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At Smiths Hire, we believe that a little creativity can go a long way, especially when it comes to DIY projects. And what better time is to bring ideas to life than Halloween? Whether you’re looking to create an eerie atmosphere inside the house or create a spooky garden display for this year’s trick-or-treaters, these DIY projects will help you get into the Halloween spirit.
These DIY projects don’t have to be perfect – it’s Halloween, after all! Plus, it’s an ideal way to use up any spare bits of wood and other materials you’ve got lying around in your shed or garage. And remember, if you need any tools to complete these projects, we’ve been providing reliable tool hire solutions for over half a century; take a look through our tool hire ranges right here on our site and get exactly what you need delivered directly to your door!
Idea 1: Build a spooky wooden graveyard
If you’re thinking of going big for your garden display this year, this will be right up your street. Here’s how you can transform your front garden into a chilling graveyard scene with a few hours of your time and some simple wooden gravestones. These easy DIY props really look the part and are completely customisable. Here’s what you need and how to create them.
Materials and tools needed:
- Plywood sheets or reclaimed/spare wood you have lying around
- Acrylic paint or spray paint (black, grey, white)
- Paint brushes
- Paint roller (optional)
- Cardboard stencils and pencil (optional)
- Sandpaper
- Jigsaw or hand saw
- Measuring tape
- Sealing spray (optional)
Step 1: If you’re feeling confident, you can freehand the gravestone shapes. If not, create a stencil using cardboard for the designs you want to cut out. Trace these shapes onto your wood and then cut them out using your jigsaw. You can go for classic arc-style gravestones, rectangular shapes, or even get creative with crosses – it’s entirely up to you! Vary the sizes and shapes for a more dimension. Feel free to make as many or as few as you like. If you plan on sticking them in the ground, make sure you leave them a couple inches longer in length to account for this!
Step 2: Sand the edges for safety. While it’s true that your gravestones don’t have to be perfect, you don’t want to be giving yourself or any of the local children splinters, so be sure to sand down any rough edges with some sandpaper.
Step 3: Once they’re all smooth, it’s time to paint your designs! You can apply the paint by hand with a paintbrush, or if you have several to tackle, you might prefer using a roller or some spray paint. Just be sure to set up your workspace with proper protection if you choose to use spray paint. It’s also probably best to take the DIY outside since the fumes can be pretty strong, and proper ventilation is important.
Start with the grey as your base colour, then when that’s dry, start adding details using the black for shadows and white for highlights, feel free to throw some other colours in the mix too. You can create your own spooky messages for an added effect, or you could stick to the classic – RIP!
Once they’re all dry, give them a quick spray with your sealing spray (if using), and then all that’s left to do is to arrange them for the world to see. You could lean them up against your house/fence, stick them in the grass or use them inside as party décor.
Idea 2: A haunted archway
If you want to create a striking entrance to your home this October, a haunted house entryway is an ideal project. This DIY will enhance your home with a touch of spookiness while setting the mood for a memorable Halloween party your guests won’t soon forget. It’d also make an excellent backdrop for any pictures.
Materials and tools needed:
- Plywood sheets or reclaimed wood
- Measuring tape
- Black fabric or paint
- Halloween-themed decorations (spiderwebs, bats, ghosts, pumpkins)
- String lights (optional)
- Tape or adhesive hooks
- Scissors
- Hammer
- Nails or glue
- Stepladder (optional)
Step 1: First things first, you’ll need to start with the wooden frame that will serve as the foundation for your haunted archway. So you’re going to need at least 3 pieces of wood the height and length that you want your arch to be. You can measure your doorway, so you know exactly how big you’d like it. If they need cutting down to size, a jigsaw should do the trick quickly. Measure your doorway to see how tall and wide you want your creation to be.
This frame will allow you to nail and glue decorations like plastic pumpkins, bats and fairy lights to it without worrying about damaging your paint or brickwork. Once the frame is built, drape a black cloth over or paint it to create a plain backdrop and you’re ready for décor.
Step 2: Securing the frame to the front of your house. Depending on how you’d like to approach this we have a few suggestions for you to choose from!
(A) Command strips
Outdoor Command Strips are great for attaching your frame without damaging your front door area. Just stick them to the back of the frame and press them onto the wall, providing the surface is smooth. It’ll work a treat. They hold well and they’re removable; just make sure the frame’s weight is within the strip’s limit.
(B) A freestanding base with weights
Create a freestanding arch by securing wooden feet to the bottom of the frame and adding weights like sandbags or bricks on either side. This way, you can avoid attaching anything to your house and still keep the frame stable.
(C) Suction cup hooks
For smooth surfaces like windows, use suction cup hooks to hang the frame with string or wire. They’re easy to remove and reuse, but keep in mind this method is best for lightweight frames.
(D) Zip Ties with command strips
Similar to the first method, command strips can be placed around the door, allowing you to thread zip ties through them and around your frame. It’s easy to install and remove, but again, just make sure the pads are strong enough for outdoor use. It’ll also need a smooth surface to stick to.
Step 3: Attach your Halloween-themed decorations directly to the wooden frame. You may need a step ladder for this. You can use nails or glue to secure plastic pumpkins, bats, and other spooky elements in place. A tip is to make sure to get décor that’s light enough to hold; anything heavy may fall off or sag. Get creative with your arrangement! You can even attach some twigs or branches you’ve found in the garden and thread some spider webs through; it’ll look great in the dark!
Step 4: For added ambience, hammer in a few small hooks around the frame and weave some fairy lights through. The kind that require batteries are ideal since they can be easily hidden amongst the décor on the frame and you don’t need any electricity to turn them on.
Step 5: Finally, take a step back and assess your design. Adjust and rearrange decorations as needed until you achieve the perfect haunted look. Feel free to mix and match decorations and lighting until you’re satisfied with the eerie atmosphere! This setup’s versatility means you can easily change the elements each year, work to a theme, or simply see where you end up!
Idea 3: Create a spooky scarecrow for the front garden
There are few things more unsettling than a scarecrow lurking in the garden – its lifelike presence blurring the line between reality and imagination. Is it real? Is it fake? This unsettling decoration will not only send shivers down the spines of passing birds but likely unsettle the neighbours as well – plus he’s reusable and easy to build!
Materials and tools needed:
- Wooden dowels or PVC pipes (for the frame)
- Old clothes
- Straw or plastic bags (optional, for stuffing)
- Glue, tape and safety pins
- Saw (if cutting dowels)
- Hammer
- Scissors
Step 1: Start by deciding how tall your scarecrow will be. Cut the wooden dowels to your preferred lengths for the body and arms. If you have a few PVC pipes handy, you can use them to make a more durable frame. You’re going to need:
- One large dowel for the body and to drive into the ground
- One slightly shorter dowel for the arms
To construct the frame, you’re essentially building a cross, but you want to keep the ‘arms’ slightly higher than midway to make the shoulders. Leave space at the top for the head. Secure the dowels together with some rope and then add a layer of strong glue for extra stability.
Step 2: Now that you have your frame, it’s time to give it some character! Drape the frame with old clothes, the tattier the better, so don’t be afraid to rough them up. For the trousers, you’ll need to make a hole in the centre of the trousers where the legs meet to thread the dowel through. You can just slide the top on, a long sleeve top is going to give the best effect. Then, fasten the feet and hand holes of the clothing with safety pins.
To give him a more lifelike appearance, stuff the torso and limbs with straw or spare plastic bags from under the sink until it fills the body out. The result will be a figure that stands eerily still, just waiting to catch someone off guard.
To keep the clothing in place:
- Use glue, tape, or safety pins to secure the fabric to the frame and the trousers to the top – whatever works best for you.
- Make sure that the clothing is tight enough to avoid any flapping in the wind but loose enough to create a relaxed, natural look.
The more realistic it is, the better the fright !
Step 4: Now that your scarecrow is dressed, it’s time to accessorise! Add a hat, mask, or even a pumpkin head for a classic Halloween touch. For added effect, use fairy lights around the frame or within the clothes to illuminate your creation at night, red would be great. The glowing figure will create an unnerving ambience, casting creepy shadows.
Step 5: Finally, place your scarecrow or skeleton in a prominent spot in your garden or near your entryway to greet your visitors. Be sure that it’s securely anchored in the ground, so it doesn’t blow away in the wind or rain!
These fun DIYs are great for the whole family to get involved in! As we previously mentioned, if you’re looking for the right tools to tackle any of these spooky builds, our expansive tool hire range has you covered.
At Smiths Hire, we’ve been providing quality equipment and tool hire services to the DIY and trade sectors for more than half a century. We operate from 17 tool hire depots across the North West and Yorkshire, including several in major cities like Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds. You can visit us at our depots, or if you’d prefer, you can order your tools for delivery! If you have any questions about our products and services, feel free to give our friendly team a call on 0333 323 2100!
