Haunted House Decorations

Contents[Hide]
Delight your local trick-or-treaters with some spooky Halloween decorations, both inside and out!  Whether you are looking to keep it cute and kid-friendly or are interested in making your front yard a gruesome sight, we are here with some festive tips to get your creative juices flowing.      

Friendly Frights

If you want to keep your decor looking more spooky than horrendous, avoid the fake blood and the dripping brains.  Try to keep it tame with black cats,  owls,  skeletons,  Jack-O-Lanterns,  and maybe even some flying ghosties.  Typically, these friendly frights won't be too intimidating to young trick-or-treaters. 

Skeletons 

Skeletons are kind of a Halloween staple, so no matter what your house looks like, be sure to incorporate at least one of these guys.

Cobwebs 

Kids will love stretching these cobwebs over the bushes and all around the house.  It's ok to go crazy because they can be easily removed. 

Gigantic Spider 

Add an element of awe to your decorations with something huge and over-the-top, like this 8 foot spider.

Tombstones 

Have some fun with these great yard decorations.  Make your own and write humorous epitaphs like "I.M. Gone" and "U.R. Next." 

Purple and Orange Lights 

Festive lights are perfect around the windows, around the door, or anywhere that you see fit! 

Ghost Path Markers 

Light the way to the door with these fun and festive ghost path markers.  They will help night-time trick-or-treaters! 

Hanging Witch 

Since witches fly, why not hang them as decorations?  Find cute or spooky witches to place throughout the yard or the house. 

Grim Reaper 

Welcome the element of death with the Grim Reaper.  Avoid anything too scary if little kids are involved, but know that this hooded figure has become a Halloween trademark.

Glow in the Dark Skull 

Having a skull present really shows your enthusiasm for the holiday, and a glow in the dark model is even more fun!  For the little ones, try to get your skull to smile.

Bubble Fogger Machine 

Add some fun to your yard or to your parties!  This bubble fogger is much more subtle, and more child-friendly, than its dry ice counterparts. 

Horrific Haunts

If horror is your game, listen up.  Effect is everything, and you want will surely want to terrorize your guests before they even think about ringing your doorbell.  It's not hard to create the spookiest entertainment on the block, and if it turns out to be a success you will definitely be the talk of the town for quite some time.  Just set a budget and determine your audience.  And don't scare the little kids; that's just mean.  

Severed Heads 

Mutilated body parts just seem to go hand-in-hand with the classic haunted house.  Decorate with severed heads and perhaps even a model guillotine.

Animated Crawling Man 

When your guests come to the house, they are sure to be creeped out by this animated crawling man.  He scurries across the floor, or the yard, ready for his next victim. 

"Realistic" Ghosts 

Hanging ghosts from the trees is one thing, but making them look realistic is another.  You can find a variety of decorations with transparent materials to enhance the reality.

Body Parts 

If severed heads is just too much for you, then go a little subtler with some other realistic body parts.  These rubber limbs can stick out of the ground or even be hidden within your party treats.

Zombies 

Nothing says Halloween quite like zombies!  Find the perfect ones for you, whether they are friendly or slightly possessed, and scatter them throughout the yard.  

Blood Gel 

By using gel instead of blood capsules, you will have much more liquid to spread onto your decorations. 

Coffins 

Coffins can go alongside your zombies or skeletons.  Throw a lump of garden fertilizer around it for a more realistic look. 

Black Light 

Replace your regular light-bulbs with black lights for a really spooky atmosphere.  Enhance this feature by writing messages on the walls with glow in the dark paint.

Fog Machine 

A fog machine is an absolute must for any haunted house.  Look for a low-lying one or a high-powered machine, depending on the look you hope for and your budget.

Spooky Sound Effects 

Think about using the soundtracks from scary movies like The Exorcist or Friday the 13th.  You can also find Halloween CDs already set up with shrieks and howls. 

Tips and Warnings

Safety First:

  • If you are using dry ice, never allow it to touch anyone's skin!
  • Try not to use strobe lights on your house or in your yard.  They do cause seizures.
  •  Keep anything wet safely clear of electrical effects or outlets, and never use any candles or other live flames.

Planning and Decoration: 

  • If you have an elaborate imagination, start your planning early.  You will want to make sure you have your necessary items by Halloween.
  • Watch horror flicks for inspiration.  Whatever it is that makes the movie creepy, capture that element in your decorations.
  • If you are going for a creepy setting, avoid cutting your grass for a few weeks.  This will contribute to that old, abandoned house vibe.
  • Check out your local costume or specialty shop, or browse our costume guides to find other Halloween props for your haunted house.
  • You can always stuff some dummies and dress them up.  Creepy clowns and serial killers will do.
  • Do not try to make your haunted house huge and overdone; instead make a smaller scene with more of your props/decorations coordinated together. 
  • Stick to a theme.  If you are going sci-fi with monsters, aliens, or a mad scientist, don't incorporate witches and ghosts.  Use your imagination but keep it simple.
  • Consider dressing up your friends and hiring them as actors.  Anything that actually moves is much more interesting than animatronics anyway! 
  • If you are an actor, or are planning on implementing them into your scene, do not have them jump out at children.  This will only result in tears and yelling parents...and who wants that?

Related Guides

Check out some of our other buying guides for even more Halloween ideas

External Links

  • DarkLinks.net:  Access a bunch of great Halloween blogs on a variety of subjects.
  • RoguesHallow.com:  This blog brings you musings of a "Halloween Junkie."