10 DIY Halloween decorations you can make for under $10
Halloween is one of the most enjoyable holidays of the year, offering opportunities for creativity, community connection, and playful spookiness. However, it can quickly become expensive when you start buying store-bought decorations, elaborate costumes, and party supplies that add up to hundreds of dollars. The pressure to create an impressively decorated home or throw a memorable party can lead to overspending on mass-produced decorations that often end up in landfills after a single season, wasting both money and resources. However, DIY décor saves money while adding a personal, spooky touch that reflects your individual creativity, making your Halloween celebration unique rather than looking like every other house on the block with identical store-bought items. Handmade decorations carry a charm and authenticity that purchased items can’t match. The process of creating them can be a fun activity for families, roommates, or individuals looking for a creative outlet during the autumn season.
Here are 10 creative, low-cost Halloween decoration ideas that you can make for under $10 (and in many cases for almost nothing), using materials you probably already have at home or can acquire cheaply from dollar stores, thrift shops, or your recycling bin. These projects range from quick and simple crafts that children can help with to slightly more involved creations that will impress your neighbors and party guests. All share the advantages of being budget-friendly, environmentally conscious through reusing materials, and customizable to your specific space and aesthetic preferences. Whether you’re decorating a small apartment, a suburban home with a yard, or planning a Halloween party, these DIY ideas will help you create a spooky atmosphere without breaking the bank or sacrificing creativity and personal expression.
Ghost lanterns from recycled jars
Ghost lanterns transform old jars into charming Halloween luminaries using just white paint, black markers, and tea lights (real or LED), creating an inexpensive decoration that provides both spooky ambiance and practical lighting for porches, pathways, or indoor spaces. To make ghost lanterns, clean and dry old jars of any size, apply white paint to the exterior (spray paint works fastest, but acrylic paint applied with a brush or sponge works fine), allow the paint to dry completely, then use a black permanent marker to draw simple ghost faces with dots for eyes and an “O” shape for the mouth. Once the faces are complete, place battery-operated LED tea lights inside the jars for a safe, long-lasting glow, or use real tea candles if the jars will be placed outdoors or in supervised areas where open flames are appropriate.
The budget tip for this project is to reuse spaghetti sauce jars, which are typically thrown away or recycled but make perfect ghost lanterns due to their sturdy glass construction and convenient size. Pasta sauce jars, pickle jars, jam jars, and other food containers can all be repurposed for this project. Most households accumulate several of these in their recycling bin each month, meaning you likely won’t need to purchase any materials beyond paint (a can of white spray paint costs around $5 and will cover many jars) and tea lights (battery-operated LED tea lights can be found in multipacks at dollar stores for $1-3). This project is simple enough for young children to participate in the face-drawing portion while adults handle the painting. It makes a great family craft activity that produces functional decorations you’ll actually use throughout the Halloween season and can potentially store and reuse in subsequent years.
Spooky silhouettes for windows
Spooky silhouettes create a dramatic visual impact using only black construction paper, scissors, and tape. They transform ordinary windows into haunted displays, which are particularly effective at night when interior lights create glowing backdrops behind the dark cutouts. To make window silhouettes, cut Halloween shapes from black construction paper or cardstock; popular choices include bats in various sizes and wing positions, witches on broomsticks, black cats with arched backs, haunted houses, gnarled tree branches, or any other recognizable Halloween imagery. Tape the finished silhouettes to windows using small pieces of transparent tape or removable adhesive tabs that won’t damage glass or window frames, arranging them to create scenes or scattered patterns that suggest movement and life.
The visual impact is enhanced by placing a lamp inside near the window, which creates a glowing effect that makes the silhouettes stand out dramatically when viewed from outside, turning your windows into illuminated Halloween displays that catch the attention of neighbors and trick-or-treaters. This technique works particularly well for creating the appearance of bats flying across windows, witches passing in front of the moon (suggested with a circular lamp shade or paper cutout), or mysterious figures lurking in windows. The cost for this project is minimal: a pack of black construction paper costs around $2 to $ 3. It will make dozens of silhouettes, tape is something most households already have, and the lamp provides lighting you would likely be using anyway. This decoration is extremely easy to remove and store. The paper cutouts can be flattened and saved in a folder or envelope for reuse year after year, making it one of the most economical and sustainable Halloween decoration options available.
DIY pumpkin balloon garland
A DIY pumpkin balloon garland creates a festive, Instagram-worthy decoration using orange balloons, a black marker, and string. It offers a cheap alternative to expensive pre-made garlands or balloon arrangements sold by party supply stores for inflated prices. To create this decoration, inflate orange balloons to various sizes (mixing sizes creates visual interest and a more organic appearance), use a black permanent marker to draw jack-o’-lantern faces on each balloon with triangular eyes and noses and jagged mouths, then tie the balloons onto a long piece of string, ribbon, or twine, spacing them as densely or sparsely as you prefer. The garland can be customized by adding green balloons at intervals to represent pumpkin stems, incorporating black or purple balloons for variety, or including other Halloween elements like paper bats or plastic spiders attached to the string between balloons.
This decoration works beautifully as a party backdrop for photos, hung above a dessert table or gift table, draped along a porch railing, or hung across a doorway or wall as an instant Halloween transformation. A bag of orange balloons (typically containing 50-100 balloons) costs around $3-5 at party supply or dollar stores, a black permanent marker costs $1-2, and string or ribbon is usually available at home or can be purchased for a dollar, making this an extremely affordable decoration that creates significant visual impact. The pumpkin balloon garland is also quick to develop, making it ideal for last-minute party preparations or for crafting with children who enjoy drawing faces and watching the decorations come together. While balloon decorations aren’t reusable like some other DIY options, they’re biodegradable if you choose latex balloons. They provide maximum festive impact for minimal investment, making them worthwhile for parties and special Halloween celebrations.
Creepy candle holders from toilet paper rolls
Creepy candle holders transform toilet paper rolls into gothic-looking candlesticks using hot glue, black paint, and LED tea lights, creating an eerie ambiance that’s perfect for Halloween parties, mantels, or dining table centerpieces. To make these spooky candlesticks, collect several toilet paper or paper towel rolls (cutting paper towel rolls into shorter sections if desired), use a hot glue gun to drip melted glue down the sides of the rolls to create the appearance of wax drips and drippings (working in layers and allowing glue to cool between applications makes the most realistic effect), then paint the entire roll and dried glue drips with black acrylic paint or spray paint. Once the paint is completely dry, insert battery-operated LED tea lights into the top of each roll, which will sit securely and provide a flickering candlelight effect without any fire hazard.
This project creates a surprisingly convincing gothic ambiance that looks like expensive candelabras or aged candles but costs almost nothing since toilet paper rolls are free (simply save them over a few weeks), hot glue sticks cost around $2-3 for a pack that will make multiple candle holders, black paint costs $2-4 for enough to cover many rolls, and LED tea lights can be purchased at dollar stores for $1 per pair. The finished candle holders look authentically old and creepy, with the dripping wax effect adding texture and dimension, making them appear more substantial than their humble cardboard origins. This project requires a bit more time and skill than some other DIY decorations because of the hot glue dripping technique. Still, the results are impressive enough to be centerpiece-worthy, and the process can be meditative and satisfying as you watch the glue create organic, unpredictable drip patterns that enhance the handmade, aged appearance of the finished candles.
Trash bag spider webs
Trash bag spider webs create striking Halloween decorations using only black trash bags, scissors, and tape. These decorations produce impressive results that look complicated but are actually simple to make and cost virtually nothing. To create spider webs from trash bags, lay a black trash bag flat on a work surface, fold it in half and then in half again to create a smaller square, use scissors to cut curved or angular notches and shapes along the folded edges (similar to making paper snowflakes), then carefully unfold the bag to reveal a spider web pattern. The cutting doesn’t need to be precise or perfect. In fact, irregular cuts often create more organic, realistic-looking webs, and experimenting with different cutting patterns will produce varied web designs.
Once cut, tape the trash bag webs to windows (where they create dramatic silhouettes), hang them on walls (where they add texture and spookiness), drape them over doorways or railings, or layer multiple webs together for a more elaborate, dense cobweb effect. This decoration is super cheap because trash bags cost around $3-5 for a large box containing dozens of bags (and you’re likely to have some at home already). It requires no special skills beyond basic scissor use and creates a striking effect that immediately reads as a Halloween decoration. The black plastic material catches light in interesting ways. It has enough substance to hold its shape without being stiff or heavy. The webs can be reused from year to year if you store them carefully, though many people consider them disposable given their low cost. This is an excellent project for children who are old enough to use scissors safely. The folding and cutting process is similar to making paper snowflakes, but with more dramatic results. Kids enjoy seeing their cuts transform into web patterns when unfolded.
Floating cheesecloth ghosts
Floating cheesecloth ghosts create eerily realistic apparitions using cheesecloth, a balloon, wire, or a stand, and fabric starch or spray adhesive. These decorations hover in place and look genuinely spooky rather than cartoonish. To make these ghosts, create a support structure by shaping wire into a ghost form with a round head and flowing body, or use a more straightforward method by placing a balloon on top of an inverted wire tomato cage or similar frame. Drape cheesecloth (available at grocery stores or hardware stores for $3-5 per package) over the balloon and frame, then apply liquid fabric starch or spray starch liberally to the cheesecloth, working it in until the fabric is thoroughly saturated and begins to hold its shape. Allow the stiffened cheesecloth to dry completely (usually 24 hours), then carefully remove the balloon by popping it or deflating it, leaving a standing ghost that maintains its shape without internal support.
The finished ghosts can be positioned in yards, on porches, in windows, or anywhere you want an eerie apparition. They can be adjusted to suit your preferences. At the same time, the starch is still wet to create different poses—flowing as if caught in wind, reaching toward viewers, or clustered in groups as if having a ghostly gathering. This project requires more time and patience than some other DIY decorations. The drying process takes a full day, and the starching process can be messy. However, the results are impressive enough to be worth the effort, as they create decorations that look professionally made and genuinely unsettling. Multiple ghosts in varying sizes create even more impact, suggesting a haunted property inhabited by restless spirits. The cost remains minimal; in fact, cheesecloth is the most expensive component at $3-5, balloons cost pennies each, and fabric starch costs around $3-4 per bottle. It can make several ghosts, and wire or frame materials can often be improvised from hangers or other household items, keeping the total cost well under $10, even for creating multiple ghosts.
Painted rock monsters
Painted rock monsters offer a fun, colorful, and reusable decoration option that’s particularly great for kids to create and can be used to decorate yards, pathways, windowsills, or any outdoor or indoor space that benefits from whimsical Halloween touches. To make rock monsters, collect smooth rocks of various sizes from your yard, a park, a beach, or landscaping areas (always check that it’s permitted to take rocks from public spaces), wash and dry them thoroughly, then paint them with acrylic paints in Halloween colors—orange and black for pumpkins, white and black for ghosts, green for monsters, purple for weird creatures—and add details like faces, teeth, eyes, or patterns. Googly eyes in various sizes can be glued onto the painted rocks to create instant personality and humor, or eyes can be painted on for a more integrated look.
This project is delightful for children, allowing them to express creativity while making decorations that feel substantial and permanent, rather than flimsy craft projects. The finished rock monsters can be used year after year, making them one of the most sustainable and cost-effective Halloween decoration options. Small rocks can line pathways, creating a trail of tiny monsters, medium rocks can be clustered in garden beds or on porch steps, and large stones can serve as statement pieces near doorways or in prominent yard locations. The only costs are acrylic paint (a basic set costs $5-10 and will last for many projects), googly eyes if using them (available in bulk at dollar stores for $1-2), and clear sealant spray if you want to weatherproof outdoor rocks (optional, around $5), making this project very affordable especially considering the stones themselves are free. The decorations will last indefinitely with proper storage between seasons.
DIY bats from egg cartons
DIY bats from egg cartons are an easy upcycled craft that transforms trash into Halloween decorations. Using cardboard egg cartons, black paint, googly eyes, and string for hanging, these three-dimensional bats add depth and movement to Halloween displays. To make egg carton bats, cut individual cup sections from cardboard egg cartons (each cup will become one bat), cut wing shapes from the flat lid portions of the carton or from additional cardboard, paint all pieces with black acrylic or spray paint and allow to dry, then glue the wings to the sides of the cup section and add googly eyes or draw eyes with white paint. Punch a small hole in the top of each bat and thread string or fishing line through for hanging, then suspend the bats at various heights from ceilings, doorways, porch eaves, or tree branches to create the appearance of bats in flight.
This upcycling craft is extremely budget-friendly since egg cartons are typically discarded and most households go through several per month, meaning the primary material is free and you’re giving new life to something that would otherwise be waste. The only purchases needed are black paint (which you may already have or can get for $2-3), googly eyes (optional, $1-2 at dollar stores), and string (which most households have on hand), making this decoration cost next to nothing while providing an opportunity to reduce waste and teach children about creative reuse. The egg carton texture adds interesting detail to the bats, and their lightweight construction means they move slightly in air currents, creating a subtle animation effect that makes them appear more lifelike. This project works well as a group activity where family members or party guests can each make several bats in different sizes (using egg cartons that hold different egg quantities) to create a varied, naturalistic colony of bats that populate your Halloween space.
Spooky mason jar mummies
Spooky mason jar mummies create budget-friendly luminaries using mason jars or any glass jars, gauze or medical tape, googly eyes, and tea lights. These decorations serve both aesthetic and functional purposes by providing ambient lighting with a Halloween twist. To make mason jar mummies, wrap jars with gauze bandages or medical tape in a crisscrossing, irregular pattern that covers most of the jar but leaves some gaps (don’t wrap too neatly—mummies should look ancient and disheveled with bandages coming loose), secure the gauze with glue or additional tape, attach two googly eyes to the front of the jar where the mummy’s face would be, then place a battery-operated LED tea light inside the jar. The light will shine through the gaps in the gauze wrapping, creating an eerie glow, while the overall effect is a mummy’s face peering out from its wrappings.
These mummy jars work beautifully lined up along walkways to guide trick-or-treaters, clustered on porch steps or mantels, used as table centerpieces for Halloween parties, or placed in windows where they create a warm, spooky glow visible from outside. The project is extremely inexpensive since jars are reusable containers you likely have at home, gauze or medical tape can be purchased at dollar stores for $1-2 per roll (and one roll will wrap multiple jars), googly eyes cost $1-2 for a large pack, and LED tea lights are available at dollar stores for $1-2 per two-pack. This is another project that children can help with, as wrapping the jars is forgiving and straightforward (there’s no wrong way to wrap a mummy), and the finished luminaries are safe for kids to handle and place around the house. Mason jar mummies can be stored with the gauze wrapping intact and reused year after year. Alternatively, the gauze can be removed, and the jars returned to regular use, making this a flexible decoration option that doesn’t permanently commit jars to single-purpose use.
Creepy hands in the yard
Creepy hands emerging from the ground create a startling yard decoration using old rubber gloves, dirt or newspaper stuffing, and optional paint for added realism, producing the appearance of zombies or corpses clawing their way out of graves. To make creepy hands, fill rubber gloves with dirt, sand, newspaper, or cloth stuffing to give them shape and weight, seal the openings with twist ties or rubber bands, then position the “hands” in your yard by digging small holes and burying the wrist portions. Hence, the hands appear to be emerging from underground. For enhanced realism, paint the gloves with gray, green, or pale flesh-colored paint to create a zombie or corpse appearance, add details like dirt under the fingernails or fake blood, and arrange the fingers in grasping or reaching positions that suggest desperate clawing.
These zombie hands create a surprising visual impact, especially when partially obscured by fallen leaves, placed along pathways where trick-or-treaters will walk, or positioned near gravestones or other spooky yard decorations to enhance a graveyard theme. Old rubber gloves (dishwashing gloves, cleaning gloves, or medical gloves) are the primary material. They may already be available at home if you have old gloves that have developed leaks or are otherwise destined for disposal. Alternatively, they can be purchased at dollar stores for $1-2 per pair. Stuffing is free if using dirt from your yard or newspaper, and paint is optional but adds significant realism if you’re willing to invest $2-3 in gray or green craft paint. This decoration works particularly well for creating a Halloween yard display that tells a story—multiple hands emerging from different locations suggest a zombie uprising or a haunted cemetery where the dead won’t rest peacefully. The hands can be repositioned each year in various locations or poses, and the rubber material is durable enough to withstand outdoor conditions for several weeks of the Halloween season.
Conclusion
These DIY decorations prove there’s no need to overspend on expensive store-bought décor that looks identical to everyone else’s and often falls apart after one season of use. The ten projects described here range from extremely simple crafts that young children can participate in (painting rocks, wrapping mummy jars, drawing on balloons) to slightly more involved creations that require some patience and skill (cheesecloth ghosts, candle holders). Still, all share the advantages of being festive, easy to make with standard materials, and costing next to nothing compared to retail Halloween decorations. By choosing DIY decorations, you’re not only saving money but also creating more personal, meaningful holiday displays that reflect your own creativity and effort rather than simply purchasing generic mass-produced items.
Get creative with what you already have at home by looking at everyday household items and recyclables through a Halloween lens. That is, glass jars become luminaries, cardboard becomes candles or bats, trash bags become spider webs, and old gloves become zombie hands. The process of creating these decorations can be as enjoyable as the final results, providing opportunities for family bonding, creative expression, and the satisfaction of transforming ordinary or discarded items into something festive and fun. Many of these projects can be made while watching Halloween movies, listening to spooky music, or simply spending an autumn afternoon crafting. This way, decoration-making becomes part of your Halloween celebration rather than just a preparatory chore. Whether you make all ten of these decorations or just choose a few favorites that suit your space, style, and skill level, you’ll end up with a personalized Halloween display that costs a fraction of what store-bought decorations would run while providing more satisfaction and creative fulfillment than simply hanging purchased items ever could.
Related:
- 17 spooky Halloween cakes that’ll give you goosebumps
- The best Halloween TV specials & where to stream them
Like MediaFeed’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
