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10 Easy DIY Halloween Decorations to Make on a Budget

Sep 7, 2024 by Brooke Larsen · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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halloween Decorations to Make on a Budget

Vamp up the spooky scene in your haunted house with DIY Halloween decorations that can be homemade and thrifty.

It's almost time to transform your home for the spooky season with these easy Halloween decorations you can DIY. From creepy candle creations to ghastly ghosts, this article will provide you with easy tutorials to help you create a haunted atmosphere for your celebrations. Whether you are looking for outdoor Halloween decorations or vamping up that Halloween party, we've got you covered. Get ready to craft your way to a chilling haunt that will impress all your guests!

Diy thrifty Halloween decorations

Budget-Friendly DIY Halloween Decorations

Want to decorate your front porch or living room with some Halloween spirit? These creative ideas will provide some thrifty solutions for easy Halloween crafts to decorate your space.

Creepy Candle Creations

First, let's start off with one of my new favorite DIY decorations, a freestanding candelabra or creepy candles for Halloween.

You'll Need:

  • 10 Pool noodles
  • A handsaw
  • Drill
  • Hot glue and hot glue gun
  • A large pegboard or something to keep the noodles upright
  • Black spray paint
  • Twine
  • Dead branches, spray painted (optional)
  • Battery-operated tea lights
Halloween decor homemade freestanding candelabra

Step 1

Use a handsaw to cut all of your pool noodles at an angle. This is an easy way to cut. You also want them to be cut at different heights.

upright candelabra for halloween

Step 2

After cutting, use a drill to make the inside of your noodle hole just a little bit bigger. This will help for inserting lights later on.

Drilling a larger hole for candle

Step 3

Once you have finished widening the opening of your noodle, grab a hot glue gun. Add glue in a straight, vertical line down the sides of the opening. This doesn't need to look perfect, only straight for the most part. Wait until the hot glue is dry before moving on to the next step.

Add hot glue down the sides

Step 4

Next, it is time to spray paint. I added all of my noodles onto a pegboard that I had made for some other projects. I used a pegboard to keep them all upright to make painting easier.

Spray paint your pool noodles with black paint. I used chalk paint because that is what I had on hand already. Allow plenty of time for the paint to dry.

Spray painting candle pieces black

Step 5

Once dry, you'll want something to tie your noodles together with. Fishing line, black ribbon or rope could be options. I used twine and wrapped it around a few times to make sure the noodle pieces didn't move too much.

Bundle together candle pieces

Step 6

For the final touches, I added some spray painted branches in black and white to create more of a focal point for the center. Then, I finished off this standing candelabra by adding tea lights into each top section of the noodle. This is a great way to add light to your space.

Upright Halloween candelabra with lights

I put this on my fireplace mantel in my living room, but you could easily put this in your front yard or even on the front porch next to your door for an added night light. Throw in a few plastic spiders on some spider webs and you'll have a creepy porch in no time.

Sheet Ghosts for DIY Halloween Decorations

Now, let's drift into the ethereal realm of ghastly ghosts for our next easy Halloween decoration ideas. To transform your home into a haunted haven, consider hanging white sheets from the ceiling with cut-out eye holes for a classic ghostly effect. You can also create eerie floating spirits by fashioning ghostly shapes out of cheesecloth and hanging them from doorways or trees in your yard.

I made these spooky ghosts for our porch last year. But you can also put them on robotic vacuums to make your interior seem haunted as well.

These spectral beings will add a chilling touch to your Halloween decor and set the stage for the ghostly candle creations ahead.

Diy Halloween ghost decor

DIY Halloween Decor Making Ghost Candles

To further enhance the eerie ambiance in your haunted house, try your hand at creating ghost candles. These spooky decorations are simple to make yet have a haunting effect that will surely impress your Halloween guests.

Start by purchasing plain white candles and melting them slightly to create a dripping effect. While the wax is still warm, use a toothpick or small tool to mold ghostly faces and features onto the candles. As the candles burn, a spooky face will slowly reveal itself, casting a shadowy glow that adds to the ghostly atmosphere of your Halloween decor.

Another option includes the DIY ghost candles I made below. These don't take much time and include household items you most likely have. Plus, no skill level required!

Homemade Ghost Candles

Bat Sign

Once you've mastered the art of ghost candles, you'll be ready to move on to the next spooky creation: the bat sign. This easy DIY project involves creating a silhouette of a bat and adding it to a picture frame or large board. For simplicity purposes, I opted to buy some pre-cut back vinyl bats and stick them directly to my sign. However, an inexpensive way can also be cutting some paper bats out of black vinyl.

These bat signs are great for outdoor decorations as well as indoor. You can hang these bat signs in windows, on doors, or even in trees outside your house to create a creepy and Halloween-inspired look. I added mine to my front porch nook over my porch swing bench.

The flapping wings of the bats will add movement to your decor, giving off a sense of life in the midst of your ghostly theme. Get creative with different sizes and placements of your bat signs to make your haunted house truly stand out this Halloween.

Homemade bat sign

Black and White Sharpie Pumpkins

Another money saver for your scary Halloween decorations includes these simple black and white pumpkins. You can see detailed instructions on how to make them here. The best part about these is that you can get by with mostly dollar store items.

Grab yourself a few white faux pumpkins, or spray painted white pumpkins and add your chosen intricate design. I also cut out the top and added some creepy black and white florals to make a spooky centerpiece.

DIY black and white pumpkin centerpiece

DIY Charcoal Terra Cotta Pumpkins

Halloween is just around the corner, and it's time to start thinking about decorating your home for the spooky season. While traditional pumpkin carving may be the go-to activity, have you ever considered creating your own unique pumpkins using baking soda and paint.

Not only is it a fun and creative DIY project, but it's also a sustainable and budget-friendly option for your fall decor. Explore the full tutorial on how to create them here.

charcoal terra cotta pumpkin

DIY Black and White Branches

Transforming dead branches into eerie Halloween decor is a fantastically simple and visually striking way to set a spooky scene. By spray painting the branches in black and white, you create a chilling contrast that evokes the essence of a ghostly forest. The stark white branches mimic skeletal fingers reaching out from the darkness, while the inky black ones add a sense of foreboding and mystery.

spooky painted branches

This DIY project not only repurposes what would otherwise be discarded but also adds a personal touch to your Halloween setup. Arrange the painted branches in a vase or on the ground for a dramatic effect, and perhaps add some faux cobwebs or dim lighting to enhance the haunted atmosphere.

This easy yet impactful decoration brings a touch of eerie elegance to any Halloween display, making it a perfect centerpiece for your frightful festivities.

Create an Eerie Tree

For a spine-chilling Halloween display, transforming a large branch into a sinister-looking dead tree is both creative and captivating. Start by spray painting the branch in a deep, glossy black to achieve an authentic, gnarled appearance that mimics the twisted limbs of a forsaken tree. Once the paint is dry, elevate the eerie effect by hanging silhouetted bats from the branch using clear fishing line.

black spray painted tree

This clever touch creates the illusion of bats fluttering ominously in the night, as if they're emerging from the darkness of the tree. The transparent line ensures the focus remains on the bats, making them appear as if they're mysteriously suspended in mid-air. Together, the black branch and floating bats form a hauntingly atmospheric centerpiece that’s sure to send shivers down the spines of all who encounter it.

Spray Painted Black Jack O Lanterns

Elevate your Halloween decor with a creative twist on a classic favorite by crafting DIY spray-painted black Jack O’ Lanterns. This modern take on the traditional orange pumpkin adds a touch of sophisticated spookiness to your Halloween setup.

black painted pumpkins

Begin by selecting some faux or real pumpkins and giving them a sleek, matte black spray paint finish. The dark hue creates a striking contrast against the vibrant colors typically associated with Halloween, providing a chic and eerie vibe.

For an added touch of drama, add tea lights so your pumpkins will eerily glow after the sun sets. These black Jack O' Lanterns will not only stand out but also provide a modern and edgy twist on a Halloween staple, perfect for anyone looking to break away from tradition with a touch of style. See the full tutorial here

Looking for more great ideas?

  • Make your own hanging witch hats
  • Add giant spiders to your porch or a window
  • Embellish your front door with faux cobwebs or fun Halloween wreaths

Homemade DIY Halloween Decorations

These DIY Halloween decorations offer a simple yet effective way to transform your home into a spooky sanctuary for the holiday. From creepy candle creations to ghastly ghosts, these tutorials provide step-by-step instructions to help you create a chilling haunt that will impress all your guests. So, get crafting and embrace the spirit of Halloween by adding these eerie decorations to your home.

Happy Haunting!

Brooke

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About Brooke Larsen

Hello Friends! I love anything DIY and home decorator! On my blog I hope you will find home inspo. Whether it is for your next DIY project or home decor. If I can do it, anyone can!

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Hi I am Brooke I am an avid DIY-er and home decorator! I share home inspo and all of my DIY projects with step-by-step directions. I sprinkle in a few recipes to help out all of us busy moms too. If I can do it, so can you!

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