Your Light Hacks for Easy Halloween Décor

Though probably the “darkest” holiday on our calendar, light is so very important to Halloween. The jack-o’ lantern (originally carved out of a turnip, by the way) only comes alive when illuminated. And when it’s close to midnight and something evil’s lurking in the dark, you need the moonlight to see that sight that almost stops your heart. (‘Cause this is thriller…)

Moving on.

If you’ve been bled dry of any creative Halloween décor ideas this October, consider using light to make a strong, spooky statement. Here are a few ideas:

1. Eyeballs on a string.

All you need for this project are some ping-pong balls, permanent markers, and Christmas lights. Just color in 2 concentric circles on the ping-pong ball in whatever colors you like. If you’re feeling especially ghoulish, you can draw red veins on them too, to make bloodshot eyes. Then poke a small hole in each ball and stick a single Christmas light through. You’ll have freaky glowing eyeballs to string across your doorway, or drape on a festive party table.

2. Ghosts in the yard.

If you have handy lights lining a path or driveway at your house, this idea will take no time at all. You just need to collect a bunch of old plastic milk jugs with the tops cut off or white paper bags (I suggest making the decision after you get the weather report for All Hallows’ Eve). Simply draw eyes on the jugs/bags with a black marker, and slip them one by one over each path light. Bada-boo! You’ve got a yard full of phantoms.

3. Alien invasion.

Here’s an ultra affordable Halloween lighting project, if your preferred poison is the frightening beyond of unexplained extraterrestrial phenomena. Just fill your house (or yard) full of anchored helium balloons containing green glow sticks. Add faces with traditional alien eyes or something even more creative! If you really want to play it up, you and your family could dress up like extraterrestrials and pretend the real you has been abducted.

4. Mini mummies.

If you prefer cute décor over the more macabre, a quick project to make mini mummy candles holders only requires a jar or glass cup, some white gauze, and some googly eyes. Simply scrunch up the gauze around the jar to look like the mummy’s linen wrappings. Add the eyes, and ta-da, you’ve got a precious little mummy come back to life with candlelight. They’re a crowd pleaser, trust me.

5. Surprise Dimmers.

While dimmer switches are great to have in the house year round to make your light levels more relaxing or romantic depending on the time of day, dimmed light can also be very chilling. If you don’t have your ambient lights on dimmers, why not surprise your family or roommates this Halloween by installing one and not telling them about it? Then, after the sun goes down, you can shock them, suddenly bringing down the light level. Cue evil laughter…mwuahahahaha…