20 Simple Outdoor Halloween Decorations That Will Scare Your Neighbors

Decorating for Halloween is one of my favorite parts of the season, especially when it comes to setting up the outdoor space.

There’s something about creating a spooky atmosphere that not only thrills the trick-or-treaters but also gives your neighbors a good scare.

Here are 20 easy outdoor Halloween decoration ideas that will turn your yard into a haunted wonderland.

Warning: This article contains some disturbing images, so if you’re easily scared or uncomfortable with spooky content, you might want to skip this one.

The Rising Corpse

A full-sized coffin with a corpse rising out of it is sure to make anyone’s heart skip a beat.

You can easily build a wooden coffin or use a pre-made prop.

Keep the lid partially open and place a life-sized skeleton or zombie figure inside, as if it’s clawing its way out.

Adding a fog machine inside the coffin gives the scene an eerie mist that rolls out, while wilted flowers and broken chains enhance the effect of a disturbed grave.

Mummy Wrapped Tree

Transforming a tree into a giant mummy is a fantastic way to give your yard a spooky focal point.

Wrapping the trunk and branches with strips of white fabric or gauze gives the tree an eerie, ancient feel.

Don’t forget to leave some gaps for glowing eyes peeking out from the wrappings.

A few fake mummy arms sticking out from the ground around the tree add to the effect, making it look like the mummy is trying to break free.

Skeleton Cauldron Bath

One of my favorite spooky and slightly humorous decorations is a skeleton taking a bath in a giant black cauldron.

I like to position the skeleton so it looks like it’s casually relaxing in the cauldron, with water or a similar substance pouring over its bones.

To add an eerie touch, I surround the cauldron with small rocks and twinkling lights, making it look like the cauldron is bubbling with something mysterious.

Haunted Window Specter

In one of my Halloween setups, I like to create a haunting window display that really gives people the chills.

I set up a ghostly figure with hollow, glowing eyes standing behind an old window, the kind you might find in a haunted house.

The figure wears tattered, flowing robes and has a skull-like face, bathed in an eerie blue light that spills out into the night.

To add to the spooky vibe, I drape the window with torn, gauzy curtains and place a couple of flickering candles on the sill.

The Butcher’s Shop

For something truly gruesome, setting up a butcher’s shop on your porch or in the yard is sure to send shivers down spines.

A butcher’s table filled with fake severed limbs, bloody cleavers, and meat hooks hanging from above will create a terrifying scene.

A life-sized butcher figure in a blood-stained apron stands ready to carve up his next victim.

With a bit of fake blood and dim red lighting, you’ll have your very own horror movie set right at your doorstep.

Giant Spider Lair

Turning your porch into a giant spider’s lair is a classic Halloween move that never fails.

String thick webbing across the porch, complete with massive, realistic-looking spiders guarding their domain.

Scatter smaller spiders around to create a truly creepy atmosphere.

Stretch the webbing over the entrance so that guests have to walk through it—it’s a surefire way to give them the creeps as they approach your door.

Monster Under the Stairs

There’s something deeply unsettling about the idea of a monster lurking just out of sight.

Create the illusion that a terrifying creature is hiding under your porch or outdoor stairs.

Glowing eyes, gnarled claws, and shredded fabric give the impression that something is ready to pounce.

A motion sensor can trigger a low growl or creepy sound effect, adding that extra layer of fear for anyone brave enough to get too close.

Haunted Mirror with Glowing Eyes

An old, haunted mirror is always a chilling sight.

Place a large mirror on your porch or lean it against a tree, then attach glowing LED eyes that peer out from within.

Cover the mirror with tattered fabric or gauze to make it look aged and haunted.

The effect is subtle but undeniably spooky, making anyone who glances at it do a double take.

Hanging Heads

Hanging life-like severed heads from tree branches or porch beams is sure to make people stop in their tracks.

You can add some red-tinted water or gel to make them look even more gruesome.

The heads swinging in the breeze add a dynamic and horrifying touch to your outdoor space, perfect for those who want to really up the scare factor.

The Haunted Swing

An old swing with an eerie, tattered doll or scarecrow seated on it can be deeply unsettling.

Hang the swing from a tree or on your porch and use fishing wire to create the illusion that it’s moving on its own.

If you’re feeling extra crafty, rig it to a motor for a slow, unsettling motion.

The combination of the creaky swing and the creepy figure will have everyone doing a double take.

Zombie Hands Emerging from the Ground

Zombie hands reaching out from the ground are a classic Halloween scare.

Use foam or plastic zombie hands and position them around pathways, flower beds, or scattered throughout the yard.

Add some soil or mulch around the base to make it look like they’re breaking through the earth.

Glow-in-the-Dark Ghosts

Ghosts are a Halloween staple, and glow-in-the-dark paint takes them to the next level.

Create ghostly figures using white sheets and glow-in-the-dark paint, then hang them from trees or the porch.

As night falls, these eerie figures will light up, creating a spooky effect that’s hard to miss.

Creepy Crawling Insects

There’s something about oversized insects that really gets under people’s skin.

Using large plastic insects like centipedes and cockroaches, strategically place them around your yard—on pathways, steps, or even creeping up walls.

They’re creepy, crawly, and sure to give your visitors the heebie-jeebies.

Gruesome Skull Cross

One of the creepiest decorations I’ve put together involves a wooden cross adorned with three bloodied skulls.

The cross itself looks old and weathered, which adds to the eerie vibe. I’ve positioned the skulls so they appear to be dripping with dark, gory blood that oozes down the wooden beams.

It’s a simple yet gruesome display that really catches people’s attention and sets a terrifying tone in the yard.

Haunted Tree Faces

Adding creepy face decorations to trees in your yard is an easy way to create a haunted forest vibe.

Attach the faces to the trunks, using glow-in-the-dark or reflective materials to make them visible at night.

The result is a set of haunted trees that look like they’re silently watching, ready to scare anyone who passes by.

Creepy Garden Ghouls

Creating simple scarecrow-like ghouls is a great way to add some extra scare to your garden.

Use old clothes and masks to fashion the ghouls, then place them in gardens or hide them behind bushes.

They’re perfect for jump scares and add an eerie atmosphere to your yard.

Shadowy Figures

Silhouettes of spooky figures can be incredibly effective.

Create silhouettes using black cardboard or plywood, and backlight them with a spotlight or string lights.

The eerie shadow effect is simple to create but packs a punch, giving the impression that something—or someone—is lurking in the darkness.

Haunted Pathway Lights

Guiding your guests with haunted pathway lights is a fun way to add a spooky touch to your yard.

Use solar-powered lights with Halloween-themed covers, like skulls or pumpkins, and line them along pathways.

Blood-Spattered Windows

Blood-spattered windows are a truly horrifying addition to your home’s exterior.

Use removable window clings or red food coloring to create the effect of splattered blood.

Applying them to windows or glass doors will give your home the look of a recent horror scene.

Creepy Signage

DIY signs with phrases like “Keep Out,” “Beware,” or “Enter at Your Own Risk” are a great way to add some extra fright to your yard.

Place them in key areas like the front gate or by the driveway, adding that extra layer of spookiness that lets everyone know your home is not to be messed with.