Neutral and spooky Halloween decor and budget-friendly Halloween decorating ideas!
Fall has officially arrived, which means I can share spooky Halloween decor and creepy dolls without it being too weird.
I realize Halloween decor, particularly spooky skeletons and creepy dolls aren't for everyone. Just skip over today's post and check back next week, I promise it won't hurt my feelings.
For my fellow spooky Halloween, creepy crusty doll head lovers, today's post is for you!
October is a busy month, so I scaled back my Halloween decor and kept it simple. I created a spooky gallery wall, painted a handful of thrifted jack-o'-lanterns, and displayed some of my favorite creepy old dolls.
One of my favorite aspects of Halloween is that there are a tremendous amount of ways to decorate on a budget. From inexpensive thrift store finds to easy budget-friendly DIY projects, it's easy to create a spooky Halloween decorated home for less.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY WAYS TO DECORATE FOR HALLOWEEN
1. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NATURE
Dead tree branches and dried grasses are free and perfect for Halloween. Use them as is or give them a quick coat of black spray paint for an even creepier look.
2. GO THRIFTING
Most thrift stores hold donated Halloween decor until early August, so start looking early to get first dibs on the best donated decor. I tend to shop for blow molds, jack-o'-lanterns, books, frames, and old crusty and creepy dolls. All of these items can be easily updated and transformed with paint and/or a good cleaning.
3. Shop Dollar Stores
Dollar Stores are goldmines for Halloween and seasonal decor. All the creepy iridescent pictures displayed on my gallery wall were bought from Dollar Tree. I simply cut the pictures down and then popped them in thrifted frames. Other great Dollar Tree Halloween items to keep an eye out for are cobwebs, cheesecloth, various skeletons, blackbirds, and cardboard signs that can be easily updated and customized.
4. HIT UP LOCAL AUCTIONS
The best time to auction for affordable Halloween decor is during the spring/summer and after Halloween. Most people aren't thinking about buying seasonal and holiday decor after the fact. I've been able to buy super affordable pumpkin blow molds and boxes of creepy dolls for just a couple dollars.
5. GET CRAFTY
Deck your walls with bats using black cardstock, create a creepy spider web using black string, or make your own haunted broken lathe slats using black posterboard and woodgrain contact paper. The supplies are super affordable and make a big impact on your walls.
6. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE PRINTABLES
Buying large seasonal artwork can get expensive. Consider printing spooky Halloween art from home and then displaying it in an affordable thrift store frame. Once you have the frames you can swap out the free printables from season to season.
7. SHOP AFTER HOLIDAY SALES
The number one best time to shop for Halloween decor is right AFTER Halloween. Places like Walmart, Target, and Michael's mark inventory down as much as 30% -70%.
8. BE PATIENT
Waiting for sales and shopping secondhand takes time and patience. You won't always find exactly what you're looking for and what you really want may not always be on sale. Be patient, check for sales, use coupons, and shop thrift stores often for the best Halloween deals.
You can shop some of my favorite spooky neutral Halloween decor by clicking on the images below!
FAVORITE NEUTRAL HALLOWEEN DECOR
