With Halloween only a few days away, you may be scrambling to figure out how to adorn your apartment with the signs of spooky season — in fact, you may even be considering skipping decorations all together this year. The absence of the usual Halloween parties and trick-or-treating is even more of a reason to decorate your space to the nines, with all of the classically ghostly signifiers of late October. Many of these crafts only require household essentials you may have lying around; so grab your glue, yarn, empty wine bottles, and leftover balloons from your last birthday party and let's get to creepy crafting!
Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash (Oh My)
It wouldn't be Halloween without the season's signature fruits decorating front porches around the world. When living in a residential apartment building, you can still have a pop of orange, by using pumpkins and gourds as centrepieces, mantelpieces, or even just as a decoration for that one corner of your living room you never know what to do with. The best part is, these beautiful centerpieces can be transformed into delicious, seasonal meals once Halloween is over. Check out the BBC's collection of squash and pumpkin recipes, if you're in need of a little bit of winter squash inspo.
Image Source: Dana/@itscuterwithwords
Preserved Pumpkins
If you want the Halloween to last just a little longer, keep your pumpkins looking fresh and spooky using Emily Hannemann's method to preserve pumpkins. Simply bathe your gourds in a bath of 10 parts water and 1 part vinegar for half an hour; this kills the fungus which causes the fruits to begin to rot. Though they won't last forever, this is an easy and safe way to extend the spooky season until December! (Note: this sadly does not apply to carved jack-o-lanterns, which will begin to rot far more quickly — around five days after carving.)
Image Source: Debbie Chapman/One Little Project
Yarn Pumpkins
If you don't feel like committing to real pumpkins, these adorable little crafts created by Debbie Chapman at One Little Project are the next best thing. All you need are a couple dollar store essentials: a few balloons, orange yarn, and white glue — as well as pipe cleaners, if you're feeling fancy. They look especially beautiful hanging in a window alongside some twinkly lights, and can be saved to be reused, year after year.
Image Source: Angie Holden/Crafts By Amanda
Reversible Scrap Wood Pumpkins
For more of a rustic look, deck out old scrap wood from your past craft projects with a bit of orange paint and glue-gunned buttons to create some charming wooden pumpkins. Take Angie Holden's advice and paint the other side to look like a snowman, for a reversible holiday decoration that will last you all the way until the end of December!
Image Source: Rachel/Adventures in Making
Pumpkin Macrame Hanger
You might have the necessary supplies needed for the final pumpkins related craft on our list already laying around the house. All you need to complete this craft from Rachel at Adventures In The Making is some yarn and a metal ring, and you've got a beautiful pumpkin hanger. Once Halloween has passed, you can replace your pumpkin with a succulent, creating a beautiful hanging planter.
Image Source: Made Everyday
Go Batty
If pumpkins aren't really your thing, consider opting for something a little "battier." These cute little cardstock cutouts from Made Everyday are great for creating a Halloween backsplash in any room. Woman's Day even recommends creating a spooky tabletop centrepiece by perching paper bats atop a large dry branch. Creepy!
Image Source: Muumade.com
Create a Shadow Wall
With only a flashlight. paper, and some scissors, you can create eerie decorations that can be taken down with only a click! Cut out whatever image you'd like to cast, set up your stencil in front of an empty wall, and let the shadows tell a story. Muumade has some great free templates if you don't feel like coming up with a stencil from scratch. Feeling even spookier? Trade your flashlight for candles to make any hour at home feel like witching hour.
Image Source: Jamie/Eighteen25
Ghostly Jugs
This craft tackles two birds with one stone: Halloween decorations and recycling day! If you have some old gallon milk containers hanging out in your recycling bin, rinse them out and turn them into room (or balcony!) decor through these simple Eighteen25 instructions. All you need is a sharpie and some low-wattage twinkly lights to string between the jugs, and you're good to go.
Image Source: Muslin & Merlot
Wine Bottle Potion
In another recycling-day game changer, transform some of your old wine bottles into a collection of potion bottles that even Severus Snape would be jealous of. Just soak your bottles in room temperature water with a bit of baking soda to remove the existing label, and get decorating. To make things even easier, you can find a free set of printable labels at Muslin and Merlot if you don't feel like making your own.
Image Source: Danielle Occhiogrosso/Good Housekeeping
Dip-Dyed Candles
For a subtle seasonal look, use this method from Good Housekeeping to elevate your candles from bland to beautiful. Mix crayon shavings in any colour you desire into melted candle wax, dip your candles in the mixture, and watch your plain candles turn Pinterest-worthy before your eyes.