Tips & Pics To Make Your Hallowe’en Decorations Eco Friendly
It’s easy to do eco-friendly Hallowe’en decoration when you follow these tips!
By Diane Small
Hallowe’en has always been my favorite time of year. It’s time to sip a PSL, throw on a cozy sweater, and decorate the house in the spookiest way possible.
There’s something deeply fun about decorating for Hallowe’en: pushing the furniture aside to create a haunted passageway, draping webs across door frames, setting glowing Jack-o’lanterns on the table, and transforming your home into a place of eerie delight. For many of us, that tradition evokes childhood memories of trick-or-treat nights, ghost stories, and festive gatherings. No wonder that over time, Hallowe’en has become a cherished ritual for decorating indoors and out — a chance to express your playful (or spooky) side, to delight neighbors and visitors, and to create a seasonal mood.
But here’s the catch: not all decorations come guilt-free.
Some Hallowe’en décor can cost more than you think — for the planet, wildlife, and ecosystems. If your goal is to combine the joy of seasonal decorating with environmental responsibility, this is the moment to reconsider the standard plastic skeletons, synthetic cobwebs, and disposable treat-bags.
Below, I’ll walk you through the problems with conventional decor and share ten tips to create eco-friendly Hallowe’en decoration that delights without damaging the planet.
Why some common Hallowe’en decor is harmful
1. Fake spider webs are no friend to birds and insects
Those stretchy, synthetic spider webs you drape across bushes and railings? While visually dramatic, they’re typically made from plastic fibers or polyester blends that birds and small critters can’t tell apart from real webs. According to the Humane World for Animals, birds can become entangled, insects can get trapped, and the synthetic strands often don’t biodegrade. Wildlife groups have raised concern that fake cobweb decorations pose hazards to local fauna.
2. Plastic decorations pile up in landfills
The majority of mass-market Hallowe’en décor is made of cheap, non-biodegradable plastics. Skeletons, ghosts, pumpkins, bats, and light-up props — many are intended for seasonal use only. And after one or two years, they break, fade, or are just tossed into landfill, where they linger for decades – or even centuries! And let’s not forget that those plastics break down into harmful microplastics that we end up eating and breathing in.
Here’s how bad the situation is in the UK alone – it’s surely worse in the USA. A survey commissioned by Fairyland Trust, supported by Hubbub, from October 2019 shows: over 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste are generated in the UK from Hallowe’en costumes and clothing alone, every year. And 7 million costumes are thrown away annually — equal in weight to 83 million plastic Coca-Cola bottles!
Yipes!
You might think that the one little plastic witch you bought doesn’t make a difference. But it does! It adds up!
3. Carbon footprint of production & transport
Producing plastic props involves extraction of fossil fuels, energy-intensive manufacturing, and global shipping — all contributing to carbon emissions. When you add up the thousands of decorative items shipped in bulk each autumn, the cumulative environmental impact is significant.
4. Disposable & single-use items
Think of all the single-use party napkins, plates, plastic tablecloths, treat bags, and balloons — often found in Hallowe’en setups. Many are used once and thrown away, adding to the waste burden. And don’t even get me started on plastic based Hallowe’en costumes!
5. Toxic dyes, coatings, and chemicals
Some plastic or synthetic decorations may be coated with dyes, PVC, or flame-retardant chemicals that contain heavy metals or volatile compounds. Over time, leaching or surface wear can introduce chemical hazards. While exact studies on decor are less common, the broader concerns around cheap plastics and synthetic materials are well documented.
Given these problems, many of us are rethinking how to decorate for Hallowe’en — and shifting toward eco friendly Hallowe’en decoration.
10 Tips For More Eco friendly Hallowe’en Decor
1. Use real pumpkins, squash, and gourds
The classic jack-o’lantern may be traditional, but it’s also inherently zero-waste (if composted). After carving or decorating, compost the leftover flesh and seeds (roast or plant them!). Gourds and small pumpkins can be left whole, painted, or etched.
Image: Etsy
2. Repurpose natural materials & foraged items
Walk outside and collect fallen branches, twigs, pine cones, dried leaves, seed pods, and acorns. Use them to make wreaths, garlands, “creepy trees,” or accent pieces. Combine with recycled glass jars or vases for a rustic seasonal look.
Image: roomofinspo.com
3. Make upcycled lanterns & candle holders
Take empty bottles, glass jars, tin cans, or mason jars to make eco-friendly Hallowe’en decorations. Clean them, punch holes, or paint spooky silhouettes, then place LED tea lights or beeswax or soy candles inside. They cast lovely shadows and reuse materials you already have. Bonus: look for all-natural pumpkin scented candles!
4. Create paper cut-outs, silhouettes & wall art
Get artistic! Use recycled paper, old magazines, card stock, or even thrifted books to cut bats, ghosts, tombstones, and spiders. Hang them by string or tape them to walls and windows. Compost or recycle them after use.
Image credit here.
5. DIY “ghosts” from sheets or cloth scraps
If you have old white sheets, pillowcases, or fabric scraps, turn them into floating ghosts. Drape and tie them, add simple faces using markers or fabric, and hang them outdoors. Use string or twine rather than monofilament or nylon.
Image credit here.
6. Opt for beeswax or soy candles
Candles offer a wonderfully spooky vibe! But avoid paraffin or petroleum-based candles, which can emit pollutants. Beeswax or soy options are more environmentally friendly.
Image credit here.
7. Shop for secondhand items
Most people just dump their old Hallowe’en decorations in the bin. Others, who are a bit more sustainable-minded, donate them to secondhand and charity shops. Scour whatever is near your home to find some treasures you can use again and again!
8. Paint and upcycle items you already own
Rather than buying new, consider repainting or repurposing existing décor. Upcycle old cotton sheets, frames, baskets, and even any old furniture you may have! Give them a spooky twist with eco-safe paints and reused yearly. If you’re buying new items, choose higher-quality pieces you’ll use again. I love the idea of these black brooms, for example! Useful AND eco friendly!
9. Set up a “memento corner” to reuse over years
Dedicate a little display of heirloom or higher-quality seasonal pieces (ceramic pumpkins, carved wood, metal candelabra). These you can reuse year after year — eventually reducing your reliance on disposable décor.
Image credit here.
10. Compost, donate, or resale your decorations after use
After the holiday, don’t just toss items into the trash. Compost organic elements, donate reusable props or costumes, or sell/gift pieces. This closes the loop on your eco-friendly Hallowe’en decoration efforts.
Image credit here.
Tips For Making It Stylish & Charming
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Color palette & accents: Stick to neutral, earthy tones (black, white, natural wood, deep greens, rust, ochre) with touches of orange or metallics. It helps your eco-friendly Hallowe’en decorations look intentional and elegant.
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Layer textures: Use natural materials layered with translucent fabrics, candles, and silhouettes to give depth and mood.
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Lighting matters: Soft candlelight or warm LED strings create ambiance more than harsh floodlights. Shadows from cutouts or branches add drama.
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Focus on focal points: Instead of decorating every surface, choose one or two “spooky vignettes” (front porch, side table, mantel) to elevate — less is more.
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Seasonal pairing: Mix Hallowe’en touches with fall décor — dried florals, seasonal wreaths, pumpkins — so your display doesn’t feel overly disposable or themed.
Celebrate Hallowe’en Sustainably
Decorating for Hallowe’en is one of the most joyful, playful annual traditions. But as awareness grows of the environmental cost of cheap plastics, synthetic webs, and single-use props, we have an opportunity to do things differently. Choosing eco friendly Hallowe’en decoration doesn’t mean compromising on drama, beauty, or style — it just means being more deliberate, creative, and resourceful.
By using natural materials, upcycling, composting, and making intentional choices about what you bring into your home, you can conjure up a spooky, stylish, and sustainable Hallowe’en that aligns with your values. Let your creativity bewitch without burdening the planet — and enjoy every ghost, pumpkin, and shadow along the way.
Main image credit here.
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