Discover easy, eco-friendly Halloween decorations kids can make using recycled and natural materials for a fun, sustainable way to celebrate the spooky season!
Halloween is a time for spooky decorations, but it doesn't have to be a time for waste! With just a few simple swaps, you can create homemade, eco-friendly Halloween decorations that are not only fun but also sustainable. By using recycled materials, natural elements, and reusable items, you can help reduce waste while making your home Halloween-ready. Best of all, these crafts are kid-friendly, so your little ones can join in on the eco-conscious fun. From paper bats to painted pumpkins, here are sustainable decoration ideas that will leave both your home and the planet looking great.
Eco-Friendly Crafting Tips:
- Use what you already have: Before buying new supplies, check your home for scrap paper, fabric, buttons, or other materials you can upcycle.
- Compost materials like pumpkins, leaves, and other natural elements when you're done with them to reduce waste.
- Make your own glue with flour and water, avoiding store-bought adhesives that come with plastic packaging.
- Reuse and store decorations for future years, or swap them with neighbours and friends for a fresh look.
1. Recycled Paper Bats
Materials:
- Scrap paper (like old magazines, newspapers, or used construction paper)
- Scissors
- Pencil
- White chalk or a crayon for detailing
- String or scrap yarn (for hanging)
Instructions:
Instead of using new construction paper, upcycle old newspapers, magazines, or scrap paper to create these spooky bats. Fold the paper in half and draw half of a bat shape, then cut it out to create a symmetrical bat. Use chalk or a crayon to add details like eyes or wings. Hang them using leftover string or scrap yarn, or tape them to walls and windows. The variety of recycled paper colours and patterns will add an interesting twist to the typical bat decorations!
Why It’s Sustainable: By repurposing old paper, you're giving new life to materials that would otherwise be thrown away, reducing waste and cutting down on the need for new supplies.
2. Upcycled Ghost Garlands
Materials:
- Old white fabric scraps or an old t-shirt
- Scraps of thread or yarn
- Cotton balls or scrap fabric (for stuffing)
- Markers for drawing faces
Instructions:
Cut small squares out of any white fabric scraps you have (an old white t-shirt works perfectly). Place a cotton ball or fabric scrap in the centre of each square, then gather the fabric around the stuffing to form a ghost head. Secure with some scrap yarn or thread. Draw on spooky or funny ghost faces with a marker. You can either hang them individually or string them together to make a cute garland.
Why It’s Sustainable: Using old fabric instead of buying new paper or materials reduces waste. Plus, these ghosts can be stored and reused year after year.
3. Naturally Painted Pumpkins
Materials:
- Real pumpkins or gourds (locally grown, if possible)
- Homemade or non-toxic paint (made from natural ingredients, if you prefer)
- Leaves, twigs, or seeds (for natural embellishments)
Instructions:
Instead of carving, try painting pumpkins this year using homemade or eco-friendly paint. You can make simple paints from food items like turmeric (for yellow), beet juice (for red), or spinach (for green). Paint spooky faces or designs, and use leaves, twigs, or other natural materials to add texture and decoration. When Halloween is over, you can compost the pumpkins instead of throwing them away.
Why It’s Sustainable: Using natural or non-toxic paint is safer for the environment, and composting the pumpkins helps reduce waste. Plus, opting for locally grown pumpkins supports local farmers and reduces carbon emissions from transportation.
4. Yarn Scrap Spider Webs
Materials:
- Leftover yarn, string, or twine
- Scissors
- Recycled paper (to create spiders)
Instructions:
Take leftover yarn scraps from other projects and create a spider web by crisscrossing the yarn across a window, doorframe, or any open space. Use tape to secure the ends of the yarn. For the spiders, you can cut them out of recycled paper, draw their faces, and attach them to the web.
Why It’s Sustainable: Using up leftover yarn and recycled paper reduces the need for new materials, and the spider web can be untangled and reused next year.
5. Toilet Paper Roll Monsters (Upcycled)
Materials:
- Empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls
- Paint made from natural ingredients or water-based eco-friendly paint
- Scraps of paper, old buttons, or fabric (for decoration)
- Glue or flour-based paste (homemade)
Instructions:
Toilet paper rolls are perfect for making cute Halloween monsters! Instead of buying new craft supplies, use upcycled items like scraps of paper, buttons, or pieces of fabric to decorate the rolls. Paint them using eco-friendly paints, and glue on your decorations with a homemade flour-based paste (simply mix flour and water to create a paste). Kids can make mummies, vampires, or silly monsters by adding eyes, arms, or other fun features.
Why It’s Sustainable: Recycling toilet paper rolls and using leftover or scrap materials helps reduce waste, and making your own glue ensures you're avoiding chemicals and excess packaging.
6. Cardboard Jack-O'-Lanterns
Materials:
- Cardboard from old boxes or packaging
- Non-toxic paint or markers
- Scissors
- Recycled paper for stems
Instructions:
Flatten out old cardboard boxes and cut out pumpkin shapes. Let your kids paint or colour them with eco-friendly markers or natural paint. Once dry, cut out eyes, noses, and mouths from the leftover cardboard to create jack-o'-lantern faces. Glue these on, and add a stem using recycled paper, scrap fabric, or a twist of cardboard. Hang them in the window, on doors, or throughout your home.
Why It’s Sustainable: Reusing cardboard not only saves waste but also provides a sturdy material for long-lasting decorations that can be used year after year.
7. Leaf and Twig Creatures
Materials:
- Leaves, twigs, pinecones, and other natural elements from outside
- Non-toxic glue or a homemade paste
- Scrap yarn or string (optional)
Instructions:
Take your kids on a nature walk to collect fallen leaves, twigs, acorns, and pinecones. When you return, use these items to create spooky creatures like leaf ghosts, pinecone owls, or twig skeletons. Use natural glue or a flour-based paste to assemble your creations, and add leftover scrap yarn for extra detailing if desired. Display these natural decorations around your home or in the garden.
Why It’s Sustainable: Using natural, biodegradable materials means these decorations will leave no trace when they’re done. Plus, gathering materials from nature helps teach kids about the beauty and sustainability of the natural world.
By creating these eco-friendly and sustainable Halloween decorations, you'll be reducing your environmental footprint while having a spooky good time with your family. Plus, you’ll be instilling important values of creativity, resourcefulness, and respect for the planet in your little ones. Have fun going green this Halloween—happy crafting!
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