20 Easy Homemade Halloween Decorations to Make

Homemade Halloween decorations including glowing ghosts, pumpkins, wreaths and spooky DIY decor for inside and outdoors

Easy DIY Halloween Decorations | Quick Ideas for Adults, Kids and Teens

Making homemade Halloween decorations starts with choosing a project that fits the supplies and tools you have. These 20 ideas cover paper, yarn, paint, recycled containers, wreaths and softly lit accents for walls, doors, mantels, tabletops and more.

I’m always drawn to the Halloween details that make familiar materials look completely different, from yarn ghosts and paper bats to a staring eyeball wreath. Pick the project that catches your eye, open the linked creator’s complete tutorial before you begin and keep its safety notes with the method.

1. DIY Yarn Ghost Art

Framed yarn ghost art with a macrame-look arch, black cardstock face, optional bow and rosy cheeks on patterned paper — A framed yarn ghost brings soft, macrame-look texture to Halloween decor. (Image credit: Average But Inspired)

DIY yarn ghost art turns a paper-covered reused frame or wood canvas into a macrame-look Halloween character. Bre glues the yarn arch, lets it dry and trims the ends before adding the black cardstock face; I keep coming back to how an optional bow and rosy cheeks can shift the expression. Visit Average But Inspired for Bre’s complete yarn-ghost tutorial and more of her clever Halloween projects.

2. Hot-Glue Spider Web

A black hot-glue web brings graphic Halloween detail to a white background. (Image credit: DIY JOY)

The hot-glue spider web uses a template or hand-drawn guide beneath parchment to shape every strand. I appreciate the simple black silhouette on white. Low-temperature hot glue traces the guide, then needs to cool completely before the web is lifted. Nylon string makes the finished piece ready to hang, and optional marker adds color. Open the DIY JOY project page for the complete traced-web tutorial and more Halloween craft ideas from our team.

3. DIY Halloween Ghost Ornaments

White craft-plastic ghost ornaments with marker faces and twine hangers displayed on a glossy black tabletop tree — White craft-plastic ghosts make playful ornaments for a black Halloween tree. (Image credit: Crafting Cheerfully)

DIY Halloween ghost ornaments begin with thick craft plastic traced from Kim’s template, then get marker faces and optional pink cheeks. Yarn, ribbon, string or baker’s twine can form the hangers. With those curved cuts and small punched holes, I’d rather give sharp scissors the attention they deserve. Crafting Cheerfully has Kim’s complete ghost-ornament tutorial and original template, along with more cheerful seasonal craft ideas to explore.

4. Light-Up Ghost Centerpiece

Three glowing cheesecloth ghosts with black faces and witch hats stand together beside small orange pumpkins — String lights brighten a trio of cheesecloth ghosts and pumpkins. (Image credit: It's Always Autumn)

Three lit cheesecloth ghosts with black faces and tiny hats gather beside small pumpkins in the finished centerpiece. Autumn Baldwin created the Light-Up Ghost Centerpiece for It’s Always Autumn, and her post includes Amazon affiliate links. Hot glue belongs with an adult, and the string lights should be switched off whenever you leave the room. Find Autumn’s complete tutorial at It’s Always Autumn, along with more seasonal projects from the site.

5. Cupcake Pumpkin Decorations

Three cream-painted pumpkins with painted brown, pink and lavender frosting bands plus colorful painted sprinkles — Three painted pumpkins borrow frosting colors and sprinkles from cupcakes. (Image credit: Club Crafted)

Cupcake pumpkin decorations turn three real or faux white pumpkins into a bakery-inspired display. Holly paints a cream base, adds scalloped frosting bands and dots on sprinkle marks. The brown, pink and lavender combination makes me smile. A second coat and optional stem color can sharpen the finish after every layer dries completely. Club Crafted shares Holly’s complete six-step tutorial plus more playful seasonal projects worth browsing.

6. DIY Skull Apothecary Jar

Black skull glowing inside a clear apothecary jar over black granules, with small skulls and spell books nearby — One black skull glows inside a clear apothecary jar filled with black granules. (Image credit: DIY Candy)

One DIY skull apothecary jar centers a black-painted skull over decorative black granules, with a switchable LED votive glowing inside the clear glass. The glow catches every hollow in the skull, which is the detail I find most dramatic. Amy’s finish involves a taped-and-painted knob, wiped black paint and full drying before the light goes in. For the complete apothecary-jar tutorial and more Halloween decorating ideas, visit Amy at DIY Candy.

7. Canning Lid and Washi Tape Halloween Wreath

Black, white and yellow washi-tape-wrapped canning rings forming a Halloween wreath with a wide black ribbon bow — Patterned canning rings and a wide black bow form a graphic Halloween wreath. (Image credit: Create Craft Love)

A canning-lid and washi-tape Halloween wreath brings 72 patterned rings into one bold black, white and yellow circle. The project wraps and seals the rings before fitting them to a foam form, but that wide black bow is what makes the repetition feel finished to me; hot-glue steps still deserve careful handling. See Create Craft Love’s complete wreath tutorial, then browse more of the site’s colorful seasonal craft ideas.

8. Hanging Paper Bat Flock

Black paper bats suspended on thread over a dining table with a skull and candle decorations beneath the hanging flock — Black paper bats hover on thread above a dining table Halloween display. (Image credit: DIY in PDX)

Want a flock that looks as though it’s flying across the room? Rachel’s hanging bat mobile at DIY in PDX uses black construction paper or cardstock, with each bat cut on the fold and threaded through its head at two points. Hung on thread at different angles, the bats have that midflight look. Handle the needle and scissors carefully. Rachel’s complete five-step bat tutorial is at DIY in PDX, along with more of her inventive projects to try.

9. Creepy Halloween Eyeball Lantern

Eyeball lantern glowing under green creepy cloth with Halloween Eyeball Lantern headline and Kids Activities Blog mark — Glowing plastic-jar lantern with loose eyeballs and green cloth (Image credit: Kids Activities Blog)

The creepy Halloween eyeball lantern packs loose plastic eyeballs into a plastic mason jar, hides a switchable LED votive beneath the lid and drapes the glow in green creepy cloth; I have to smile at how the eyes seem to stare back without an open flame. Kids Activities Blog has Brittanie’s complete 10-minute tutorial, including double-sided tape, scissors and hot-glue details, plus more of the site’s Halloween activity ideas.

10. DIY Halloween Bat Straw Toppers

Black cardstock bat straw topper threaded onto a striped straw above a glass, with a DIY Halloween headline and hands — A black cardstock bat slides over a striped straw for a playful drink topper. (Image credit: Alice & Lois)

DIY Halloween bat straw toppers slide wide-winged black cardstock shapes over striped straws. I like that each bat dresses the glass without covering the drink. An adult should make the two X-Acto slits before the straw is threaded through. Alice & Lois shares Sara’s complete three-step topper tutorial and template, plus plenty more paper and party ideas to browse.

11. Halloween Paper Garland Cutouts

Orange pumpkins, black spiders, purple bats, white ghosts and black cats arranged as connected paper Halloween garlands — Five rows of connected paper pumpkins, spiders, bats, ghosts and cats make a colorful display. (Image credit: One Little Project)

Halloween paper garland cutouts line up pumpkins, spiders, bats, ghosts and black cats in five crisp rows; the connected shapes delight me because they read as one decoration instead of a scatter of loose pieces. Find Debbie’s complete tutorial and original template at One Little Project, then browse more of her project ideas while you’re there.

12. Raven Poem, Nevermore Banner and Bird Art

Framed Raven poem above a black-and-white Nevermore bird banner on a brick wall with Hello Little Home watermark — A framed Raven poem hangs above a black-and-white Nevermore bird banner. (Image credit: Hello Little Home)

Give your Halloween wall a literary twist with Ginnie’s Raven poem, Nevermore banner and bird art. At Hello Little Home, she pairs a framed print with black birds across the brick, curled banner ends and a spindly spider. It’s moody without feeling crowded. Ginnie shares the complete display tutorial and printable set, with more of her project ideas to explore at Hello Little Home.

13. Creepy Halloween Floral Arrangement

Colorful fall bouquet in a black crock with one white skull, faux cobweb and black jeweled spiders, plus House by Hoff mark — A white skull, faux cobweb and jeweled spiders darken a colorful fall bouquet. (Image credit: House by Hoff)

A creepy Halloween floral arrangement tucks skulls, faux cobweb and jeweled spiders into a colorful fall bouquet in a black crock. Against all those soft flowers, that dead-center skull feels more elegant than gory to me. House by Hoff has the complete arrangement tutorial, then plenty more of the site’s decorating ideas to discover.

14. Paper Plate Ghost

White paper plate ghost with construction-paper eyes and mouth, raised arms and five long white crepe-paper streamers — A paper plate face and five white streamers turn into one fluttery ghost. (Image credit: Crafts by Amanda)

The paper plate ghost has a round face with construction-paper eyes and upraised arms. Five 24-inch crepe-paper streamers fall below it, while a taped yarn hanger holds the finished decoration. An adult should supervise the scissors. I can’t decide whether the surprised mouth or those fluttery strips give it more personality. Head to Crafts by Amanda for Amanda’s complete tutorial and pattern, then see what else she is making.

15. Popsicle Stick Halloween Storefronts

Three painted popsicle-stick Halloween storefronts with ghost characters, awnings and signs for candy, potions and goodies — Three painted craft-stick storefronts turn ghosts into tiny Halloween shopkeepers. (Image credit: The Craft Patch)

Three miniature candy, potion and ghostly-goodies shops are the heart of these popsicle stick Halloween storefronts. Each one gets its own awning, sign and little character, and I’m charmed that the handmade craft-stick look still comes through. An adult should handle the hot glue and cut craft-stick ends. The Craft Patch lays out Jennifer’s complete build tutorial and opens the door to more of her project ideas.

16. Decorated Paper-Mache Halloween Witch Hat

Black paper-mache witch hat with white dots, colorful tulle, glitter pumpkin and Organize and Decorate Everything watermark — A black paper-mache witch hat trimmed with colorful tulle and spooky accents. (Image credit: Organize and Decorate Everything)

Polka dots on a witch hat? Yes, please! This paper-mache decoration from Organize and Decorate Everything combines a black-painted form and punched white vinyl dots with colored tulle. Hot-glued spiders, bats and a glitter pumpkin make it ready for a mantel or bookcase; leave the hot glue to an adult. The tidy dots and unruly tulle are such a fun contrast. Find the complete witch-hat tutorial at Organize and Decorate Everything, then browse more seasonal decorating ideas.

17. Yarn-Laced Mummy Paper Plate Craft

White paper-plate mummy crafts laced with white yarn, googly eyes and black mouths among orange Halloween decorations — White paper-plate mummies wrapped in yarn with googly eyes and ribbon bows. (Image credit: Happiness Is Homemade)

Happiness Is Homemade’s yarn-laced mummy paper plate craft wraps white yarn around a drawn mouth and glued googly eyes. An optional ribbon can finish the plate while the eyes remain visible between the strands. The source estimates 15 minutes, but I’m most taken with how every crossing changes the mummy’s expression. Scissors and a hole punch need supervision, and younger kids should use school or tacky craft glue instead of hot glue. Follow Happiness Is Homemade’s complete mummy tutorial, then explore more of the site’s Halloween craft ideas.

18. Geo Mesh Eyeball Halloween Wreath

Black geo mesh Halloween wreath with orange gingham ribbon, eyeball ornaments and Polka Dot Chair watermark on a door — A black geo mesh wreath trimmed with orange ribbon and eyeball ornaments. (Image credit: Polka Dot Chair)

No hot-glue gun for this wreath! Melissa Mortenson uses a twist-tie frame for her geo mesh eyeball wreath at Polka Dot Chair, layering black mesh with wired ribbon and hanging eyeball ornaments. Orange and gingham show up in six-inch ribbon strips against the dark mesh. Those oversized eyes do the staring for you. Take care with the scissors, then turn to Melissa’s complete wreath tutorial and more of her Halloween projects at Polka Dot Chair.

19. Halloween Rocking Paper Monster

Purple one-eyed paper rocking monster with black mouth, white teeth and paper horns against a white background — A purple one-eyed rocking monster assembled from colorful construction paper. (Image credit: In The Playroom)

In The Playroom’s Halloween rocking paper monster folds a large construction-paper circle into a curved base, then builds its one-eyed face with a second circle, horns, mouth and teeth. I love how the purple character seems ready to wobble right off the table; an adult should supervise the cutting, and googly eyes or foam shapes can stay optional. Find the complete rocking-monster tutorial at In The Playroom, then browse more of the site’s colorful paper-craft ideas.

20. Recycled Milk-Jug Ghost Luminaries

Two sitting recycled milk-jug ghost luminaries glowing with battery lights beside a pumpkin on a dark porch — Two sitting milk-jug ghosts glow with flameless battery lights. (Image credit: Shelly / Welcome to Nana's)

Battery lights only for these ghosts, never a real candle. Shelly’s sitting milk-jug luminaries at Welcome to Nana’s use clean, dry recycled jugs with marker-drawn faces and battery-powered fairy lights or LEDs inside. Keep each switch within reach at the handle so you can turn that soft glow on and off. A friendly pair rather than a frightening one! Shelly’s complete sitting-luminary tutorial has the project details, and you can explore more of her seasonal craft ideas at Welcome to Nana’s.