eyes and blue paint in the center to represent their facial expression.
14. Puff Paint Pumpkins
Mike Garten
Use puff paint to give your pumpkins all sorts of designs. In this case, we painted the pumpkins white, then used white puff paint to draw on the leaf designs.
15. Crepe Paper Garlands
Mike Garten
These snake-like garlands are made with dark RIT liquid dye and an orange party streamer roll. All it takes is sewing a basic running stitch down the center of the streamer. Keep the process going until your garland is long enough to drape over the mantel or bar cart.
16. Scalloped Edge Pumpkins
Mike Garten
After carving these designs, place them on your tables and mantels.
- Cut your round opening from the bottom and scoop out the insides using a spoon or measuring cup. Keep carving the opening until you’ve created your desired bowl shape.
- Cut out V-shaped slivers and widen them until you have your scalloped edges.
- For this idea, you can add a tealight inside or place another pumpkin on top.
17. Eye Mask Pumpkins
Mike Garten
One of the easiest of these ideas, these pumpkins only require one thing to make them pop: eye masks!
18. Carved Candlestick Pumpkins
Mike Garten
Carve these cool candle designs on your tall squashes. After cutting a round opening from the bottom of the pumpkin, scoop out the insides. Download and trace this candlestick template with washable chalk markers. As the final touch, cut along the template and place your new candlesticks over string lights.
19. Haunted House Lantern
Mike Garten
After DIYing these paper haunted house cut-outs, place flameless tea lights inside to evoke that spooky glow when the lights are dim.
Get the tutorial at Hey Let’s Make Stuff »
20. Flame Pumpkins
Mike GartenIlluminate your space with these glowing flames. Find various pumpkins in all sizes, then download, trace and carve out this flame template. Cut the pumpkin’s opening out from the bottom to place the tea lights inside.
By incorporating these Halloween home decor ideas, you’ll create a hauntingly beautiful space that captures the essence of the season. Remember, the key to successful Halloween decorating is balancing spooky elements with your personal style.
Whether you prefer a subtle nod to the holiday or a full-blown haunted house experience, there’s a perfect decor solution for every home.
This Halloween, let your imagination run wild and transform your living space into a bewitching realm that will delight visitors and create lasting memories. After all, home is where the haunt is!