Inexpensive Halloween Decorations, A Beginner's Guide

Inexpensive Halloween Decorations

Make your next Halloween celebration fun and frugal while maintaining a spooky ambiance. Many of the items I plan to tell you about in this blog are props can be made using everyday house hold items or simple craft supplies

The idea is to be smart about the things you want to display and the theme you plan to have at your party. Many of these ideas just came to me after looking for decorations that suited my taste and desired atmosphere but finding that they were far too expensive for my budget. I promise you can throw an elegantly spooky celebration that will impress your guests without breaking the bank!

Getting Started, A Beginner’s Guide…

There are so many ways you can save on Halloween decorations and crafts. The key is to allow yourself time and room plan. Failing to plan is where I got into trouble more than a couple times. Thankfully, I have learned my lesson. Through thoughtful planning I have been able to increase my Halloween collection and create a wonderful ambiance for my guests.

Here are some tips for getting started.
1. Shop for next year: when the Halloween stores come to town they leave in a big way, usually 75% or bigger. The fact is these companies would rather sell their left over merchandise at discounted prices than have to pay a storage facility until next year. So pay attention and buy items for your home/party in advance.
2. Use things around your home. I recycle old clothes, bottles, and linens for my ghostly surprises. Old clothes make great scare crows. Old Olive Oil and Vinegar bottles make create spell bottles, and old sheets are perfect for… yes you guessed it GHOSTS!!!
3. Be willing to put in some time and effort. You don’t need to make this a 9-5 job. Instead work smart and plan ahead. You should be willing to put on your Saturday work clothes and create! The best part is when your friends comment on how cool something looks you can say, “THANKS! I made that.”
4. If you can, buy in bulk. Items like favors, candy, candles, dining ware, and party accessories can sometimes be purchased in bulk at a decent price via the internet. I bought plates, flatware, napkins, and cups in bulk and had enough to last for three parties. So for three years I did not have to buy any of these items for my guests to use. Sometimes if you catch a good offer you can buy more than enough at a much discounted price. What you would pay for one party at a local retailer, you could get enough for three parties.
5. Take care! When you make something and/or buy something that you plan on using year after year, it is imperative that you take the time necessary to preserve these items. Many items can be expensive like mechanical creatures, misters, and fog machines so it is important to clean and store them properly. I store all my items in large plastic bins. I buy my bins on sale after Halloween or even Christmas. Remember to follow the care instructions on your items and you will have them for years to come.
6. Music speaks to most people very specifically. I enjoy using music created by Midnight Syndicate. This group knows spooky and they do it in a very tasteful way. Having a creepy score playing in the background really sets experience.
7. I think the most important detail to remember is HAVE FUN! If you are not having fun then you probably won’t do it again. If you have supportive friends invite them over for a decorating party and include them on the adventure.

Happy Halloween

Welcome to Spooky Elegance

About My Inspiration…


Inexpensive, Elegant, and Spooky is something I have been creating for years. Halloween is by far is my favorite event. Since I was a little the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland was (and still is) my favorite ride. Dressing up in a mystical costume was my entire focus from August to October.


Creating creepy is a passion. I am not a fan of gory or bloody Halloween themes. I much prefer the hint of something lurking behind you, or the suggestion that you are being watched. If you have ever been mugged you know what I mean. Yes I know it is a strange relation, but when your heart is racing because you didn’t know… it makes the experience intense.


I spend a lot of time creating a Halloween atmosphere that will coax you into believing you are in Dracula’s Castle and he might be around the corner looking to drain your life. I create Graveyards that imply you are in danger and death is just under your feet. Who knows that gravestone you just brushed against might be hiding a secret.


My goal is create a place that is dark and suggestive. A place where you question, “Am I being watched”, “Could there be something in that bush?”, or “What was that?” I want you to feel comfortable but not too much so.


After I bought our first home it was my goal to make each and every Halloween a special event my family and friends would always remember. In my opinion this kind of childlike excitement keeps us young. I love to dress up and guide my guests through a haunted cemetery filled with homemade tombstones and ghosts. I enjoy eating Halloween themed food and drinking punch laced with frozen body parts.


When I first began creating spooky decorations I was working as an Administrative Assistant for a large Insurance Company and my husband was working as a Retail Store Manager. Needless to say, we did not have a lot of money. To make each year better than the last I would save what I could to buy supplies and props. Most of all I began taking the neat ideas I would see professionals creating and I would create my own. Now I have it down to a science.


Last year I even worked part time at a Halloween store to get the employee discount and find inside knowledge on their sales. I found ways to make the amazing decorations and displays that resemble the ideas placed with Martha Stewart, Better Homes and Garden, and other similar institutions. The key is that these creations are at affordable prices. From invitations to gravestones I make it look good, and you can too with a little time and effort.


The true test and affordability of my creations is when my husband and I both found ourselves unemployed. When the economy tanked we felt the hurt. We were even more strapped than ever before. Thanks to my simple ideas and past planning we had everything we needed to throw an simple yet elegant Halloween celebration. This tradition continues as we are both students in the process of changing our careers. So we are still strapped for cash, but never-the-less able to make Halloween special for our friends and family.


I am hoping to create a place here where you can come for ideas and inspiration. I want to help others create a special Halloween without the frustration of price. So stick around and I hope to have some helpful hints, tricks, and ideas for you to use.

Happy Halloween!