7 Easy & Iconic DIY Halloween Decorations

1. The Easiest Impact: Flying Bat Swarm

This is the ultimate high-impact, low-effort decoration. A fluttering swarm of black bats creates incredible depth and instantly makes any wall look haunted.

What You Need:

• Black construction paper or card stock

• Scissors or a craft knife

• Removable adhesive putty (like poster tack)

• A bat template (search online for various shapes and sizes)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Cut the Flock: Trace your bat templates onto the black paper and cut out a large variety of sizes (think 3-inch to 8-inch wingspans). You'll need at least 30 bats for a good swarm effect.

2. Add Dimension: Gently fold each bat down the middle lengthwise. This crease is key—it makes the bats look like they are in motion, not just flat against the wall.

3. Create the Swarm: Start in one central area (like above a mantel or doorway). Place the larger bats closest to the center, and use the smallest bats as they "fly" out. Use a tiny piece of putty on the back crease to attach them, making sure the wings pop out!

2. Elegant Horror: Blood Drip Candles

Dripping wax already looks cool, but when that wax is red on a white candle? Instant classic horror ambiance.

What You Need:

• White pillar or taper candles

• Red pillar or taper candle (or a red crayon for a thicker drip)

• A lighter or match

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Prep the Area: Lay down newspaper or a piece of parchment paper—this is going to get messy!

2. Melt and Tilt: Light the red candle. Wait until a small pool of wax has melted.

3. Drip the "Blood": Carefully tilt the red candle over the top edge of the white candle, letting the melted red wax run down the sides. Move the red candle around the perimeter of the white one to create streaks of varying lengths.

4. Cool and Display: Let the wax cool completely. Cluster your finished candles together for a dramatic, low-light centerpiece.

3. Indoor Haunt: Cheesecloth Floating Ghosts

Give the illusion of ethereal spirits floating inside your home. They look especially great hanging in front of a window or over a dining table.

What You Need:

• Cheesecloth (enough for about 3 layers)

• Fabric stiffener spray or liquid starch

• A "form" to hold the shape (like a soda bottle topped with a Styrofoam ball)

• Fishing line for hanging

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Build the Form: Set up your bottle/ball form. This will be the head and body. You can also tape wires or sticks for arms.

2. Drape and Spray: Drape the layers of cheesecloth over the form. Once you are happy with the flowing shape, liberally spray the entire ghost with fabric stiffener until it's saturated.

3. Wait and Release: Let the ghost dry for at least 24 hours (or until completely firm). When dry, carefully lift the solid cheesecloth ghost off the form.

4. Hang: Tie a loop of fishing line to the top "head" area and hang it from your ceiling.

4. Creepy-Crawly Accent: Mason Jar Spider Lanterns

These are fantastic for adding a flickering, eerie glow to your entryway or a dark bookshelf.

What You Need:

• Mason jar or other glass jar

• Black spray paint (matte or glossy)

• Black pipe cleaners

• Googly eyes (various sizes are best)

• Hot glue gun

• LED tea light

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Paint the Body: Thoroughly clean and dry the jar. In a well-ventilated area, spray paint the entire jar black. Let it dry completely.

2. Make the Legs: Cut four pipe cleaners in half to get eight equal-length pieces.

3. Attach the Parts: Hot-glue four pipe cleaners down each side of the jar. Bend the ends to give them a spider-leg appearance. Hot-glue the googly eyes onto the front in a cluster.

4. Light It Up: Drop in an LED tea light (never a real candle!), screw the lid on, and watch your giant spider glow!

5. Yard Jump Scare: Hidden Glowing Eyes

Want to freak out the trick-or-treaters without buying a huge prop? This is your secret weapon.

What You Need:

• Empty cardboard toilet paper rolls

• Scissors or a craft knife

• Glow sticks (green, red, or white are best)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Sketch the Eyes: On one side of the cardboard roll, sketch a pair of spooky eyes. You can do classic spooky ovals, sharp villainous slits, or mismatched shapes.

2. Cut It Out: Carefully use your scissors or craft knife to cut out the eye shapes.

3. Activate and Insert: Crack the glow stick to activate the glow, and slide it inside the tube.

4. Hide: Place the rolls deep inside bushes, potted plants, or on dark windowsills. The cardboard disappears in the dark, leaving only the floating, menacing eyes visible!

6. The Perfect Welcome: Elegant Cobweb Wreath

Ditch the boring plastic door hangings and greet your guests with a beautifully menacing custom wreath.

What You Need:

• A grapevine wreath form (or any plain wreath form)

• Faux spider webbing or creepy cloth

• A few large plastic spiders or small skeleton pieces

• Hot glue gun

• Optional: Wide, dramatic ribbon (black or deep purple)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Wrap the Web: Take small pieces of the spider webbing and stretch it dramatically across the wreath form. Crisscross the strands to create a realistic, tattered look.

2. Add the Critters: Use the hot glue gun to strategically place your large plastic spiders or other small critters onto the webbing.

3. Final Touches: Add a simple black ribbon loop for hanging. Hang it proudly on your front door or over your fireplace.

7. Instant Entrance: Mummy Front Door

If you need maximum impact for your outdoor decor right now, wrapping your door like a mummy is the way to go.

What You Need:

• White crepe paper streamers or inexpensive gauze/cheesecloth

• Masking tape or painter's tape (to avoid damaging the door)

• Black and white construction paper

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Wrap the Body: Starting at the top corner, use masking tape to secure the end of your white streamer. Wrap the streamer diagonally across the door, crisscrossing as you go, until the whole door is covered in strips.

2. Layer and Overlap: Use multiple layers of the streamer to make it look dense, like authentic mummy linen. Tuck in the ends or secure them with a tiny piece of tape at the edges.

3. Add the Eyes: Cut out two large black ovals and two slightly smaller white ovals (the whites of the eyes). Tape them on to create that perfect, startling mummy stare!

Buy Products Here