Inside: 26 of the best repurposed DIY Halloween decorations and crafts for an eco-friendly holiday.
When the kids were younger, my husband made a room of doom. He got a bit carried away with the decorations; it was spooky; the kids were too scared to enter it!
Luckily we made most of the Halloween decorations by upcycling and repurposing stuff we already had. Not only was it spooktacular, but it was eco-friendly too.
There is no need to spend money on tacky cheap plastic Halloween decorations. With imagination, you can make spooky and unique decorations by upcycling household trash.
The Spooktacular DIY Halloween Crafts
There are many ideas for upcycled Halloween crafts that use everyday objects such as bottles, milk cartons, cardboard boxes, jars and tin cans.
You should find something on this list to ensure a more sustainable and affordable Halloween. They cover all the usual spooky themes of skeletons, ghosts and ghouls, Jack-o-Lanterns, mummies and other creepy characters.
If you already make your own eco-friendly Halloween decorations, I’d love to hear about them!
1
How To Make DIY Halloween Lights With Old Bottles
Upcycle an assortment of old glass bottles into a fun Halloween decoration for either inside the home or to illuminate the porch.
2
Make a Milk Jug Skeleton
Photo Credit:diycandy.com
Learn how to make a funky milk jug skeleton with your family for Halloween! A fun, easy, and budget-friendly activity for your decor includes an accessible template.
3
How To Make A Spooky DIY Skull Decor For Halloween
Photo Credit:www.pictureboxblue.com
Repurpose an old picture frame into the funkiest and spookiest Halloween decor. The tutorial includes free printable vintage skull illustrations.
4
A Spooky Fun Halloween Wine Cork Craft
This parade of repurposed wine cork Halloween decorations looks like a spooky gang of Halloween heroes. They are so much fun to make too.
5
How to Make DIY Halloween Luminaries
Photo Credit:soapdelinews.com
Crafted using laundry pod buckets, these upcycled Halloween luminaries are an affordable and fun way to decorate your home for Halloween on a budget.
6
Upcycled Light-Up Pumpkin Three Ways
Repurpose an old chopping board into an illuminated Jack-O-lantern; it will look so cool next to the front door.
7
Halloween Toilet Paper Roll Candles
Photo Credit:www.makelifelovely.com
Did you knowthat you could make spooky, drippy toilet paper roll candles out of toilet paper rolls, a glue gun, LED tealights, and some paint?! This is one of thosecrafts that looks complicated but is super fun and easy to make.
8
Giant Spider Webb
Photo Credit:overthebigmoon.com
Create an awesome giantDIY Spider Webusing just a Hula Hoop, Twine and some Spray Paint! This makes a perfect indoor or outdoor decoration for Halloween!
9
Fun Rustic Halloween Gnomes
Use an old branch and acorns to make a pair of witch and wizard gnomes for Halloween.
10
Halloween Figurines for Spooky Decor
Photo Credit:www.sadieseasongoods.com
There are ALWAYS some figurines available when you go to a thrift store (or garage sale…or flea market). Whether ceramic, porcelain, clay or other material, figurines are secondhand shop staples. All you need is a bit of paint to upcycle them into some spooky Halloween decor.
11
DIY Tin Can Ghost Windsock
Photo Credit:chickenscratchny.com
Halloween on a budget doesn’t have to be hard or tedious! Turn a large tin can into a spooky friend with this easy DIY Ghost Windsock!
12
Bat Halloween Bucket
Photo Credit:www.johannarundel.de
Upcycle large yoghurt pots into the cutest Halloween bat treat buckets.
13
DIY Halloween Tombstones oxes
Photo Credit:soapdelinews.com
All you need is some empty cereal boxes to repurpose into spooky gravestones.
14
Cheap Halloween Porch Decorations with Recycled Materials
Photo Credit:www.makingmanzanita.com
See how you can transform old fence boards and recycled materials and turn them into adorable Halloween porch decor that will have your neighbours jealous.
15
DIY Book Page Ghost Garland
Photo Credit:thistlekeylane.com
All you need is an old book to repurpose into the cutest Halloween garland for the mantle.
16
Halloween Bottles
Photo Credit:uniquecreationsbyanita.com
For a unique steampunk Halloween decoration, you can use any bottle for this project, from vinegar to wine bottles.
17
Frosted Mason Jar Lanterns
Photo Credit:www.attemptsatdomestication.com
These simple mason jar lanterns give your porch a glow for Halloween or any holiday. You only need jars and frosted glass spray paint.
18
Recycled Tin Can Pumpkin
Photo Credit:thehowtohome.com
What you can make with a tin can and some paint like these DIY recycled tin can pumpkins is impressive.
19
Upcycled Potion Bottles
Photo Credit:myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com
Don’t toss out those glass bottles; instead, upcycle them and turn them into spooky Halloween potion bottles.
20
DIY Milk Carton Jack-o'-Lantern Luminarias
Photo Credit:boulderlocavore.com
Repurpose old milk cartons into some fun Jack-O-Lantern luminaries for the garden path or mantle.
21
Terracotta Jack-o-Lantern for a Boho Halloween
Photo Credit:www.sadieseasongoods.com
Stick some felt pieces on your terracotta pots to make these Boho Jack-O-Lanterns.
22
DIY Halloween Potion Bottles
Photo Credit:modpodgerocksblog.com
Learn how to make these cool Halloween potion bottles from old pill bottles! The post includes some cool free Halloween printables.
23
Illuminated Spirit Jugs
Photo Credit:eighteen25.com
BOO! These Spirit Jugs are easy to make and about as inexpensive as they come. All you need is a Sharpie and some empty milk jugs.
24
Happy Halloween Jars With Tealights Using Upcycled Yogurt Jars
Photo Credit:www.gingercasa.com
Save your mini glass yoghurt pots to upcycle into a fun decoration for the mantle.
25
Crafty Challenge One: SpookySpools!
Photo Credit:thecraftysisters.com
What a cool and fun way to repurpose cotton reel spools for Halloween!
26
Spooky Embroidered Jeans Pocket
Photo Credit:www.pillarboxblue.com
Upcycle with a twist! Dive into this guide on crafting embroidered jeans into festive hanging treat pockets for the spooky season.
Even though the room of doom spooked the kids, the adults loved it. It became an annual tradition, and we became known in the street for our homemade Halloween decorations. My kids have grown up, but I’m just waiting until I have grandchildren to spook.
If you are looking for some free Halloween images for your upcycled decorations, check out these free vintage Halloween postcards and skeletons.
Upcycled Decorations For Other Holidays
You can also be eco-friendly when decorating for other holidays and seasons, using upcycled materials or repurposing nature. Pine cones and acorns are free resources to use for fall decorations and crafts.
Wood slices, wine corks, cardboard packaging and even denim can be crafted into many upcycled Christmas ornaments and decorations.
