Halloween decorating ideas

Posted on 17. Oct, 2010 by Forest in General, Saving Money & Finances

Once you have your costume in order, have made and acquired snacks and food then you may still have to deal with how your home looks on Halloween! Whether it’s for the Trick and Treaters or if you are having a party, I am sure you don’t want to overspend!

Here are some of my best halloween home decorating tips and ideas to help save on decorating the home this Halloween and make things looks great.

My Halloween decorating ideas

1. Look in the basement and your loft for old things

I personally think dusty old items make the most awesome Halloween props and are way scarier than plastic stuff that you get from the store. Just think an old armchair, old table and a typewriter that has been gathering dust could be set up in a corner. Put an old phone out and play a continuous ringing noise from nearby. Rocking chairs are always creepy too. There really is no end to making your junk look creepy. You could make a dummy from your old clothes stuffed with newspaper and cover with fake blood, use your imagination.

2. Cover your home with fake cobweb
The fake Halloween cobwebs are cheap as anything and once your home is amply covered you may find you don’t need to actually find much more decor or props. If you don’t mind the extra clean up you could also use flour to look like old white dust.

3. Get out the bedsheets and cover everything that won’t be used
Old unused houses are creepy and covering your furniture will save it from spilled punch but also give your house the un-lived in feel. One of the creepiest parts of Dicken’s Great Expectations is the explanation of Mrs Haversham’s unused house decaying over the years and everything covered in sheets.

4. Cover some dog bones in fake blood and lie around the garden and house
You can get cheap dog bones from the pet store and just cover them with fake blood to look like something very bad has been happening! A pile of bloody bones may send kids running from your house though especially if you make it look like they have just been un-burried in your front lawn. Also make sure a stray dog does not take them home for dinner!

5. Use Squashes and Pumpkins for decoration but don’t cut into them!
Squashes and Pumpkins can make great decorations on the night but if you don’t cut into them you can just gather them up and use them for their rightful purpose afterward…. Yes I mean food, not throwing over the neighbors fence!

6. Be Creative!
I know this one is stupidly general but I gave a few tips to get your creative juices flowing and now I am sure you can come up with some great ideas. And as always, please let me know what you are planning or anything really cool you have done in the past.

Just remember plastic isn’t even slightly scary!

Read the Rest of the Frugal Halloween Short Series

Frugal Pumpkin Carving – A great tip for saving money on pumpkin carving.

Cheap Halloween Party – 10 tips for a cheap Halloween party.

Cheap Halloween Masks – Some ideas for you to make your own masks and some links to some well priced retail masks.

Cheap Halloween Costume – Ways to create a cool costume for less.

Ed: This article was originally titled Cheap Halloween Decor and has been updated.

Tags: Best halloween home decorating tips, best home decorating halloween, cheap halloween decor, cheap halloween props, halloween decor tips