Devin Jacobs
Halloween is creeping closer, and your home could use a ghostly makeover. Classic eerie touches and jaw-dropping decor will take your space to the next level of hauntingly festive. Let’s explore 15 ways to give your place some spooky magic this Halloween!
Greet with Ghoulish Glamour
Your front porch isn’t just for pumpkins anymore. Deck it out with ghostly figures, bats hanging upside down, and fog rolling across the steps like the mist of a haunted moor. Throw in a few well-placed skeletons having a casual chat, and you’ve got yourself an unforgettable welcome.
Make Your Mirrors Haunted
Nothing’s more spine-tingling than glancing in the mirror and seeing something that’s… not you. Turn your everyday mirror into a haunted relic by adding a ghostly face or figure using translucent decals or a spooky DIY painting job. Bonus points for that “I swear I saw something move” feeling every time someone walks by.
Witch Parking Only
Forget the boring welcome mat—make it clear that witches live here. Prop up some old broomsticks outside with a cheeky “Witch Parking Only” sign. Add a couple of old boots or a black hat for extra sass. Your neighbors will know who runs this coven. Find a few funky brooms at thrift stores. The more character, the better.
Spider Attack!
Who doesn’t love the sight of a giant, hairy spider waiting to pounce? Use oversized fake spiders crawling up your walls. String fake webs across doorways and furniture to turn your home into a spider den. If you want to freak out your guests, get one of those remote-controlled spiders that will suddenly scuttle across the floor.
Floating Ghosts
Grab some cheesecloth and wire, and you’ve got an army of floating ghosts swaying in the breeze. Hang them from your porch, tree branches, or inside near windows, and watch as they add an ethereal vibe to your décor. For the ghostly glow, tuck some battery-powered lights underneath and watch them haunt the night in style.
Skeletons Doing… Well, Anything
There’s nothing funnier than a skeleton with an active lifestyle. Pose them mowing the lawn, drinking coffee, or playing poker on the front porch. It’s not all doom and gloom in the afterlife, you know. Give these guys some personality, and your guests will get a laugh before they even make it inside.
Jack-O’-Lantern Tower
Why settle for just one pumpkin when you can have a whole tower of terror? Stack pumpkins—real or foam—into a spooky totem pole. Carve each one with different expressions, from creepy to kooky, and light them up with LED candles for that haunting glow. You’ve got yourself a pumpkin masterpiece.
Potion Station
Line up some old glass bottles with labels like “Dragon’s Blood” and “Zombie Venom,” and throw in a little dry ice for that mystical fog effect. However, practice caution when using dry ice by using gloves and ensuring proper ventilation. It’s a surefire way to get your guests intrigued (and maybe a little concerned about what’s in their drink).
Creepy Candle Corners
Dim lighting? Check. Flickering candlelight makes you wonder if something’s watching you. Double check. Arrange black candles (LED, of course, unless you like living dangerously) around your home. Put them on mantles, shelves, or in old-fashioned candelabras. Nothing says “spooky ambiance” quite like soft, shadowy light.
Glowing Graveyard
Turn your yard into the final resting place for the not-so-dearly departed with DIY tombstones. Write up funny or creepy epitaphs on Styrofoam or wood tombstones and plant them alongside skeleton arms clawing their way out of the ground. Add a couple of flickering lanterns for that eerie cemetery glow.
Monster Door
Let your door join in the Halloween fun by turning it into a giant monster face. Paper cutouts for eyes, teeth, and maybe a bit of fuzzy fur can easily transform your front door into a growling, spooky creature. If you want a little more charm with your fright, give your monster a silly face instead of a scary one.
Sinister Soundtrack
Set the mood with eerie sound effects that will make your guests think twice before knocking. Play looping tracks of creaking floors, howling winds, and distant screams. Hide small speakers in unexpected places to make the sound seem like it’s coming from the shadows—or from the basement (creepy).
Ghost in the Mirror
Install a spooky mirror where guests will least expect it. You can buy reflective decals of creepy faces to apply to any regular mirror. Or, if you’re feeling crafty, create your own haunted reflection by placing ghostly images behind a thin piece of glass. It’ll give everyone a little jolt of fright. Hide one in a hallway or bathroom for maximum spookiness.
Glowing Path of Doom
Make sure your guests find their way to your haunted abode by lighting up your walkway with glow-in-the-dark stones or candles. Go full-out with glowing skeleton hands reaching out of the ground to guide the way or ghostly figures looming in the dark. Glow-in-the-dark décor works by absorbing light during the day, so they glow all night long.
Cobweb Chic
Nothing screams “haunted” like cobwebs stretching across your entire living room—or outdoor area. Spread faux webs in corners, over furniture, or hanging between doorways, and toss in a few creepy crawlers for extra effect. Your house will look like it hasn’t been dusted in 200 years (in a good way).