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Holidays » Halloween

Scary outdoor halloween decorating ideas

Published: Sep 15, 2023 by Morgan · As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This site contains affiliate links. ·

Want to make your yard creepy for Halloween? Here are a ton of scary outdoor halloween decorating ideas!

Halloween is my very favorite holiday, and a big part of that is that it is so much fun to decorate for.

Today we want to help you to set the stage for Halloween with spine-chilling outdoor decorations!

These ideas will help you to transform your yard into a haunted haven with these creative and eerie ideas.

In this blog post, we'll explore various scary outdoor Halloween decorating ideas to make your home the talk of the neighborhood!

scary outdoor halloween decorating ideas!

Our favorite Halloween projects

Here are some of our favorite Halloween DIYs from the past!

Indoor Halloween Decor

  • How to put up fake spiderwebs the right way
  • Spider staircase
  • DIY halloween village display
  • Embroidery hoop Halloween wreath
  • Spiderweb Halloween mantel

Outdoor Halloween Decor

  • DIY concrete pumpkins
  • How to pose skeletons in your yard
  • DIY plastic pumpkin topiaries
  • How to make a light up pumpkin arch
  • Skeleton beach day yard display
  • Skeleton pirate yard display
  • Skeletons being chased by dogs yard display

How do I make my yard look scary for Halloween?

You can make your yard looks scary for Halloween by adding any scary elements - the more, the better. Consider clustering items to make a bigger impact, no matter the size of your yard. Consider adding:

  • graveyard
  • bloody/gory props
  • fog machine
  • creepy crawly bugs (oversized is best outdoors)
  • spooky sound effects via talking figures or an outdoor speaker
  • hanging chains
  • danger signs
Skeleton Beach Day - a funny Halloween yard display

Spooktacular Outdoor Halloween Decorating Ideas

There are tons of ways to make your yard feel creepy for Halloween. Here are some ideas to get you started!

Haunted Graveyard

A spooky cemetery is automatically creepy. You can purchase faux gravestones or cut them out of plywood and paint them yourselves.

Take the tombstones to the next level by adding skeletons (or bone pieces), cobwebs, and creepy crawlies.

You can also use eerie lighting to enhance the atmosphere. Consider spotlighting the gravestones or skeletons so they look awesome day and night!

Finally, consider including a fog machine, particularly on Halloween night, for a super spooky feel!

faux spiderweb behind halloween pumpkins

Creepy Crawlers

A spooky spiderweb is an easy but effective way to make your porch or yard scary.

The most popular types of spiderweb are:

  • Stretchy spiderweb
  • LED light up spiderweb
  • String spiderweb
  • White creepy cloth

I definitely suggest adding at least one oversized spider and placing it prominently, possibly with a spotlight on it.

Then, add smaller spiders as filler.

Finally, consider adding a motion-activated spider with sounds for a scare factor!

pumpkins on the stairs DIY halloween porch decor

Frightening Porch Displays

Don't skip your porch when decorating your spooky yard! I always suggest including pumpkins, lanterns, and candles for a Halloween ambiance.

A witch's cauldron can also be a fun porch addition - add string lights inside or underneath to give to a creepy glow.

You can also add creepy curtains or gauze for an added spooky effect.

Skeleton dog chase

Eerie Cemetery Entrance

If you have a fence or a gate, consider making it super spooky! Set the spooky mood right from the gate!

You can make your fence into a spooky cemetery with prop gate or arch. Drape the fence with creepy cloth or spiderweb.

Line the path with flickering lanterns or LED candles. Add a spooky tree for extra drama!

Or, just cover your arch with an inflatable!

concrete pumpkins cover photo for google web stories

Wicked Window Decorations

Don't skip decorating your windows! There are lots of ways to use your window decorations to spook passersby!

You can add silhouettes, window clings, or black paper. There are also projectors of ghosts and shadowy figures.

Or, swap out a nearby lightbulb for a blacklight for a chilling glow!

DIY Scary outdoor halloween decorating tutorials

Here are some specific tutorials for scary outdoor halloween decor ideas!

Scary outdoor halloween decorating ideas

Want to make your yard creepy for Halloween? Here are a ton of scary outdoor halloween decorating ideas!

How to pose skeletons in your yard

Great tips for how to pose skeletons in the yard.

How to put up fake spiderwebs for Halloween

Great tips for hanging spiderweb to look realistic.

Spider Stairs - Easy Halloween Decor Idea

Add spiders to your porch stairs for a dramatic look!

How to Make a DIY Plastic Pumpkin Topiary

These stacked pumpkin topiaries light up and are spooky at night!

Halloween Ghost Yard Decor

Great tips on hanging and posing ghosts in your yard!

Our Skeleton Pirate Halloween Yard Display

Get creative posing skeletons like a spooky pirate battle!

How to Make DIY Concrete Pumpkins

Concrete pumpkins are quick & easy to make, and make a big impact in your yard!

A Gruesome Dead Head Wreath

How to make a "bloody" head wreath for Halloween door decor.

Photo Credit: madeinaday.com

Wicked Witch Halloween Wreath

This spooky witch head wreath is super creepy!

Photo Credit: uniquecreationsbyanita.com

Cement Grim Reaper

Is there anyone scarier than the grim reaper? Here's how to make one for your yard!

Photo Credit: uniquecreationsbyanita.com

How to make a 3D Halloween mirror

This 3D skeleton mirror is the perfect addition to your halloween porch.

Photo Credit: diydanielle.com

Fake Axe DIY for Halloween Decorations

A great tutorial on how to make a fake axe for your yard decor.

Photo Credit: diydanielle.com

Skeleton in Chains: Outdoor Halloween Decoration

What's scarier than a skeleton? A chained up skeleton! Here's how to do it yourself!

Photo Credit: diydanielle.com

DIY Guillotine from Cardboard for a Halloween Trail

Set up a creepy scene with this DIY guillotine!

Photo Credit: diydanielle.com

DIY Haunted Trail for Halloween

I love this idea of adding a halloween trail if you have a large yard.

Photo Credit: craftingmyhome.com

Easy $3 Spooky Skull Ghosts DIY

Great craft idea for taking small inexpensive skulls and giving them a bigger impact.

Photo Credit: housefulofhandmade.com

Easy DIY Halloween Lamppost

This spooky lamp post adds a great ambiance to any halloween yard.

Photo Credit: www.4theloveoffoodblog.com

Hocus Pocus Halloween Front Porch Decor

Smell children? Put a spell on your porch with this decor!

Photo Credit: madeinaday.com

Exquisite Green Man Woodland Wreath

IDK what this green man wreath is but it definitely creeps me out!

Photo Credit: www.cravingsomecreativity.com

DIY Outdoor Halloween Witches

Set up a witches circle with this simple tutorial!

What's your favorite scary outdoor halloween decorating idea?

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Hello, I'm Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I've transformed three homes and now I'm dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let's turn your house into a home together!

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