29 Halloween Decoration Ideas
Halloween is basically the Super Bowl for people who love decorating.
Whether you’re the type who goes all out with animatronic zombies in the yard or someone who just wants to make the living room a little spooky for trick-or-treaters, there’s no wrong way to do it.
The fun part? Halloween decorations let you be as creepy, kooky, or downright ridiculous as you want.
I’ve rounded up 29 Halloween decoration ideas that range from easy DIYs to dramatic statement pieces.
Let’s jump in before Michael Myers shows up.
1. Spooky Front Door Wreath
Forget flowers—Halloween wreaths come with skulls, bats, and black feathers. I once made one using dollar store spider webs and hot glue.
It lasted three years, which proves that creepy decor sometimes outlives us all.
2. Floating Candles
Want that Harry Potter vibe? Hang LED candles with fishing wire from your ceiling. It makes your living room look like the Great Hall, minus the awkward sorting hat speeches.
3. Pumpkin Pathway Lights
Line your walkway with carved pumpkins or light-up jack-o’-lanterns. They don’t just guide trick-or-treaters—they set the mood before anyone even rings the doorbell.
4. Creepy Window Silhouettes
Ever seen those giant cutouts of witches or zombies taped inside a lit window? It makes your house look haunted from the street. Cheap, easy, and scary effective.
5. Spider Web Madness
Stretch fake spider webs across bushes, windows, or even the ceiling. Pro tip: add plastic spiders for bonus “eww” factor. Trust me, people will jump.
6. Skeleton Sitting on the Porch
Full-size skeletons are basically the Halloween MVPs. Sit one in a rocking chair with a pumpkin in its lap and suddenly your porch looks creepy and hilarious at the same time.
7. Fog Machine Fun
Nothing says “haunted” like low-lying fog. A fog machine + a few well-placed lights turns your yard into a movie set.
Just, you know, don’t overdo it unless you want your neighbors calling the fire department.
8. DIY Ghost Lanterns
Stick white sheets over balloons and add little LED lights inside. Boom—instant glowing ghosts. Bonus points if you hang them from trees so they sway in the wind.
9. Bloody Handprints
Nothing gets a reaction like bloody handprint window clings. Every time I use them, at least one delivery driver double-checks the address.
10. Bat Wall
Cut out dozens of bats from black paper and stick them across a wall. It looks like a whole colony escaping, and IMO, it’s one of the most dramatic cheap decorations ever.
11. Witch’s Cauldron
Fill a big black cauldron with dry ice or a fog machine. Toss in some glow sticks for an eerie bubbling effect. Perfect centerpiece for parties.
12. Haunted Mirror
Ever seen those holographic haunted mirrors? Someone walks by, and suddenly a ghost face appears. Honestly, they’re terrifying and one of my favorite “gotcha” decorations.
13. Pumpkin Archway
If you want to go big, build an archway made of faux pumpkins around your front door. It’s basically the red carpet for trick-or-treaters.
14. Glow-in-the-Dark Eyes
Cut creepy eye shapes into toilet paper rolls, stick a glow stick inside, and hide them in bushes. From a distance, it looks like monsters are watching.
15. Graveyard Scene
Styrofoam tombstones in the yard instantly turn your lawn into a graveyard. Add a few bones sticking out of the dirt and it’s chef’s kiss spooky.
16. Cobweb Table Runner
Throw a black lace spiderweb runner across your dining table. It’s subtle, chic, and way easier than covering your house in fake cobwebs (been there, got stuck in them).
17. Zombie Hands
Stick rubber zombie hands in the ground or coming out of planters. Every time I’ve done this, at least one person thought something was actually crawling out. Success!
18. Jack-O’-Lantern Stack
Stack three pumpkins of different sizes on top of each other and carve them to look like faces. It’s like a pumpkin snowman, but spookier.
19. Haunted Picture Frames
Swap your normal family photos with creepy old portraits or “moving eye” prints. Guests won’t notice right away… and then suddenly they’ll really notice.
20. Witch Hat Lights
Hang glowing witch hats from trees or the ceiling with fishing wire. It’s a simple DIY, but the floating effect is magical.
21. Creepy Crawlers Everywhere
Scatter plastic cockroaches, snakes, or rats around your house. Even if people know they’re fake, they’ll still freak out. (Ask me how I know.)
22. Black Flame Candle (Hocus Pocus Style)
Spray paint a candle black, add a flickering LED light, and voilà—your own Black Flame Candle. Warning: may or may not summon witches.
23. Window Projections
Use a projector to display ghosts, shadows, or lightning in your windows. It’s like turning your house into a live-action haunted house attraction.
24. Pumpkin Balloon Garland
Mix orange and black balloons with some mini pumpkins for a party backdrop. It’s festive without being nightmare-inducing (good for family-friendly vibes).
25. Vampire Entryway
Hang long red fabric by your doorway to look like bloody vampire curtains. It’s cheap, dramatic, and screams Halloween.
26. Upside-Down Bats
Hang plastic or paper bats upside-down from your ceiling. It gives the illusion they’re “sleeping” there. Low effort, high impact.
27. Haunted Doll Display
Nothing is scarier than an old doll with cracked eyes. Set one on a rocking chair and let the nightmares begin.
28. Candy Bowl with a Twist
Ever seen those bowls where a skeleton hand moves when someone reaches in? Kids love them, adults scream, and IMO, it’s worth every penny.
29. Classic Jack-O’-Lanterns
Sometimes, you just can’t beat the classic. Carve pumpkins with creepy or funny faces. Light them up, line them along the porch, and you’re golden.
Final thoughts;
And there you go—29 Halloween decoration ideas that range from “I bought it at the store” to “I spent way too many hours DIY-ing this and now my neighbors think I own a haunted house.”
The best part about Halloween decor is that it’s flexible. You can make it fun, spooky, or over-the-top terrifying depending on your style. Personally, I like a mix—some glowing ghosts for the kids, a creepy doll in the corner for the adults (because why should kids have all the fun?).
So, what’s it gonna be this year? Are you team skeleton army, team chic-and-subtle, or team “my house can probably be seen from space”?
Either way, have fun with it—and don’t forget to save a few decorations for next year. They tend to multiply in the attic when you’re not looking.
