Making recycled Halloween decorations is a brilliant way to give your home plenty of personality while caring for the planet. Crafting your own eco-friendly Halloween decorations saves money, reduces waste, and brings a personal touch that shop-bought items rarely match. I’ve found that using what I already have around the house leads to far more original results and a deeper sense of satisfaction.
Over the years, this tradition of creating handmade Halloween crafts has become a highlight for my family. It’s fun, thrifty, and sustainable – and it reminds us that celebration doesn’t have to mean consumption. With a little imagination and some basic supplies, you can transform bottles, jars, tins, cardboard, and old clothes into decorations that are as spooky as they are sustainable. And you can spend some quality family time together too.
These upcycled decorations suit all ages and can be as simple or advanced as you want. I’ll share some practical ideas and easy-to-follow steps to get you up and running. Everyone at home, from children to adults, can pitch in. Making your own decorations can build lasting family memories while helping you track down new uses for everyday items.
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Get Inspired: Finding Recycled Materials at Home
I always start by looking around the house and garden for things that would otherwise end up in the bin. Cardboard boxes, glass jars, plastic bottles, tin cans, newspapers, old clothes, scrap fabric, and egg cartons are all really useful for Halloween crafts. Even broken toys or used kitchen roll tubes can become the base of something spooky, although I definitely stop at wrecking toys because I’ve seen Toy Story! But sometimes the most unexpected odds and ends make eye-catching features.
Where to Find Useful Materials:
- Kitchen recycling bin for clean jars, bottles, cans, and cartons
- Paper recycling pile for newspapers, magazines, and card
- Clothes drawer for things you no longer wear (T-shirts, socks, hats)
- Garden shed for empty plant pots or broken tools
- Storage cupboards for shoeboxes or random odds and ends
I try to use what’s available rather than buying new craft supplies, although a few standard supplies come in handy. But you can always reuse them, too after Halloween to make some Christmas decorations. If you need craft materials, try to buy sustainable ones and things that don’t contain plastic. There are lots of alternatives around, so shop carefully.
Sometimes I borrow basic tools like scissors, glue, tape, and paint from my regular DIY or art stash. Keeping an eye out for materials throughout the year builds a nice little collection, so I’m always set when Halloween rolls around.
If you really want to try something different, you can get “The Organic Artist for Kids: A DIY Guide to Making Your Own Eco-Friendly Art Supplies from Nature” from Amazon. It has ideas on making your own brushes, paints and papier-mâché. You can also source natural craft materials from Conscious Craft UK.
Simple Halloween Crafts for Kids (and Adults)
Some of my favourite Halloween decorations are the low-cost and easy ones that the whole family can do together. Here are a few ideas using recyclables that nearly everyone has at hand:
1. Ghosts from Old Sheets and Milk Bottles
- Take an empty plastic milk bottle, wash it out, and cut a small hole in the bottom so you can add a battery-powered tealight
- Drape an old sheet or scrap white fabric over the top, then draw ghostly eyes with a permanent marker
- These glowing ghosts work both inside and outside, and you can string a few together to create a ghostly gathering; old pillowcases or T-shirts also work well
2. Spooky Tin Can Lanterns
- Save a few empty food cans, remove the labels, and clean them
- Use a hammer and nail to punch out holes in a scary face or shape
- Put a tealight inside (or use battery lights for safety) and watch the patterns glow at night
3. Cardboard Box Monsters
- Wrap boxes in colored paper made from old magazines or newspapers
- Cut teeth, eyes, and silly arms from extra cardboard, then glue them on
- Let everyone design their own monster and make a parade along the windowsill or stairs
More than just being fun, these hands-on crafts invite kids to think creatively. Let them pick their own colours or draw different faces to give each decoration its own personality. We did something similar for Christmas decorations on Christmas Eve last year and everyone had to make a table decoration for themselves – it was great family fun and we all got involved.
Decorative Touches from Household Waste
Leftover packaging and scrap materials give you almost endless options for unique decorations. Here are even more ideas for homemade Halloween crafts, from cute to downright spooky. With a little effort, you can turn would-be trash into treasures for your home:
1. Egg Carton Bats and Spiders
- Cut egg cartons into sections to make bat or spider bodies
- Paint them black or purple, glue on goggle eyes but not the plastic ones – you can make your own by using black and white fabric or drawing eyes on paper – or even make some homemade playdough ones and paint them
- Add pipecleaners or just rolled up bits of scrap paper for legs and wings. Add a string for hanging or create a mobile by hanging several onto an old coat hanger
2. Glass Jar Lanterns
- Stick tissue paper scraps, colored paper, or leaf shapes onto the outside of a clean jar with glue. You can make different patterns and build up the colour or leave them quite transparent
- Draw faces to turn them into pumpkin jars or ghostly jars
- Add candles or battery lights for a glowing effect by the doorway
- Add bio-glitter to add some sparkle but make sure it is biodegradable eco-glitter made from plant material, which is much more eco-friendly
3. Cardboard Tombstones
- Large cardboard boxes can be cut into gravestone shapes and painted grey
- Write silly names and years, or let kids doodle spooky symbols
- You can even draw on a few ghosts peeking round the side
4. Halloween Painted Rocks
- Collect some garden stones – smooth flat ones work best
- Spray paint them in different colours such as black, green or white
- Paint on details to make them ghosts, Frankenstein’s monster, cats, pumpkins or witches
- Allow them to dry properly before displaying them
Sometimes I also put together wreaths for the door using bottle tops, old ribbons, or dried leaves. You can use old garden sticks and prunings, as nothing has to be green and living. Get creative by mixing and matching materials and letting your imagination set the tone for your haunted house setup.
Outdoor Decorations with Big Impact
Larger recycled Halloween decorations are perfect for the front garden, porch, or windows. Not only do they set the mood for trick-or-treaters, but they also showcase your creativity for the neighbourhood to enjoy.
1. Pallet Board Signs and Pumpkins
- If you’ve got spare wood from old furniture or pallets, paint signs with messages like “Beware” or “Witch’s Den.” You can make them into tombstones and R.I.P. crosses ,too
- A bit of weathered wood and some red paint goes a long way, adding plenty of spooky flair
- You can also cut out 2-D pumpkin shapes and line them up on your grass – complete with spooky faces
2. Garden Ghosts from Bottles and Fabric
- Stick sturdy bamboo canes or branches into the lawn
- Put a big plastic bottle on top, then drape it with old white curtains, netting, or sheets
- Draw a face and let the wind add movement
3. Monster Eyes in Bushes
- Paint the inside of yoghurt pots or cut-up tennis balls with big eye designs
- Tuck them into the hedges or trees so they peek out at visitors
For an extra spooky effect, you can also add home-made spider webs by separating old cotton wool or unravelling string. Let your kids jump in to create a ghostly graveyard or creepy creature corner outside.
4. Zombies in the Grass
- Use some old clothes and stuff them with newspaper
- Make a papier-mâché head and hands, painting them in ghoulish colours
- Place them on the grass as if they are emerging from beneath the soil – they don’t necessarily have to be connected, as they are zombies after all! If you want to be really thrifty, you can reuse these after Halloween, repaint them and make them into a Guy for your bonfire on November 5th!
Making Decorations Last Year After Year
Making DIY Halloween decorations from recycled materials isn’t just about saving money. It’s also about having family fun and expressing creativity while caring for the Earth. Every lantern, ghost, or cardboard monster you create keeps something out of landfill and gives it new life. Over time, these recycled Halloween decorations become part of your family’s tradition, carrying memories from one October to the next.
So this year, gather what you already have, invite the family to join in, and see what you can create together. With each upcycled pumpkin jar or ghostly tin can, you’re not only preparing for the spooky season – you’re practising conscious, sustainable living in the most joyful way.
Common Questions and Quick Tips
What if I don’t have many craft supplies?
Simple tools like scissors, tape, and glue are all you need for most basics. If you run out, you can use newspaper with water and flour paste instead of store-bought glue. Old paint or markers can often be revived with a little bit of water or by mixing shades.
How do I make decorations safe for children?
- Avoid small loose items and always use battery lights instead of real candles in crafts with children
- Save sharp cutting or can-opening jobs for adults, and supervise painting or glueing for little ones
Can I compost any leftover decorations?
Items made from plain cardboard or paper with minimal ink and no plastic or glitter can go straight into the compost after removing glue or tape. Try to save any fabric and plastic bits for future crafts before discarding them. Glitter is not really a sustainable substance as it gets into the ecosystem, but you can buy biodegradable eco-glitter made from plant material, which is much more eco-friendly.
Get Crafting: Easy Steps to Start
- Check your recycling and see what containers, fabric, or scrap card you already have around.
- Pick out a few simple projects, like jar lanterns, bottle ghosts, or cardboard signs, and start planning which materials to use for each.
- Clean and prep your materials before painting, glueing, or assembling. Prepping saves time and mess later on!
- Get family or friends involved. The company makes it better and encourages even more creative ideas.
Recycled Halloween decorations are fun, budget-friendly, and totally unique. You’ll always appreciate the stories behind each piece, and seeing them year after year will bring back happy memories. Give it a shot with what you have on hand; you might be surprised at just how creative you can be when you set your mind to it.
With every decoration you make, you’re not just prepping your home for spooky season; you’re also making it a little greener and a lot more personal. Happy crafting!
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I love the idea of the Spooky Tin Can Lanterns. It’s a fun and creative way to recycle materials while decorating for Halloween.
I try to be more mindful about waste during the holidays, so this really stood out to me. It’s inspiring to see how something simple can be turned into something festive. Do these hold up well if stored and reused for future years?
Hi Marllinda. Good to see you and thanks for your kind comments. I’m so glad you liked some of the simple ideas here and really hope that you get a chance to make some of your own. To answer your question about whether you can store them year on year, and to honest, I find it really depends on the weather. Indoor decorations usually store well and I use strong boxes to keep them safe in my loft from one season to the next. If decorations go outdoors, then it does depend on whether it rains really. But you can always compost cardboard (as long as you’ve used eco paints), or recycyle them and then have some fun making different ones next year.
I love this! Gail, your article made me smile. It’s refreshing to see someone blend creativity, family fun, and environmental care so naturally. The way you turned everyday “trash” into cozy, meaningful decorations feels both nostalgic and inspiring. It brought back memories of my childhood when we made toys out of tins and strings because, well, that’s what we had.
Your idea of ghostly tin cans and cardboard tombstones is pure genius and simple, affordable, and kind to the planet. It makes me wonder, though: what’s your favorite project to reuse year after year? I imagine some of those handmade decorations must hold precious family stories.
Also, your reminder that celebration doesn’t have to mean consumption really hits home. We forget that creativity thrives best when we have limits andnot endless shopping aisles. Thank you for reminding us that sustainability can be spooky, sparkly, and soulful all at once.
John
Hi John. Thanks for your very kind comments and I’m so pleased you liked the article. You’re right to suggest that the homemade decorations have special memories – I have a wonderful picture of my daughter in a homemade ‘helmet’ made from an Easter egg box that always raises a smile. I always like making zombies, just because it goes back to my prop-making days as a drama teacher, so lots of these things have a special place for me. My daughter hates spiders but she will happily sit and make cardboard ones to hang up too. And we always love carving pumpkins at this time of year – that’s a family favourite and always a special trip to the shop to buy them.
What are your favourite Halloween decorations?