Halloween is all about embracing the spooky spirit, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice sustainability! With a bit of creativity and a few upcycled or recycled materials, you can create a hauntingly beautiful Halloween while being kind to the planet. From eerie lanterns to ghoulish garlands, here are some eco-friendly decoration ideas you can easily make at home:

1. Upcycled Tin Can Lanterns 🕯️

Transform empty tin cans into eerie lanterns for your porch or windows. Simply clean out a few cans, punch small holes in spooky patterns (think bats, pumpkins, or spiderwebs), and pop in a tealight or small LED candle. When lit, these lanterns will cast eerie shadows and give off an atmospheric glow.

Materials Needed:

• Empty tin cans
• Hammer and nail (or a sturdy awl)
• Black paint (optional)
• Tealights or LED candles

Instructions:

1. Clean out your cans thoroughly and remove the labels.
2. Draw your chosen pattern with a marker or use a stencil.
3. Carefully punch holes along your design using a hammer and nail.
4. Paint the cans black or orange for a classic Halloween look, or leave them silver for a rustic vibe.
5. Once dry, place your candle inside and watch the spooky silhouettes come to life!

2. Recycled Paper Bats & Ghosts 🦇👻

Save old newspapers, magazines, or even scrap paper from going to waste by turning them into spooky hanging bats or ghost decorations. Cut out bat shapes or create ghosts by scrunching the paper into small figures. Hang them around your home or in the garden for an eerie touch.

Materials Needed:

• Old newspapers, magazines, or scrap paper
• Black paint (or use black paper if you have it)
• String or thread
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Draw bat shapes or ghost figures on your paper and cut them out.
2. Paint them black for bats, or leave them white for ghosts.
3. Punch a small hole at the top and loop a piece of string through.
4. Hang them from your ceiling, tree branches, or anywhere needing a touch of spookiness!

3. Nature-Inspired Pumpkin Alternatives 🍂🍎

Instead of buying plastic pumpkins, go for natural and/or edible alternatives! Collect fallen autumn leaves and scatter them around your home or create a centrepiece using apples and oranges. You can even carve designs into these fruits for a unique take on traditional Jack-o’-lanterns.

Materials Needed:

• Fallen leaves, acorns, and pinecones
• Apples, oranges, or any other sturdy fruit
• A small knife for carving (if you want to add designs)

Instructions:

1. Arrange the leaves and acorns around a bowl or table to create a natural autumnal scene.
2. If using fruits, carve simple designs into the apples or oranges, or leave them whole for a charming harvest look.
3. Once Halloween is over, the leaves and fruits can be composted – zero waste achieved!

4. Old Sheet Ghosts 👻

Got some old white sheets lying around? Turn them into friendly (or frightening) ghosts! All you need is a few old bedsheets, some string, and markers to bring them to life.

Materials Needed:

• Old white sheets or fabric scraps
• Black marker
• String or thread

Instructions:

1. Cut your sheet into smaller pieces, depending on the size of your ghosts.
2. Draw on eyes and a spooky mouth with a black marker.
3. Hang them around your garden or front door using string. They’ll float and wave in the breeze, adding a spooky charm to your decorations.

5. DIY Cardboard Tombstones ⚰️

Instead of buying plastic or foam tombstones, upcycle old cardboard boxes to create your own graveyard scene. Paint them grey, draw on funny or creepy epitaphs, and stake them into the ground.

Materials Needed:

• Old cardboard boxes
• Grey and black paint
• A sturdy knife or scissors
• Wooden stakes (or small garden sticks)

Instructions:

1. Cut out tombstone shapes from your cardboard.
2. Paint them grey and let them dry.
3. Write on spooky messages with black paint or marker.
4. Attach wooden stakes to the back and stick them into your garden or planters.

 

By opting for these eco-friendly decorations, you’re not only saving money but also helping to reduce waste and be kinder to the planet this Halloween. At Paguro, we believe that with a little creativity, you can celebrate sustainably without compromising on the fun! 🎃🌱

Have you got any sustainable Halloween ideas of your own? We’d love to hear them! Tag us @paguroupcycle and show off your spooky, eco-friendly creations. Happy Haunting! 👻