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DIY Ghost Décor for Halloween

Brian Gregory

By Brian Gregory
Updated November 2, 2023

Decorating for Halloween doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money to get an eerie look for your home. You can get a spooky vibe going with some household items and show off your creativity.

Skill

Beginner

Time

Few Hours

Two ghost decorations suspended in front of a porch.

Tools and Materials

Note

Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.

How to Make a DIY Ghost

Here’s how to make your own spooky front porch decoration.

Instructions

More DIY Ghost Decoration Ideas

A Halloween ghost decoration hanging in a red maple tree.

Making the ghost decoration above is but one way to use inexpensive household items to create Halloween decorations that are also fun to make. Check out our suggestions below and see how you can design your own creepy haunted house.

Trash Bag Ghosts

A white trash bag ghost.

Using a small trash bag, draw spooky features on the bag with a black marker. Blow it up with air and tie it off at the bottom. Hand it up using string or fishing line.

Milk Jug Ghosts

Bright green glowing ghosts made of milk jugs.

Clean and dry empty milk jugs. Draw ghost faces on the front using markers or paint. Add 4—6 cups of play sand to the jug to stabilized them. Insert string lights, light sticks, or battery-powered tea lights inside the jugs and arrange them in your yard or along a walkway.

Glowing Balloon Ghosts

Light up the glow sticks and insert them inside white balloons. Inflate the balloons and tie them closed. Use a black marker to draw ghost faces on the balloons. Use string to tie them to trees or fences.

Paper Plate Ghosts

This is a great activity for the little folks to get in on Halloween decorating. Decorate a white paper plate with ghostly features using markers, paint, pipe cleaners or construction paper. Attach a string or ribbon to the back of the plate and hang it up.

Chicken Wire Ghosts

Use chicken wire to shape a ghostly figure, leaving a longer tail at the bottom for stability. Use wire cutters to trim excess wire. Place the ghost on a stand or attach to a stake and drive it into the ground. You can also add glow-in-the-dark paint or fabric to enhance the spooky effect.

Coat Hangar Ghosts

A coat hanger ghost decoration hanging in a window.

Another easy ghostly decoration that kids can make are coat hanger ghosts. Simply drape sheer fabric or an old pillowcase over a large wire coat hanger, bending it to mimic the arms. Next, cut the eyes and mouth out of black construction paper and glue them to your ghost to complete the look.

Mannequin Head Ghosts

A mannequin wig head ghost in a purple light.

Styrofoam wig mannequin heads are a great way to make creepy-looking Halloween ghosts. Color the mannequin’s eyes with black or glow-in-the-dark paint and drape sheer fabric or cheesecloth over the head. Shine a colored light or black light to accent the ghostly specter.

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