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13+ DIY Halloween Decorations to Keep You Creative and Festive This Spooky Season

DIY Halloween Decor Crafts

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The spooky season has arrived! Whether you are celebrating at home or going out on the town, why not make your house into a spooky spectacle? There are plenty of easy and affordable DIY Halloween decorations that you can make in time for the big day. And the best part is that most of them require just a few simple materials that you may have around the house or can pick up at your local dollar store.

You can freak the family out with “eyeballs” floating in liquid soap or make your neighbors jealous with a stunning jet-black wreath on the front door. And if “tricks” aren't your thing, you can make your home decor a “treat” with some candy corn creations everyone will love.

We've selected a handful of fun, easy DIY Halloween decoration projects for you and the whole family to get into the holiday spirit. No matter what type of setup you want to create for All Hallows' Eve, you're bound to find something that suits your fancy. Scroll down for some spooky inspiration.

Try these quick and easy DIY Halloween crafts to decorate your home this spooky season.

Halloween DIY Decor

Photo: Stock Photos from EVGENY ATAMANENKO/Shutterstock

 

A Haunted Wreath

 

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A hot glue gun and black spray paint are all you need to make a Halloween wreath like this example by Aimée Costello. You can collect real greenery or simply paint the more durable plastic options available at craft stores. See this tutorial from Lemon Thistle for guidance. If you already have an old wreath lying around, you can try a candy corn makeover with this tutorial from In Between Laundry.

 

Potion Bottle Candleholders

Candlesticks Wine Bottles

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Recycle empty wine bottles to make candleholders worthy of the Addams family house. One simple way is to (carefully) drip hot wax from a candle in cool patterns and colors. Black matte spray paint also lends a dark vibe to your décor. If you are feeling adventurous, try this tutorial to craft mysterious potion bottles using creepy labels and spray paint.

 

Mad Scientist Centerpiece

 

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Mad scientists preserve their specimens. You can make a creepy centerpiece with some mason jars and “specimens” of your own. Plastic spiders and rubber snakes would be excellent additions to your table. Find the easy instructions on Papermart.

 

Witches' Brooms For All the Coven

 

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Any witch or wizard needs a broom. Whether it's a Quidditch-lover's costume prop or a nostalgic nod to Hocus Pocus, these brooms can easily be made with a few simple materials. In fact, TheDailyDecorista shows how to craft these magical brooms in under five minutes. Tuck them around your house to remind guests they are in a witch's lair.

 

Enchanting Painted Pumpkins

 

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Painted pumpkins are some of the easiest Halloween DIY crafts. Clean and dry your pumpkins to prepare. Pick up some acrylic paint from your local craft store and let your creativity run wild. Permanent markers are also ideal for fine lines and designs. Pastel colors can be a bold move, departing from the classic spooky Jack-O'-Lantern. If you've got an artistic sweet tooth, you might want to try your hand at turning mini pumpkins into delectable donuts.

 

Halloween Mantel

Spruce up your fireplace by creating a spooky Halloween mantel. Whether you want to hang paper bats or paint some small pumpkins, there's a lot you can do to bring some Halloween spirit to your home. You can even put together this easy ribbon tassel garland in seasonal colors to create a unique Halloween scene.

 

Stacked Pumpkin Planter

While real pumpkins give you a lot of versatility in your crafting—particularly in their size—if you want a craft you can reuse year after year, try this stacked pumpkin planter. All you'll need are some basic supplies: plastic pumpkins, spray paint, a hot glue gun, and dried artificial flowers and foam to decorate the top pumpkin in the bunch.

 

Candy Corn…Everything

Candy Corn Crafts

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Candy corn is a staple of Halloween. It's also an incredibly versatile craft material. Try stringing a sweet garland by simply poking a needle and fishing line through these sugary kernels. You can also nestle some pillar candles into a hurricane candle holder full of candy corn for a delicious decoration. And if you're looking for a less-perishable treat, try making this candy corn wall ornament made from dyed coffee filters.

 

Icky Eyeball Soap

Eyeball Soap

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What is spookier than eyeballs floating in jars? Nothing. Using ping-pong balls and permanent markers, design your own eyes—bloodshot or beady. Suspend them in any liquid for creepy decoration, but try them in hand soap to liven up your bathroom sink (and maybe surprise a guest).

 

Ghost Lights

These ghost lights are not only easy to whip up, but they also look great in an entryway or on your front porch. You'll need just a few supplies, including a white sheet, tomato cage, foam ball, and a string of white lights. This project is easy enough to include the entire family, just check out the tutorial.

 

Devilish Candles

Halloween Creepy Candle

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Candlelight makes everything spookier. Try this tutorial for tortured pillar candles that can be made from candles you may already own. A less gruesome option, these tissue paper image transfer pillar candles make an elegant addition to any living room. They can be made easier with a printer and a hairdryer.

 

Fake Fire

Want to make your house the spookiest on the block? Create a witch's cauldron when you complete this DIY by Make Life Lovely. Using orange twinkle lights, spray foam, paint, and some plastic bones, you can create a scene that will add some fun scare to Halloween night: a pot surrounded by “embers” and scattered bones.

 

Creepy Giant Spider

This giant spider might look like the work of professionals, but you can replicate it for yourself by following a project by Little Yellow Wheelbarrow. You can find most of the supplies at “bargain and thrift shops” making this DIY accessible on any budget; and considering how scary it looks, you'll be getting a lot of bang for your buck! Some of the supplies you'll need are wire coat hangers, rubber balls, and a fur blanket.

 

Kid-Friendly Adorable Art

 

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Halloween is the perfect time to craft with the kids in your life. Try this adorable cat dot art idea from Stay at Home Activity Mom. Create a spider's web to hang on your kiddo's wall with this family-friendly tutorial from TheArtfulParent.

 

DIY Halloween

Photo: Stock Photos from BODNAR.PHOTO/Shutterstock

This article has been edited and updated.

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Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and a historian of early modern Britain & the Atlantic world. She holds a BA in History and Mathematics from Brown University and an MA in European & Russian Studies from Yale University. Madeleine has worked in archives and museums for years with a particular focus on photography and arts education. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, film photography, and studying law while cuddling with her cat Georgia.
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