6 Ways to Decorate for Halloween Without Spending a Dime

As soon as summer ends, Halloween enthusiasts immediately start preparing for the spookiest time of the year. However, with a barrage of holidays just on the horizon, it can be pricey to always buy new décor. The good news? You don’t have to break the bank to get seasonal accents that you love. Here, we consulted with three experts about how to make and style no-cost Halloween decorations.

Shop Your Own Home

The first principle of no-cost decorating is using what you already have. So, don't run straight to a big-box store for Halloween décor—tempting as it may be—instead, start by shopping your own home.

“Fall is the perfect season to dig through what you already have and give it a fresh spin, or clear it out,” says Alice Moszczynski, an interior designer at Planner 5D. It's money-saving, but it can also put a personal spin on Halloween décor.

Elizabeth Vergara, CEO and founder of Vergara Homes, suggests looking around for items like dark books, old stuffed animals, and anything in warmer, more autumnal colors (think oranges, yellows, reds, and browns). After gathering these pieces, get creative! Consider stacking the books on a coffee table for a moody accent, or draping a cloth over stuffed animals to create mini ghosts.

DIY Some Ghosts

“Every year I use milk cartons and small lights (lights also used at Christmas) to make ghosts to line the front path,” says Christine Burrows, CEO and founder of Vergara Homes. “All you need are empty milk cartons, a few stones to weigh them down, a black marker pen, and battery lights.”

Burrows also loves making a traditional ghost using a white bed sheet, a broom, a large ball, and tape. You can even add eyes by coloring in two black circles on cardboard, cutting out the shapes, and taping them on the sheet. If you have kids, turn the making process into a craft night.

Create a Haunted Glow

Grab all of the sources of light you can find, like candles and string lights. Try (safely) placing them behind your décor, like a carved pumpkin or a cardboard black cat, so that it casts flickering shadows around the room.

The secret is ditching the overhead light. Swap out harsh bulbs for flickering candlelight or other mood lighting. “I’ll scatter lanterns on the porch, line the mantel with pillar candles, or tuck fairy lights into glass jars for a twinkling effect," says Moszczynski. "The more pockets of golden light, the more you get that spooky vibe that makes October feel like magic.”

If you have dimmable lights, Burrows suggests turning them low for instant atmosphere. Battery-powered tea lights are another great option. Scatter them throughout your space to make dark corners feel more alive.

Repurpose Old Bottles

It’s time to dig through your recycling for cool bottles and jars. Vergara suggests turning them into potions with the help of water, food coloring, and a handwritten label. Amber-colored glass works especially well for this look.  

Consider placing your finished potions on a shelf, mantel, or as part of a centerpiece. For a finishing touch, you can cluster jars of various heights together and add mood lighting in the background.

Layer Fragrance and Décor

Creating a multi-sensory Halloween experience doesn’t have to be pricey. Moszczynski recommends leaning into warm scents like clove, cedar, or smoky vanilla. “I pair candles with dried florals, like faded hydrangeas or preserved eucalyptus, and dress them up with spooky accents,” she says. 

Layering textures alongside the fall scents amplifies the effect. Think painted candleholders (which can easily be DIY-ed), small glass apothecary bottles, or black lace ribbons intertwined with twigs.

Upcycle Tacky Decorations

Your old Halloween décor doesn't have to collect dust—even if it looks a bit outdated. Burrows likes reworking those plastic pumpkins by wrapping them in rope or twine, giving them a more boutique feel.