Decorating for Halloween doesn’t have to be expensive to look great. There are plenty of ways to create festive, fun, and even spooky decorations without breaking the bank. Whether you’re sprucing up your front yard or setting the stage for an indoor Halloween party, you can make it happen on a budget. I love the creativity that comes with finding inexpensive solutions that look way more impressive than their price tags suggest. Let’s jump into some cheap decoration ideas that’ll give your space a Halloween vibe without draining your wallet.
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Outdoor Cheap Halloween Decorations
Outdoor decorations set the mood for the entire season. They give your home that spooky vibe while also making sure your house is the most festive on the block. You don’t have to spend big to make a big impact. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- DIY Ghosts: All you need are some white sheets, a few balloons or styrofoam balls, and string. Drape the sheets over the balls and tie the string around the “neck” to form a ghost. Hang them from trees or your porch for a spooky look. Add googly eyes or paint a face on if you want to make them a little more fun.
- Fake Tombstones: Buy some foam boards from a dollar store and cut them into tombstone shapes. Paint them gray and use a black marker or paint to write funny or spooky epitaphs. Stick them in the yard for a graveyard effect.
- Spider Webs: You can find packs of spider webbing at just about any store this time of year. Stretch it across bushes, trees, or even your porch. Add some plastic spiders for an extra creepy touch.
- DIY Yard Signs: Grab some wood planks, paint them orange or black, and use stencils to write things like “Beware,” “Enter if you dare,” or “Haunted House.” Stick them in your yard or along your walkway to greet guests with a little spook.
Indoor Cheap Halloween Decorations
Indoor decorations are just as fun and can be done on a tight budget. With a few simple items and a bit of creativity, you can transform your home into a Halloween wonderland without it looking “cheap.”
- Creepy Candle Holders: Empty toilet paper rolls can be used to create creepy candle holders. Paint them black, glue them together, and drip some hot glue down the sides to mimic melting wax. Stick battery-powered candles in the tops for a spooky effect.
- Pumpkin Garland: String together some mini plastic pumpkins, which you can find at dollar stores, to create a festive garland. Hang it over doorways, mantels, or even on the wall.
- DIY Potion Bottles: Empty glass bottles from your kitchen (like wine or juice bottles) can easily be transformed into spooky potion bottles. Paint them dark colors like black, purple, or green, and add labels like “Witch’s Brew” or “Zombie Tonic.” Arrange them on a shelf for a haunted apothecary look.
- Spider Garland: You can buy bags of plastic spiders for next to nothing. String them together with black yarn or fishing line to create a creepy-crawly garland. Drape it across your fireplace or over doorways for an eerie touch.
DIY Halloween Party Decorations on a Budget
If you’re hosting a Halloween party, decorating can be a blast. You don’t need to spend a lot to make your party space look festive and fun. There are tons of cheap Halloween decoration ideas to make your party aesthetic look spooktacular!
- Balloon Arch: Grab some black, orange, and purple balloons and make your own balloon arch. You don’t need a fancy kit—just some balloons, tape, and patience. You can create a stunning entrance or party backdrop that’s perfect for photos.
- Black and Orange Streamers: Streamers are an inexpensive way to add color and festivity to any space. You can hang them from the ceiling, wrap them around banisters, or even use them as a backdrop for a photo booth.
- Mason Jar Lanterns: Recycle your mason jars into Halloween lanterns. Paint them in orange and black with spooky faces, and drop a tea light inside. They make great centerpieces or can be placed around the house for a warm, eerie glow.
- Floating Eyeballs: Fill a punch bowl with water and add a few drops of food coloring to make it look dark and mysterious. Toss in some plastic eyeballs (you can find these at most dollar stores) to float around. It’s a fun and cheap way to create a creepy effect.
Outdoor DIY Halloween Decorations
If you love getting crafty, outdoor DIY Halloween decorations are a great way to make your yard the talk of the neighborhood without spending too much. Here are 3 spooky ideas for cheap outdoor Halloween decorations:
- DIY Pallet Pumpkins: If you have access to wooden pallets, you can create large pumpkins to display in your yard. Paint the pallets orange, add some black detailing for the face, and prop them up along the driveway or on the porch.
- Hanging Bats: Cut bat shapes out of black cardstock or construction paper and string them together with fishing line. Hang them from your trees or porch for a spooky flying effect.
- Mummified Bushes: This is one of my favorite tricks! Grab some cheap white fabric (even old bed sheets will work) and wrap it around your bushes. It creates the effect of a giant outdoor mummy. You can add googly eyes for fun, or leave it as is for a more eerie look.
Indoor DIY Halloween Decorations
For indoor decorations, DIY cheap Halloween decorations are where you can really get creative. It doesn’t take a lot of money or materials to create something spooky and unique.
- Witch Hat Chandeliers: You can find cheap witch hats at most stores during Halloween season. Hang them upside down from your ceiling or light fixtures using fishing line, so they appear to float in midair. It creates a cool, eerie effect that’ll get everyone talking.
- Bloody Handprints: This one’s super easy but gives a great spooky effect. Dip your hands in red food coloring or non-toxic paint and press them against windows or mirrors. When it dries, it looks like bloody handprints, adding a spooky element to your party or haunted house.
- Floating Ghosts: For a truly eerie effect, create some indoor floating ghosts. You’ll need a few balloons, cheesecloth, and string. Drape the cheesecloth over the balloon, and tie it with the string to create the shape of a ghost. Hang them throughout your house for a spooky atmosphere.
- Spider Invasion: Get a bag of plastic spiders and stick them all over your walls, doors, and furniture. You can make it look like they’re climbing out of a vent, marching up a wall, or even invading a table.
DIY Halloween Party Favors on a Budget
Party favors are a great way to thank your guests for coming. But they don’t have to cost much, and they can still look great.
- Mini Candy Bags: Buy some small plastic bags, fill them with candy, and tie them off with black and orange ribbon. You can even use markers to draw little ghosts or pumpkins on the bags for an extra personal touch.
- Homemade Slime: Kids love slime! You can easily make some at home with glue, water, baking soda, and contact solution. Add a few drops of green or orange food coloring and store it in small containers for guests to take home.
- Candy Corn Treat Jars: Buy small jars from the dollar store and fill them with layers of candy corn and other Halloween-colored candies. It’s simple but cute, and everyone loves a sweet treat.
Cheap Indoor Halloween Decorations for a Cozy Haunted Home
Transforming your living space for Halloween doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a few simple tweaks, you can create a cozy, spooky atmosphere that’s just as impressive as it is affordable.
- Creepy Curtains: Swap out your regular curtains with something dark or tattered. You don’t need to buy new curtains—an old black sheet or even a cut-up trash bag can work. The darker, the better for that haunted house feel.
- Pumpkin Accents: Pick up a few inexpensive mini pumpkins from the grocery store and scatter them around your home. You can leave them plain, paint them, or even carve them with little faces to add charm to your space.
- Flickering Candles: You can get battery-powered flickering candles at most dollar stores. Scatter them around the house for a spooky, cozy glow. They’re perfect for setting the mood without worrying about an open flame.
Wrapping Up Your Halloween Look on a Budget
With all these cheap Halloween decoration ideas, you can easily make your space feel festive and fun without spending a lot of money. The key is getting creative with everyday items and finding ways to turn inexpensive materials into impressive displays. You’ll be surprised at what you can do with a few basic supplies and some imagination.
