Have your fun Halloween party without spending too much money. Here are 21 affordable decorations for your Halloween party that you can make yourself.
One of the most exciting parties that you can have – but the decorating costs could reach hundreds of dollars easily! But no worries – in this article you will learn how to decorate Halloween party without going bankrupt.
Here I've collected 21 simple yet fun Halloween decorations that you can make on budget!
1. Cheesecloth Ghosts
Wrap the balloon or foam ball with the cheesecloth, tie with string and add the black felt eyes. Place them everywhere – ceiling, trees, doorways, etc. Cost: ~$5-$10
2. Mason Jar Lanterns
Take the mason jars, put there battery-powered tea lights and wrap jars with orange or black tissue paper. To get a rustic feel, wrap jars in twine or lace.
3. Paper Bag Luminaries
Take the paper lunch bags (or any other brown bags), cut out jack-o-lantern faces or bat silhouette from the bag, add a bit of sand at the bottom of it and place the tea light inside. It can be used to decorate your walkway – for under $3!
4. Toilet Paper Roll Bats
Take toilet paper rolls, flatten them, paint black and add the paper bat wings. Hang in clusters and scare the guests with creepy-crawly look.
5. DIY Tombstones From Cardboard
Cut tombstone shapes from the cardboard box, paint grey and write witty epitaphs in the black marker. Place them in your lawn, using wooden skewers as stakes.
6. Balloon Ghosts
Blow up the white balloons, cover them with the fabric soaked in diluted glue and leave it to dry, then remove the balloon and add the felt eyes. Hang them with the help of fishing line.
7. Spider Web Doorway
Spread fake spider webs on your front door or hall corners and add a large plastic spider in the middle for the instant Halloween effect. Cost: $1-$3 in dollar stores.
8. Painted Pumpkins
Forget about carved pumpkins – you can simply paint them matte black or metallic with any face, pattern or glitter for longer lasting decoration.
9. Candlelit Potion Bottles
Collect the glass bottles or jars, pour there colored water (food coloring + water), label "witch's brew" or "poison" and place the flickering LED candles nearby.
10. Black Cat Silhouettes
Cut the black cat shapes from the construction paper or cardboard and tape them to the wall, windows or mirror. For the best effect backlight them with lamps.
11. Fabric Garland Bunting
Cut triangles from the fabric scraps or old clothes in orange, black and purple colors, fold over the twine and hot glue them to create festive bunting.
12. Tin Can Lanterns
Punch holes in the clean soup cans (freeze the water inside to avoid dents), paint black or orange and place tea light inside. Create the patterns like ghosts or stars.
13. Handprint Ghost Garland
Trace the kids' hands on the white paper, cut out, draw ghost faces and connect pieces together with tape or thread.
14. Window Silhouettes
Cut the witch, haunted house or tree silhouettes from the black paper and tape them to windows. When the inside light is on, they cast the scary shadows outside.
15. Leaf and Branch Centerpieces
Gather the fallen branches and autumn leaves, arrange in vases or bowls, and add the fake cobwebs. Decorate with the miniature pumpkins or candles.
16. DIY "Boo!" Banner
Cut the ghost or pumpkin shapes from the cardstock, write "BOO!" or "HAPPY HALLOWEEN" and hang them with twine above your party table or fireplace.
17. Glowing Balloon Ghosts
Inflate the white balloons, draw the ghost faces with black marker and place the small LED lights inside before tying. Hang on the ceiling for glowing effect.
18. Thrifted Frame Gallery
Go to thrift stores and find cheap ornate frames, put there Halloween-themed printable art or vintage book pages with scary words to create the gallery wall for under $20.
19. Cobweb Curtains
Sprinkle the fake cobwebs over the curtain, bookshelf or corner. Hide plastic spiders or bats in them for extra creepiness.
20. Pumpkin Votive Holders
Hollow out the small pumpkins only for the tea lights to fit, arrange them in clusters on the tables or steps.
21. Orange-To-Black Paper Gradient Wall
Cut the circles or squares from the orange, yellow and black paper, arrange them in gradient pumpkin shapes or ombre walls.
Budget Breakdown (Estimated)
| Decoration | Estimated Cost | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Cheesecloth Ghosts | $5-$10 | Easy |
| Mason Jar Lanterns | $3-$8 | Easy |
| Paper Bag Luminaries | $2-$5 | Easy |
| Toilet Paper Roll Bats | $0-$3 | Easy |
| Cardboard Tombstones | $0-$5 | Medium |
| Balloon Ghosts | $5-$10 | Medium |
| Spider Web Doorway | $1-$3 | Easy |
| Painted Pumpkins | $5-$15 | Easy |
| Potion Bottles | $0-$5 | Easy |
| Black Cat Silhouettes | $0-$3 | Easy |
| Fabric Bunting | $0-$5 | Easy |
| Tin Can Lanterns | $0-$3 | Medium |
| Handprint Ghost Garland | $0-$2 | Easy |
| Window Silhouettes | $0-$3 | Easy |
| Leaf Centerpieces | $0-$5 | Easy |
| "Boo!" Banner | $2-$5 | Easy |
| Glowing Balloon Ghosts | $5-$10 | Easy |
| Thrifted Frame Gallery | $10-$20 | Medium |
| Cobweb Curtains | $3-$8 | Easy |
| Pumpkin Votives | $5-$10 | Easy |
| Paper Gradient Wall | $0-$5 | Medium |
Total Estimated Cost For All 21 Ideas:$50-$130 (Many Items Can Be Reused)
Tips for Saving Even More
Look for the tissue paper, balloons, fake cobwebs and other basics in dollar stores.
Repurpose household items like jars, cans, fabric scraps, cardboard, etc.
Use natural elements like branches, leaves and pumpkins that you already have in your backyard.
Buy in bulk to save money on LED tea lights and craft paint – they become cheaper per piece.
Share the supplies and craft kits with your friends to reduce costs even more.
You can also explore Halloween decorating ideas for additional inspiration.
FAQ Section
What Are the Cheapest Halloween Decorations to Make?
Cheapest options are paper bag luminaries, toilet paper roll bats and handprint ghost garland which cost under $3.
How Can I Decorate My Halloween Party On a Budget?
DIY decorations with household items, thrift store shopping and prioritizing the high-impact areas like entryways and tables should do the trick.
What Are Some Last-Minute Halloween Decorations?
Balloon ghosts, spider web doorway and painted pumpkins can be made in less than 30 min with minimum supplies needed.
Where Can I Find Cheap Halloween Craft Supplies?
The dollar tree, Walmart, thrift stores and even your recycling bin will have affordable materials for your crafts.
Can I Reuse This Decoration Next Year?
Yes! Painted pumpkins (if sealed), fabric bunting and lanterns will serve you for multiple Halloweens.
