Halloween is hands-down one of my favorite times of the year. As Halloween approaches, I decided it was time to get in the spirit! (hard to do when it’s still HOT outside here in Phoenix!). Give me a reason to deck out my home in creepy, over-the-top decorations, and I’m all in. But let’s be real—not everyone has the time (or energy) for an elaborate haunted house setup. That’s why I’m all about easy Halloween decorations that are quick, affordable, and make my place look like I actually tried.
So, if you want to turn your home into a Halloween masterpiece without blowing your budget or your sanity, I’ve got you covered. These simple yet spooky ideas will make your house the talk of the neighborhood—and they’re so easy, even a zombie could do them.
And if you want even more hauntingly good ideas, don’t forget to check out this Easy Halloween Treat Bags.
1. DIY Spooky Lanterns: Because Mood Lighting is Everything 🕯️
Want to instantly make your space feel haunted? Dim the lights and let some spooky lanterns do the work. Instead of shelling out for overpriced Halloween decor, I whip up my own.
This is a sign I have up all year – and the candle is a battery operated one that’s up all year too! I couldn’t find anything else to put in the jars, so the candle was perfect! The candy corn votive holder is one my mom made years ago – still as good as new!
Here’s How I Do It:
- Grab some old mason jars or empty wine bottles (because, let’s be honest, I always have a few lying around).
- Slap on a coat of orange, green, or purple paint for a ghostly glow.
- Pop in some LED tea lights—because setting my house on fire isn’t on my Halloween to-do list.
- For extra creep factor, I use a marker to draw jack-o’-lantern faces or ghostly silhouettes.
I line them up on my windowsill or porch, and boom—instant haunted vibes.
2. halloween Indoor Decoration
Just a few Dollar Store candlesticks and jars, some spray paint, ribbon, and bead art – and I’ve easily added some “fall” without the gag factor! I started with these items – all from Goodwill, the Dollar Store, or my own stash!
These are pumpkins and cupcake liners I already had. And I got the Halloween printable here.
3. Halloween Door Wreath
I can’t forget about the door! I used my Quick Change Wreath – which has been my greatest invention so far – and changed it from Flowers to Halloween in about 5 minutes! I’ve used this same wreath for 4th of July and Flowery Cheer already! Best part is, I only have to store ONE wreath!
Corsage pins help me take decorations on and off easily!
It’s super easy to add a few touches of color and decorate for the holidays – without going crazy – or broke!
4. Halloween Bead art
Bead art is so easy – and works the same way as glitter art did when you were in 3rd grade Art class! I used scrapbook paper for the background, printed out the BOO in large font and cut the letters out. Then, I painted Mod Podge onto each letter, and dropped beads onto the letters. After it dried, I shook off the extra beads and put into a frame with no glass!
The treat bowl was one I made from Goodwill Finds. You can read about that post here.
5. The Haunted Mirror Trick (A.K.A. How to Freak Out Your Friends) 👁️
If you’ve got an old mirror and a desire to make your guests question their sanity, this one’s for you.
How to Pull It Off:
- Print out a spooky face or a Victorian ghost portrait (the creepier, the better).
- Tape it to the back of your mirror so it barely shows through.
- Position a dim light near the mirror and wait for people to catch a glimpse.
I love this one because it’s subtle—but when someone finally notices, their reaction is chef’s kiss.
6. Floating Ghosts That Look Way Fancier Than They Are 👻
I’ve always wanted my house to look like it’s actually haunted, and these floating ghosts are the easiest way to make it happen.
What You’ll Need:
✔ Cheesecloth or an old white sheet
✔ A balloon or Styrofoam ball
✔ Fishing line (so it looks like it’s really floating)
✔ Fabric stiffener or liquid starch
How to Make It:
- Blow up a balloon and drape cheesecloth over it.
- Spray it with fabric stiffener and let it dry.
- Attach a piece of fishing line and hang it from the ceiling, a tree, or your porch.
- Stick on some googly eyes for an extra dose of weirdness.
Every time the wind blows, these ghosts look like they’re floating in mid-air—which is both awesome and slightly terrifying.
7. DIY Spider Webs (Because Cobwebs Should Be Intentional, Not Just a Sign I Forgot to Dust) 🕸️
Nothing says “haunted house” like way too many spider webs. Luckily, I have a few tricks to make them look more realistic without making my home actually unlivable.
My Go-To Methods:
- Cotton Balls: Pull them apart and stretch them over furniture, mirrors, and doorways. Cheap, easy, and surprisingly effective.
- Hot Glue Webs: Use a hot glue gun to create web-like patterns on wax paper, let them dry, then stick them up.
- Black Yarn: Cut and string it across your walls like you’re Charlotte herself. Bonus points if you add fake spiders.
Pair these with plastic creepy crawlies, and suddenly my house looks like it belongs to a giant arachnid. Perfect.
8. No-Carve Pumpkin Hacks for Lazy Decorators Like Me 🎃
Carving pumpkins is fun until I remember that it’s messy, takes forever, and involves sharp objects I shouldn’t be trusted with. Instead, I go for these hassle-free alternatives:
- Painted Pumpkins: A little black, white, or metallic paint turns a basic pumpkin into a chic Halloween decoration.
- Glow-in-the-Dark Pumpkins: Wrap them in fairy lights or stick battery-powered tea lights inside for a cool nighttime effect.
- Mummy Pumpkins: Wrap them in gauze or toilet paper, add some googly eyes, and boom—instant Halloween cuteness.
These last longer than carved pumpkins and require exactly zero scooping of slimy pumpkin guts.
9. Bloody Candles That Scream “Haunted Mansion Chic” 🩸
Nothing says “welcome to my haunted lair” like candles that look like they’ve been involved in a murder mystery.
How to Make Them:
- Take plain white candles (or grab some from the dollar store).
- Melt a red candle over them so the wax drips down like blood.
- Stick them in old wine bottles or vintage candle holders.
I set these up on my mantel or dining table for the perfect spooky-but-classy Halloween vibe.
10. A Front Door That Screams “Enter if You Dare” 🚪
My front door is prime real estate for Halloween decorations, and I like to make it look as welcoming (or terrifying) as possible.
My Favorite Easy Ideas:
- The Mummy Door: Wrap my entire door in white streamers or gauze and slap on some black paper eyes.
- The Monster Mouth: Cut out jagged paper teeth and place them around the doorframe so it looks like my house is literally going to eat visitors.
- Hanging Bats: Cut out black bat shapes, tape them around the door, and let them “fly” up the walls.
Trick-or-treaters love it, and honestly, so do I.
11. Creepy Window Silhouettes That Mess With People’s Minds 👀
This is one of the easiest Halloween tricks, and it freaks people out every single time.
How to Do It:
- Cut out life-sized silhouettes of ghosts, witches, or creepy figures from black cardboard.
- Tape them to the inside of my windows.
- Turn on a dim light in the room behind them so the shadowy figures appear from the outside.
It’s simple. It’s eerie. And best of all? It costs next to nothing.
Final Thoughts: Halloween Decor Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
Listen, I love a good Halloween transformation, but I also don’t have time to sculpt a life-sized werewolf out of paper-mâché. That’s why I swear by these easy Halloween decorations that give my home a spooky glow-up without requiring hours of effort.
Now excuse me while I go set up a haunted mirror and wait for someone to scream. 🎃👻
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