Halloween Decorations You Can Make with Things Around the House

Written by Hannah Madans Welk
on Oct 25, 2021

craft paper ghosts connected by black string against a yellow wall

It's that time of year again. Halloween is just around the corner. With Halloween comes an excellent opportunity to get creative and decorate your home. Instead of spending lots of money on decor, though, there are actually a lot of things you can do with materials you already have lying around the house.

Make Spiders

One of the easiest Halloween crafts you can do is to make spiders for your home. There are a few ways you can go about doing this. Perhaps the most straightforward is to simply cut them out of black paper.

If you are feeling more adventurous, though, you can use pipe cleaners as the legs. This makes the spiders feel more real and because they're 3D, plus it gives you more options for where to place them.

Candy Jars

Googly eyes are your best friend when it comes to Halloween decor. They can be used for many projects. By simply gluing them on, you change the look and feel of an item. One easy use for them is candy jars. Simply put the eyes on glass containers you already have and then fill them with round candies. This way, M&Ms become "monster eyes."

Paper Spiderwebs

Cutting out spiderwebs with paper is another easy and cheap DIY project. Bonus points if you put fake spiders on the spiderwebs! These do not have to be perfect. Feel free to get creative on size and shape.

Wreaths

If you are looking to make a statement before someone even walks into your home, a decroative wreath is the way to go. Rather than spending a lot of money on a new one or building something complicated and expensive, simply grab some spray paint and an old wreath. You can then spray paint the wreath black which will make it look eerie and perfect for Halloween.

Garland

Instead of cutting just one shape out of paper or doing just one project, you can do a few and string them together to create a garland. This can then be hung anywhere in your home.

Candles

Instead of throwing away your old wine bottles, you can clean them out and reuse them as candlestick holders. To make them Halloween-themed candlestick holders, spray paint them colors like black, red, and orange. You can even draw things like spiderwebs and pumpkins on them. Once they are completely dry, put a candle into the old wine bottle and light it. You can group a few together to create an amazing centerpiece.

Witches Broom

If you have an old broom in your home, leave it out in a corner with a witch's hat nearby. The nearby hat will take the broom from cleaning device to flying device in just a moment.

Paper Bats

Like spiders, paper bats are easy to make. You can freehand the bats or print out a template online. Consider cutting them in a variety of sizes. Once you have cut a bunch, it's time to tape them to the wall. Place them leading away from the front door or coming out of the fireplace for extra oomph.

Placemats

If you have puff paint in your home, you can easily make spiderweb placemats. On a piece of paper or cardboard, paint a spiderweb design and repeat based on the number of placemats you want. Then let it dry for a few days, Once it is completely dry, you can peel the paint off and have a spiderweb placemat that guests are sure to love.

Pumpkin Cutting Boards

Round cutting boards can be used to mimic pumpkins. You can spray paint them orange or leave them as-is for a more rustic look. Add paper leaves at the top to represent the stem. You can hang these boards or lean them against a wall to look like a pumpkin patch.

Pillows

If you have more googly eyes left, you can easily create a mummy or ghost pillow by simply sticking them on your white pillow.

Hannah Madans Welk

Hannah Madans Welk is a writer at the Los Angeles Business Journal where she covers real estate. Prior to joining the Business Journal, Welk was an Associate Editor of doityourself.com, where she still contributes as a freelance writer, in addition to reporting for other publications. Welk has also held roles as a business writer at the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Register. In 2014, Welk graduated from the University of Southern California magna cum laude, with university and departmental honors. She received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Print and Digital Journalism and East Asian Languages and Cultures, and worked as deputy editor at the university news site Neon Tommy.