Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays to go all out decorating for. As soon as October rolls around, homes across the country are transformed into creepy, kooky spaces perfect for the season. Decorated houses are part of what makes Halloween so fun for both kids and adults.
You don’t need a huge budget or professional decorating skills to make your home a destination this Halloween. With some planning, creativity, and easy DIY projects, you can spookify your house into a trick-or-treat hotspot. Let’s look at ways to create an impressive haunted home facade even on a budget.
Supplies to Stock Up On
Having these basic decorating supplies on hand will make executing all your Halloween decor ideas much easier:
- Pumpkins – Carve jack-o-lanterns and use pumpkins as decor accents
- Fake cobwebs – Drape these everywhere for added spookiness
- Skeletons, bats, spiders – Get plastic or inflatable versions
- Tombstones – Make your own or buy ready-made ones
- Lighting – String lights, floodlights, strobe lights
- Fog machine – Set the creepy mood
- Craft supplies – Paint, glue, tape, paper and more for DIY projects
Check dollar stores, thrift shops, and craft stores for inexpensive supplies. Buy what you can afford now, then build up your collection over the years.
Outdoor Decorations
Your exterior Halloween decorations are what create that exciting, spooky first impression. There are lots of ways to transform the outside of your home into a delightfully haunted space.
Pumpkin Tips
Carved, lit jack-o-lanterns are a quintessential Halloween decoration. Place them along walkways, porches, and entryways. Here are some tips for getting the most out of pumpkins:
- Check grocery stores for deals on pumpkins after Halloween for the next year
- Explore creative carving techniques like etching patterns into the skin
- Illuminate pumpkins with candles, battery-powered lights, or solar lights
DIY Tombstones
Handmade tombstones are an easy way to decorate your yard on the cheap. Craft them out of materials like:
- Cardboard
- Wood
- Foam insulation boards
- Plastic bottles
Get creative with the shapes and add spooky epitaphs.
Silhouettes and Props
Create an easy homemade decoration by cutting shapes like ghosts, bats, or witches out of black paper and sticking them on windows. This makes for creepy shadows at night when lit from inside. You can also buy zombie or skeleton props to place strategically around your yard.
For an extra thrill, use fake blood to create bloody handprints or splatters on walls, windows, or other surfaces.
Inflatables
Large inflatable decorations have become popular for Halloween. Opt for classics like ghosts, grim reapers, and spiders. Place them on rooftops, yards, or porches and secure well so they don’t blow away.
Sound and Light
Set the ambiance with an eerie soundtrack of haunted house sounds or Halloween music. Position speakers to maximize the creep factor. Strategic lighting like spotlights, string lights, or strobe lights also help set the mood.
Quick and Easy Decorations
If you’re short on time or energy, focus on these simple outdoor decorations first:
- Fake cobwebs – Drape on bushes, trees, railings, mailboxes
- Halloween wreaths – Front doors are a great spot
- Banners – Hang spooky signs like “Enter if you Dare”
- Yard signs – Place in the ground with phrases like “Beware” or “Trick or Treat”
- Spray paint – Transform pumpkins or other items with white or metallic spray paint
- Spotlights – Illuminate inflatables or tombstones at night
- Caution tape – Crisscross over entryways or trees
Elaborate Decorating Ideas
If you’re ready to take your home’s Halloween transformation up a notch, consider these thrilling ideas:
- Turn your garage or shed into a haunted house for trick-or-treaters to walk through
- Create an entire cemetery scene in your front yard with rows of homemade tombstones
- Project ghostly videos in the windows of your house to freak out passersby
- Coordinate elaborate decorations with your neighbors for a cohesive theme throughout the street
Indoor Decorating
While the outdoor decor makes a bold first impression, don’t neglect the inside. Welcome trick-or-treaters and Halloween party guests with festive indoor accents like:
- Wreaths on doors
- Spooky garlands on bannisters and fireplaces
- Halloween throw pillows and blankets
- Themed tablescapes – table runners, placemats, centerpieces
- Candles, lanterns
- Banners and wall hangings
Carve pumpkins for the front porch, then repurpose them as part of your interior decor after Halloween.
Kids Decorating
For families with kids, involve them in the decorating process with these fun projects:
- Decorate paper bag luminaries by cutting designs into bags
- Make garlands out of paper links or popcorn and cranberries
- Do handprint crafts like making handprint spiders or monsters
- Let kids decorate their bedroom doors or windows
Supervise closely, but let their creativity shine through. They’ll love seeing their homemade decorations displayed.
Pet Considerations
If you have pets at home, keep them in mind as you decorate:
- Avoid decorations with small, loose parts that pets could choke on
- Don’t use paints or materials that could be toxic if ingested
- Provide a safe, quiet room pets can retreat to if frightened
- Consider cute costumes so pets can join in the fun
Halloween Night
Add some final flourishes so your home is party-ready on October 31st:
- Light up pumpkins and walkways
- Turn on your soundtrack or spooky sounds
- Set up the fog machine for an extra thrill
- Keep candy bowls filled for a steady stream of trick-or-treaters
After the last trick-or-treater has come and gone, you can finally take a well-earned rest – and start planning for next Halloween!
With some creativity and dedicated decorating time, you can transform your home into a haunted Halloween haven. Include quick and easy touches like yard signs and cobwebs, along with handmade decor projects like tombstones. Go big with creepy music, intricate lighting displays, and even haunted houses. Finally, make sure to involve the whole family.
This year, don’t just decorate – create a whole Halloween experience. With these tips, you’ll have the best decorated house on the block in no time. Happy haunting!
