Halloween Decoration Ideas That Could Reuse Household Materials
Why buy when you can DIY? This Halloween, skip the pricey store-bought décor and turn everyday household items into hauntingly creative masterpieces. From eerie lanterns made out of mason jars to ghostly figures crafted from old sheets, these upcycled ideas prove that spooky can be sustainable.
Save money, cut down on waste, and give your home a one-of-a-kind Halloween makeover that’s equal parts frightful and eco-friendly.
These Halloween decoration ideas are for inspiration only. Use caution with tools, lights, and small parts, especially around children and pets. The author is not responsible for accidents, injuries, or damages resulting from these projects.
1. Mason Jar Lanterns
Transform ordinary glass jars into eerie glowing beacons for your Halloween display. Simply clean out those pasta sauce or pickle jars, paint them black or orange, and carve spooky faces using craft paint.
Add battery-operated tea lights inside for a safer alternative to candles. These ghostly luminaries can add atmospheric lighting to porches or garden paths, casting shifting shadows for a festive effect.
2. Cardboard Haunted Houses
Remember those Amazon boxes piling up in your recycling bin? Cut them open and transform them into miniature haunted mansions! Using basic craft supplies, create windows, doors, and spooky details.
A splash of black paint or even just marker drawings add character. Stack boxes of different sizes to create a haunted village effect on your mantel or entry table. String tiny battery lights inside to create an eerie glow through the windows.
3. Bottle Cap Spiders
Who knew those soda bottle caps could become Halloween art? Collect about 20 plastic caps and arrange them in a circular web pattern on cardboard. Spray paint the entire creation black or silver for a metallic effect.
String yarn or similar thick thread between the caps in classic spider-leg patterns. This type of craft comes together in a short amount of time but brings uniqueness to your Halloween decor.
4. Tin Can Candle Holders
Don’t toss those soup cans! Remove labels, clean thoroughly, and fill with water before freezing. Once frozen solid, use a nail and hammer to punch spooky designs or Halloween patterns into the metal.
Freezing the can beforehand helps prevent dents while creating the punched designs. After thawing, dry completely and paint the exterior matte black. When you place a candle inside, the punched design creates magical light patterns across your walls and ceiling.
5. Old Sheet Ghost Decorations
That worn-out bedsheet has a spooky second life waiting! Cut it into quarters for multiple ghosts or use it whole for one dramatic phantom. Drape over a round balloon or ball suspended from fishing line for the classic ghost shape.
Add eyes using black felt or fabric markers. Hang these ethereal spirits from tree branches, porch ceilings, or stairwells. For added effect, consider using glow-in-the-dark paint or attaching small battery-operated lights underneath.
6. Paper Bag Luminaries
Brown lunch bags become magical Halloween night lights with minimal effort. Fold down the top edge of each bag about two inches for stability. Using scissors, cut simple shapes like bats, cats, or pumpkins into the sides.
Fill the bottom with a few inches of sand or kitty litter to weight them down. Place battery-operated tea lights inside (never use real candles with paper). Use these glowing creations along walkways or steps to create a welcoming path for trick-or-treaters.
7. Plastic Bottle Bats
Empty bottles transform into flying creatures of the night with a few simple cuts. Flatten the bottle, then cut away the middle section, leaving the top and bottom connected by the sides. Paint everything black, then bend the sides outward to form wings. Add googly eyes or white paint dots and hang from fishing line.
The lightweight plastic allows them to sway in the breeze, creating the appearance of fluttering bats above your Halloween display. Another option is to use hard plastic water bottles and decorate them with bag wings as an even easier DIY project.
8. Paper Box Trick-Or-Treat Signs
Before recycling those empty cereal boxes, flatten them and cut into large rectangles. Paint them black, orange, or purple as your base. Using white paint or markers, add spooky messages like “Beware” or “Trick or Treat” in your best haunted handwriting.
Attach to wooden stakes from your garden or tape to your front door. Seal them with clear packing tape for durability, helping the signs withstand October weather while guiding trick-or-treaters to your door.
9. Wine Cork Pumpkin Crafts
Been saving wine corks without a plan? Arrange approximately 20 corks in a circle, securing with hot glue to form a pumpkin shape. Add a small twig or cinnamon stick on top as the stem.
Paint the entire creation orange or leave natural for a rustic look. Green ribbon tied around the stem creates perfect leaves. These cork pumpkins work well as table decorations or mantel accents, offering a harvest-themed look for fall without leaning too heavily into Halloween motifs.
10. Recycled Paper Skeleton Chains
Old magazines, junk mail, and office paper find new life as spooky skeleton garlands. Fold papers accordion-style, then draw half a skeleton figure on the top fold, making sure the hands and feet reach the edges.
Carefully cut out the design while keeping the folds at hands and feet intact. When unfolded, you’ll reveal a chain of connected skeletons! Paint white or leave in the original paper patterns for an artistic twist. Hang these across windows or mantels to bring a festive Halloween touch to your space.
