Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s time to transform your home into a spooky wonderland! Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or just want to get into the festive spirit, creative decorations are a must. From eerie outdoor setups to creepy indoor décor, we’ve compiled some haunted hacks that will take your Halloween decorating game to the next level.
Ready to get spooky? Here are our top haunted hacks for Halloween decorating!
1. Turn Your Front Yard Into a Haunted Graveyard
Nothing says “Halloween” quite like a haunted graveyard scene. With a few simple items, you can make your front yard the most haunted on the block!
What You Need:
- DIY gravestones (cardboard or Styrofoam painted grey)
- Fake cobwebs
- Skeleton decorations
- Spotlights or lanterns for eerie lighting
- Fog machine (optional but highly effective!)
How to Do It: Start by arranging gravestones in random clusters. Drape fake cobwebs over the stones and add skeleton arms popping out of the ground. Set up some spotlights with dim, spooky lighting, and for an added eerie effect, a fog machine will create the ultimate haunted graveyard vibe.
2. Make Your Own Ghostly Garlands
Looking for an easy way to add ghostly charm to your living room or porch? Ghost garlands are a fun, family-friendly craft that you can hang anywhere.
What You Need:
- White tissue paper or cheesecloth
- Small balloons or Styrofoam balls
- String
- Black construction paper (for eyes and mouth)
How to Do It: Blow up small balloons and drape cheesecloth or tissue paper over them to create the shape of ghosts. Tie the ghosts to a long string, and cut out small black eyes and mouths from construction paper to attach to each ghost. Drape your ghostly garland along mantels, doorways, or outdoor spaces.
3. Create a Spine-Chilling Centerpiece
Transform your dining room table into a spooky focal point with a Halloween centerpiece that’s both creepy and chic.
What You Need:
- Black or dark purple flowers (fake or real)
- Black candles
- Old books or vintage props
- Fake spiders or insects
- Decorative skulls
How to Do It: Start with a dark tablecloth to set the tone, then arrange black or dark purple flowers in a vase for a gloomy touch. Surround the vase with old books, candles, and skulls for an added creepy factor. Scatter a few fake spiders or insects to complete the scene. This dramatic centerpiece will have your guests in awe (and maybe a little on edge!).
4. Use Glowing Eyes to Scare Trick-or-Treaters
Want to give trick-or-treaters a little fright as they approach your home? Glowing eyes hidden in the bushes are a super easy and spooky touch.
What You Need:
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Scissors
- Glow sticks
How to Do It: Cut eye shapes out of the sides of the toilet paper rolls and insert a glow stick inside each roll. Once it’s dark outside, place the glowing eyes in your bushes or windows to give off an eerie, glowing effect that will send shivers down anyone’s spine.
5. Spiderweb Entrance with Giant Spiders
Turn your front entrance into a giant spider’s lair! All you need is some stretchy cobweb material and oversized spider decorations.
What You Need:
- Stretchable spider webbing
- Giant spider decorations (the bigger, the better!)
- Adhesive hooks
How to Do It: Stretch the spider webbing across your doorway and entryway, making sure to pull it in various directions for a realistic look. Add the giant spider in the middle or on top of the web, as if it’s waiting to catch its next prey! The effect will instantly make your home look haunted.
6. Floating Witch Hats and Brooms
Floating witch hats are an eerie, magical addition to any space, whether indoors or out. Plus, they’re simple to make!
What You Need:
- Black witch hats (available at most dollar stores)
- Clear fishing line
- Command hooks or ceiling hooks
- Decorative brooms
How to Do It: Attach a piece of fishing line to the tip of each witch hat and hang them from the ceiling or porch roof using adhesive hooks. The fishing line is invisible, making the hats appear to float in midair. For an extra touch, lean a few brooms against a nearby wall or scatter them on the floor as if the witches just flew in!
7. Black Light and Glow-in-the-Dark Decor
For a real wow factor, set up a black light in your party space or front porch and use glow-in-the-dark decorations. Ghosts, skeletons, and even spider webs can come alive with a black light!
What You Need:
- Black light
- Glow-in-the-dark paint
- Glow-in-the-dark skeletons and décor
- Neon or white decorations that react under black light
How to Do It: Place the black light in a corner or near your entryway and paint decorations with glow-in-the-dark paint. You can also use glow-in-the-dark skeletons or ghosts that will “light up” as soon as the black light hits them. This simple trick transforms any room into a supernatural scene.
8. Witchy Potion Bottles
Give your home a vintage, spooky feel by decorating with potion bottles. Whether you place them on a mantel or scatter them around your party, they’ll add a haunted apothecary vibe to your Halloween setup.
What You Need:
- Old glass bottles (mason jars work too)
- Labels (printable or handwritten)
- Food coloring
- Small Halloween trinkets (plastic spiders, skulls, etc.)
How to Do It: Fill old glass bottles with water and a few drops of food coloring to create eerie-looking potions. Attach handwritten or printable labels like “Witch’s Brew” or “Zombie Elixir.” Add small trinkets like plastic spiders or eyeballs for extra spookiness. Arrange the potion bottles on a mantel, bookshelf, or dining table.
9. Pumpkin Pathway Lighting
Light up your walkway with jack-o’-lanterns! They’re a classic Halloween decoration that never goes out of style, and they create an inviting (yet spooky) atmosphere.
What You Need:
- Carved pumpkins or plastic jack-o’-lanterns
- LED candles or fairy lights
How to Do It: Place your carved pumpkins or jack-o’-lanterns along your walkway and light them up with LED candles or fairy lights for a safe and long-lasting glow. If you’re not into carving, opt for plastic pumpkins with built-in lights for an easier solution. This simple hack adds both charm and spook to your Halloween display.
10. Add a Balloon Garland for a Fun, Festive Twist
For a fun and festive touch, try adding a balloon garland to your Halloween setup! Balloon garlands are perfect for decorating indoor spaces, porches, or even your party table. Use black, orange, and purple balloons to stick with the Halloween theme.
Where to Get It: You can find some amazing balloon garland kits at House of Party’s Halloween Collection. These kits come with everything you need to create a stunning balloon garland, and they’re super easy to assemble.
Final Thoughts
Halloween decorating is all about getting creative and having fun. Whether you’re aiming for spooky, eerie, or just plain fun, these haunted hacks will help you transform your space into a haunted haven. From glowing eyes in the bushes to floating witch hats, these ideas are sure to impress trick-or-treaters and party guests alike.
For even more Halloween decorating inspiration and to shop for festive essentials, visit the House of Party Halloween Collection. Happy haunting!
