Living SpacesNo. 7498 · The 2026 edition
100 Cheap and Easy DIY Halloween Decorations
Transform your home into a haunted haven with over 100 budget-friendly DIY decorations!
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at prudentpennypincher.com.
This curated list offers a spooktacular collection of over 100 affordable and easy-to-make Halloween decorations for both indoor and outdoor spaces. From mantel displays and porch setups to door decor and table settings, you'll find creative projects featuring ghosts, zombies, witches, skeletons, and haunted house props.
About this
A roundup of over 100 cheap and easy DIY Halloween decoration projects, split between indoor and outdoor ideas. Each project is credited to the blog or site that created it, with sections covering centerpieces and candles, wall and window decor, and other indoor pieces, plus porch, yard, and door decorations. A short FAQ explains how to make low-cost decorations at home using repurposed and dollar store supplies. It also links out to the site's other Halloween craft, sign, mason jar, and tiered tray collections.
Tips
- Using items you already have, repurposing materials, and adapting ideas to your existing supplies is part of the fun.
- The projects suit all occasions, from cute kid-friendly decor to scary decorations for adults.
- The ideas work as budget-friendly party decorations for guests, visitors, and trick-or-treaters.
- You can make signs, wreaths, centerpieces, wall decor, garlands, haunted house props, yard art, candleholders, porch displays, mason jar crafts, and party decorations.
- Many of these crafts use Dollar Tree supplies.
The list
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01
Spooky Crystal Ball Candlesticks
From Flamingo Toes; candles styled as crystal balls (centerpieces/candles).
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02
Wine Glass Tea Light Candle Holders
From The Keeper of Cheerios; wine glasses hold tea lights.
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03
Paper Towel Black Candles
From House of Dewberry; candles built from paper towel rolls.
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04
Skull Candle Holder
From Endlessly Inspired; skull-shaped holder.
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05
Crystal Ball
From Me and Annabel Lee; fortune-teller style crystal ball.
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06
Boo Pumpkins
From A Diamond in the Stuff; pumpkins lettered with Boo.
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07
Creepy Photo Candles
From Cheltenham Road; candles decorated with eerie photos.
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08
Bleeding Candles
From Family Chic; candles drip red wax.
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09
Hand Candles
From Instructables; candle holders shaped like hands.
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10
Drippy Candles
From Woman's Day; wax drips down the candle.
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11
Pottery Barn Votives
From Monica Wants It; knockoff Pottery Barn votive holders.
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12
Black Lace Candle
From Big And; candle wrapped in black lace.
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13
Ghost Candles
From Thoughtfully Simple; candles decorated as ghosts.
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14
Spray Painted Candy Corn Bottle Centerpiece
From Brit + Co; bottles spray painted like candy corn.
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15
Candy Corn Candles
Tall glass candleholders + pillar candles + candy corn.
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16
Dollar Store Spooky Candles
From Poofy Cheeks; candle project using dollar store items.
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17
Ruffled Tree Trio
From Wholesale Party Supplies; three ruffled decorative trees.
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18
Black Spray Paint Jack-O-Lanterns
From Rachael Ray; pumpkins painted black.
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19
Skeleton and Bones Dish
From Four Front Doors; dish decorated with skeleton bones.
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20
Boneyard Lantern
From Oh My Creative; lantern filled with bones.
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21
Vase of Plastic Skulls
From DIY Projects; plastic skulls arranged in a vase.
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22
Upcycled Skull
From The Pretty Life Girls; thrifted item turned into a skull.
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23
Skull Candlesticks
From Cap's Creation; candlesticks topped with skulls.
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24
Spooky Spider Vase
From K's Craft Shack; vase embellished with spiders.
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25
Eyeball Flowers
From Instructables; floral stems topped with eyeballs.
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26
Upcycled Spooky Village Mason Jars
From Oh So Savvy Mom; mason jars as a spooky village.
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27
Dollar Store Spooky Lantern
From Prudent Penny Pincher; lantern made from dollar store finds.
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28
Image Transfer Candles
From Today's Creative Life; images transferred onto candles.
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29
Skull String Art
From A Beautiful Mess; wall art made with nails and string.
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30
Yarn Spiderweb
From Crafty Lumberjacks; web woven from yarn.
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31
Trash Bag Spiderwebs
From How About Orange; webs cut from trash bags.
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32
Spooky Spider Picture Frame
Black picture frame + white doilies + large black spiders; Dollar Tree items.
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33
Magnetic Plastic Spiders
From Delia Creates; plastic spiders with magnets.
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34
Bloody Handprint Window Clings
From Felt Magnet; bloody handprints for windows.
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35
Halloween Frames
From Craft Ideas; decorated picture frames.
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36
Candy Door Hanger
From Cherished Bliss; candy-themed door hanger.
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37
Ghost Face Picture Frame
From eHow; frame decorated with a ghost face.
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38
Spooky Mirrors
From No Biggie; mirrors given a spooky treatment.
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39
Black Bats Wall Decorations
From Made Everyday; bats mounted on the wall.
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40
Free Printable Potion Bottle Labels
From Prudent Penny Pincher; printable labels for potion bottles.
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41
Haunted Figurines
From Sadie Seasongoods; thrifted figurines made haunted.
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42
Halloween Village
From 36th Avenue; miniature spooky village scene.
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43
Free Printable Halloween Banner
From Prudent Penny Pincher; printable hanging banner.
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44
Poison Bottles
From 36th Avenue; bottles labeled as poison.
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45
Spooky Potion Bottles
From Magia Mia; decorated potion bottles.
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46
Hocus Pocus Witches Spellbook
From Holladays at Home; spellbook inspired by Hocus Pocus.
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47
Free Halloween Printables
From Prudent Penny Pincher; add to a dollar store picture frame for instant decor.
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48
Potions Book (free printable)
From The Idea Room; printable potions book.
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49
Crystal Ball DIY
From Beaux R'eves; homemade crystal ball.
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50
Creepy Lamp
From The Yellow Cap Cod; lamp given a creepy look.
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51
Crow Tree
From Katie Did It; tree decorated with crows.
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52
DIY Ghost Candy Stand
From Sadie Seasongoods; ghost-shaped candy holder.
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53
Floating Cheesecloth Ghost
From Love and Laundry; ghost made from stiffened cheesecloth.
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54
Floating Ghost
From One Good Thing; ghost suspended to appear floating.
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55
DIY Ghost Paper Bags
From Crayons and Collars; paper bag ghosts.
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56
Black Cat Decorations
From All You; black cat themed decor.
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57
Spider Pumpkins
From Good Housekeeping; pumpkins decorated with spiders.
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58
Creepy Crawly Pumpkin
From The Kim Six Fix; pumpkin covered with crawling creatures.
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59
Paper Mice Decorations
From Martha Stewart; cut paper mice.
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60
Candy Corn Treat Jar
From Pumpkin and A Princess; jar styled like candy corn.
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61
Fanged Pumpkins
From Martha Stewart; pumpkins with fangs.
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62
Candy Corn Decorations
From My Life as I Pin it; candy corn themed pieces.
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63
Framed Plastic Pumpkin
From Creations by Kara; plastic pumpkin in a frame.
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64
Burlap Pumpkin
From Confessions of a Plate Addict; pumpkin made of burlap.
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65
Bandana Pumpkins
From Sadie Seasongoods; pumpkins covered in bandanas.
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66
Toilet Paper Covers
Source unknown; covers disguising toilet paper rolls.
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67
Paper Lantern Decorations
From Lia Griffith; decorative paper lanterns.
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68
Spooky Bat Lamp
From Glue Dots; lamp decorated with bats.
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69
Bat Lanterns
From A Bit of Sunshine; lanterns with bat motifs.
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70
Spooky Bat Chandelier
From A Diamond in the Stuff; chandelier hung with bats.
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71
Creepy Hand Soap
From Cutefetti; soap with a hand inside.
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72
DIY Spellbook Tutorial
From Better After; instructions for a spellbook prop.
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73
Yarn Garland
From Growing Up Gabel; garland strung from yarn.
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74
All Hallows Eve Mantel
From Sweet Something Designs; decorated fireplace mantel.
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75
Vintage Mantel
From Lolly Jane; vintage-style mantel display.
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76
Free Halloween SVG Files
From Prudent Penny Pincher; cut with a Cricut for wall decor, pillows, doormats, candle holders.
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77
Floating Witch Hats
From Polka Dot Chair; hats suspended outdoors.
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78
Hanging Zombie Cages
From Navage Patch; cages hung with zombies inside.
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79
Polka Dot Pumpkin Porch Display
Source unknown; porch arranged with polka dot pumpkins.
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80
Ghost Porch
From Pocketful of Sawdust (via Facebook); porch full of ghosts.
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81
Cardboard Tombstones
From eHow; yard markers cut from cardboard.
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82
Dangling Spider Webs
Original source unknown; a similar tutorial is linked.
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83
Yard Ghosts
From Listotic; ghosts staked in the yard.
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84
Raven Porch
From Create Craft Love; porch decorated with ravens.
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85
Pumpkin Door Decor
From Everyday Celebrating; pumpkin hung on the door.
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86
DIY Witches Brooms
From Tastefully Frugal; homemade broom props.
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87
Lighted Pumpkin Topiary
From DIY Candy; stacked pumpkins with lights.
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88
Tin Can Luminaries
From Jolly Mom; pierced cans used as lights.
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89
Spooky Eyes
Source unknown; paper towel or toilet paper rolls + glow sticks (Dollar Tree). Cut roll in half, cut out eyes, put glow sticks inside, place in bushes.
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90
Spooky Bush Eyes
From Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons; watching eyes hidden in bushes.
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91
DIY Witch Legs
From Grillo Designs; legs sticking out as if crushed.
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92
Witch Broom Makeover
From Paper and Passementerie; an old broom restyled.
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93
Easy Packing Tape Ghost
From Crazy Green Thumbs; ghost formed with packing tape.
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94
Ghost Leaf Bags
From Every Day Art; leaf bags turned into ghosts.
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95
Easy Mummy Door
From Honey and Fitz; door wrapped like a mummy.
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96
Spider Web Front Door
From Better Homes and Gardens; webbing across the door.
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97
Tin Can Ghost Windsock
From Chicken Scratch NY; cans made into windsocks.
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98
Chic Skeleton Wreath
From My Humble Home and Garden; wreath built from skeleton parts.
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99
Trash Bag Witches
Source unknown; black trash bags + foam shapes + long garden stake + witch hat + black ribbon; white bags make ghosts.
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100
Boo Sign
From Hunters of Happiness; yard or porch sign reading Boo.
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101
Ghost Jugs
From Eighteen 25; milk jugs turned into ghosts.
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102
Skull Entryway Decorations
From The Keeper of the Cheerios; skulls welcoming at the entry.
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103
Zombie Pallet Gate
From Atta Girl Says; pallet gate with zombie hands.
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104
Giant Spider Web
From Instructables; oversized outdoor web.
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105
Witch Hat Wreath
From Prudent Penny Pincher; wreath shaped like a witch hat.
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106
Skeleton Hands Wreath
From Tried and True; wreath made of skeleton hands.
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107
Deco Mesh Pumpkin Wreath
From Miss Kopy Kat; pumpkin wreath from deco mesh.
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108
Easy Wreath with Spiderwebs
From Modern Glam; simple wreath with webbing.
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109
Black Rose Wreath
From The How to Mom; wreath of black roses.
Decoration ideas
- Candy Corn Candles: tall glass candleholders + pillar candles + candy corn
- Spooky Spider Picture Frame: black picture frame + white doilies + large black spiders (all available at Dollar Tree)
- Spooky Eyes: paper towel or toilet paper rolls + glow sticks (Dollar Tree) — cut the roll in half, cut out eye designs, put glow sticks inside, and place in bushes for a scary effect
- Trash Bag Witches: black trash bags + foam shapes + long garden stake + witch hat + black ribbon (white trash bags make ghosts instead)
- Make spooky mason jars by painting them as ghosts, mummies, or pumpkins and placing a tealight inside for an eerie glow
- Create garlands or banners using free printables, paper, yarn, or dollar store items
- Design an easy Halloween wreath using faux spider webs, plastic spiders, spooky florals, yarn, deco mesh, or ribbon on a dollar store wreath form
- Free Halloween printables can be added to a dollar store picture frame for an instant decor piece
- Free Halloween SVG files can be used to make wall decor, pillows, doormats, and candle holders with a Cricut machine
- Projects can be adapted to whatever supplies are already on hand, and items around the house can be repurposed
More photos
Photos hosted by prudentpennypincher.com.
