Expert Tips for an Eco-Friendly Halloween

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble! Halloween is on the way, and it's time to get those decorations up on the double. At least, that's what every department store and seasonal chain is pushing parents to do. While consumerism is the driving force behind making your house the spookiest on the block, it also has a downside.

Many decorative and seasonal practices are fun, but also very unsustainable. The good news is that an eco-friendly Halloween is indeed possible. And we know just how your family can still be the spookiest, while also being the most eco-conscious. Here are some tips for a truly “green” Halloween.

Reusable and Second-Hand Horror Decor

Decorations are what make Halloween such a thrilling time to celebrate. It's a great way to get kids involved in a fun holiday that doesn't require too much seriousness. When it comes to home decor, there are numerous ways to minimize consumerism while enhancing the look of both indoor and outdoor spaces. Half the fun lies in the adventure of finding new decorations, and you don't need a big box store for that!

Thrift Stores, Marketplace, and Dollar Stores

One of the most significant eco-friendly movements is thrifting, or buying second-hand items. Gently used items are often just as good as brand-new decorations. Thrift stores are a great place to start, and most people have one of these nearby:

• Goodwill
• Savers
• Habitat for Humanity REstore
• Salvation Army
• Locally-owned thrift stores
• Antique stores
• Farmer's markets

Almost all of these are guaranteed to have something Halloween-themed or items that could easily be repurposed as Halloween decorations. Sometimes, you can even find vintage decor, which adds a whimsical touch to the average decoration. Even items such as vintage candle holders, donated dolls, or colored fabric can be used to add a creepy ambiance to any room or exterior.

If the local thrift store was a bust, consider checking dollar stores for affordable, but reusable decor. Pumpkins, wall hangings, door covers, and ground-stake decorations can all be saved for the following season. At a dollar or two a pop, dollar store decor means quantity over quality — but will still be just as spooky!

Online marketplaces are another excellent option, particularly for individuals in rural communities or those with limited time. Facebook Marketplace is a superb resource, and you can search for specific items and set your search radius. Other sites, like Poshmark or eBay, are great for finding vintage or durable decorations that will last for years. All of these help save money in one of two ways: by spending less but getting more, or by spending to save money in the future.

Get Creative With Creepy Crafts

We've all seen the trend on social media of repurposing old paintings to “creepify” them. However, this is also the perfect eco-conscious way to create your own Halloween decor. Landscape paintings can be found at any thrift store, and affordable paint and brushes can be found at any dollar store. Adding whimsical Halloween creatures, such as ghosts and witches, or seasonal touches like pumpkins or bats, turns a painting into a spooky centerpiece. This is also an excellent activity for the entire family!

Many dollar stores, as well as the Target dollar section, often feature seasonal crafts. You can pick this up for under $5, and they can also be used as indoor decorations. If you're hitting the thrift store, always check out the craft section. Many stores, like Savers and the REstore, sell craft “bags.” These typically contain a variety of crafting items, making it a fun way to get creative and see what you can make.

These are also useful when combining them with other reusable items, such as wine bottles, paper towels, and toilet paper rolls. Wine bottles can be easily repurposed into “poison” bottles with some ribbon and markers or paint, while cardboard rolls can be transformed into spooky black candles. As a pro, when these start to deteriorate, they can also be recycled.

Sustainability Can Be Perfectly Spooky

Year after year, Americans spend approximately $3.8 billion on Halloween costumes annually. This number is staggering, considering that costumes are often worn once and then discarded or forgotten. Opting for sustainable costumes can be achieved in several ways, and it doesn't mean your child needs to wear a bed sheet as a ghost every year.

Thrift Store Fashion Over Fast Fashion

Donations are the gift that keeps giving — literally. One person's costume is another person's future costume, which is what makes thrift stores eco-friendly Halloween havens. Most stores devote an entire section to Halloween costumes, which makes the process of sorting through the racks that much more exciting.

Let your kids go wild while they choose their costumes and accessories, and then hunt through the store for extra additions like jewelry, shoes, or unopened costume makeup. When Halloween is over, you can donate their costumes and start all over again the following year! As a bonus, thrifted costumes are often a fraction of the cost of brand-new ones.

Turn Closet Costume Creation Into a Game

In the cosplay world, “closet cosplays” are typically a challenge to see which character you can be just based on the clothes in your own closet. This idea also translates into a fun Halloween game for your family. Open every closet and set rules (i.e., “grandma's jewelry is off-limits”), then let your kids search high and low for their creative costume vision.

You'd be surprised how easily a witch, zombie, goblin, or ghoul comes together with a few simple clothing items. If you have any old clothing you no longer care about, that's even better — this can be distressed or tattered to add authenticity and character to a costume.

Buy Local and Get Creative

You might be surprised to know that your local market or farm stand can be a one-stop shop for Halloween and the fall season, in general. Corn stalks, hay bales, pumpkins, gourds, and squash are all decorative and eco-friendly.

Seasonal (and Edible) Fall Decor

Crops are so versatile, and many people don't even realize it! Corn stalks are a staple of fall decor and can be used to tie entryways together, creating a classic country feel. Heirloom corn comes in a variety of colors and can be placed on a stoop or porch table for a seasonal look. These can even be incorporated into Halloween decor, and you can hide monsters or ghosts behind corn stalks for a spookier fall look.

When it comes to all things edible, consider buying packaged candy from your local farmstand or market. Sometimes, it's cheaper, and you'll also be supporting a local maker while enjoying treats made from scratch!

Pumpkins are another classic staple that fall under both autumn and Halloween decor. Left as-is, pumpkins, gourds, and squash are a beautiful addition to porch steps, front yards, or around the house. As jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins can be fearsome monsters or silly faces. When Halloween is over, you can either cook whole pumpkins, roast pumpkin seeds, or bake and freeze the pumpkin's flesh for future recipes.

Pumpkins carved into jack-o-lanterns can be donated to your local farm as animal food or used for compost. This is a great way to decorate without waste. Some vegetables, such as the birdhouse gourd, have additional uses. As its name implies, this gourd can be turned into a birdhouse as a fun family craft project!

Use What You Have and What Nature Provides

No matter how much anyone spends on Halloween, Mother Nature is always the best decorator. Those who live in wooded areas or regions that experience visible changes in seasons are fortunate. For them, the best decorations are often right in their own backyards.

Forage for Fall Decor

A stroll through the woods can reveal plenty of on-theme decorations for the inside and outside of your home. Painted pinecones become pops of color, pine branches tied in a bundle around a long stick become a broom, and painted acorns or walnuts with googly eyes become little monsters.

These nature-themed crafts cost practically nothing and can be made year after year. If you don't have paint, you can even string together some woodland items to create a unique fall-themed garland. Pressed leaves also make a stunning addition to garland!

Take a Note From Farmers

One image that is synonymous with Halloween is the scarecrow. For years, farmers have been using these creepy-looking hay-people to deter hungry birds. Not only does it work, but it's also a highly effective front yard decoration. An old flannel, a pair of pants, and some hay are all you need to create one of your own.

You can even get creative and use a hay-filled bag, a pumpkin, a gourd, or the head! The more character a scarecrow has, the better. While tradition dictates the scarecrow hanging on a stake in the front yard, you can set yours up on a porch chair or step.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©KlavdiyaV/Shutterstock.com