Halloween is just around the corner, and if you’re like many of us, you want your outdoor decorations to look festive, spooky (in a good way), and — importantly — leave minimal impact on the planet. At SustainableBliss, we believe that a seasonal celebration can still honour our commitment to sustainability. That means: fewer single-use plastics, more reuse and natural materials, and decorations that don’t end up in landfill by December.
In this post, you’ll find ten eco-friendly outdoor decoration ideas, each with a twist to make things greener — and some of them paired with ready-to-go product suggestions you can promote.
1. Go Natural: Pumpkins, Gourds, and Harvest Props
Start with the classics. Real pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, hay bales, and autumn leaves are inherently eco-friendly: biodegradable, compostable, and often locally-sourced.
Tips:
- Choose pumpkins from a local farm or market to reduce transport emissions.
- After Halloween, compost the pumpkin or roast the seeds for snacks — double win.
- Use cornstalks or hay bales as props, then reuse them in your garden or for next year’s fall décor.
2. Durable Outdoor Props That Last Seasons
Rather than buying cheap plastic decorations you’ll ditch next year, invest in items designed for longevity and outdoor use.
$26.99
And a quick breakdown:
- Witch Leg Yard Stakes (pair): fun quirky stake props for the garden.
- JOYIN Giant Spider Outdoor Prop: bold attention-grabber, reusable, weather-resistant.
- Reusable Outdoor Spider Web Decoration: gives the classic web look, but a reusable version (not one-time use cotton fluff).
- Collapsible Wood‑Grain Coffin Prop: a more premium prop that can be stored and reused.
- Garden Condemned Signs Yard Stake: adds ambience, stake style.
3. Lighting That’s Low-Waste & Outdoor-Safe
Outdoor Halloween lighting can be one of the more wasteful parts if it’s cheap and breaks after one season. Instead, go for LED string lights, solar lights, or repurpose lanterns you already have.
As one sustainable blog put it, using LED and waterproof lights is a smart, eco-friendly move.
Ideas:
- Solar-powered stake lights along the pathway don’t have to plug in.
- Mason jars with LED tea lights inside line your porch or garden path.
- Choose lights you can reuse next year, and avoid single-use plastic-coated string lights.
4. Use Natural Materials & Recycled Fabrics
Nature gives us so much free décor. Fallen branches, twigs, corn stalks, dried leaves, old sheets — everything can be repurposed. Use branches to create ghost shapes or scarecrows.
DIY outdoor ideas:
- Use old white sheets to fashion a hanging ghost in a tree.
- Wrap a bundle of twigs or cornstalks with fairy lights for a spooky “harvest ghost”.
- Collect autumn leaves, spray lightly with eco-friendly paint, and hang them like bunting.
5. Reusable Decorations That Don’t End Up in Landfill
A big part of sustainable decorating is to make sure you can use your decorations year after year — rather than buying something cheap that ends up getting trashed. Remember, reusable options are a great place to start.
Tips:
- Choose items that pack down/stow easily in off-season storage.
- Label a storage box “Halloween outdoor décor” and keep your favourite items there — you’ll save money and waste next year.
- Avoid items that are clearly one-season only or made of brittle plastic.
6. Up-cycle or Thrift Instead of Buying New
Before purchasing, check what you already have, or visit thrift stores/local swaps. Cost-effective and sustainable. Most decorations can be saved once the season is over and used for a lifetime or several lifetimes.
Tips:
- Old bed sheets become ghosts.
- Cardboard boxes become graveyard tombstones.
- Old lanterns become spooky lighting props.
7. Outdoor Props That Are Wildlife & Neighbour-Friendly
When decorating outdoors, especially our gardens and front yards, it’s worth considering wildlife and your neighbours. For instance, fake spider-web decorations can actually harm birds or small animals if too sticky or entangle.
Mindful tips:
- Avoid loosely hanging plastic webbing that animals could get trapped in.
- Use natural fibres or mesh that allows airflow.
- Turn decorative lights off late at night to reduce light pollution.
- If using stakes, ensure they’re secure so they don’t blow into neighbours’ gardens.
8. Re-imagine Your Entrance or Pathway as a Mini Halloween Walk
Think of the path to your front door not just as an entrance, but as a little Halloween theatre. You can decorate step-by-step: stakes lining the walkway, subtle lighting, props peeking from shrubs.
Tip:
Use reusable stakes (look back at item #2) plus old lanterns or natural bundles (this is from #4). This creates a layered effect without loads of single-use plastic.
9. Transition Decor So It Works Beyond October
One smart sustainable tip: Pick decorations that can live beyond Halloween (e.g., into the full autumn season) or be reinterpreted for other times. And remember, harvest décor can transition beautifully into the fall season.
Examples:
- A rustic lantern that works for Halloween now, then for a harvest or Thanksgiving display later.
- Decorative stakes that can be swapped to autumn leaves in November.
- Pumpkins and gourds that serve Halloween and then a harvest-table after.
10. Storage & Off-Season Care to Maximise Reuse
It’s not just the purchasing and setup — how you store items matters. If you care for your decorations, they’ll last many seasons.
Storage tips:
- Clean props before storing (remove leaves, debris).
- Pack fragile items in a box labelled for Halloween.
- Store in a dry location (dampness shortens lifespan).
- Before next season, inspect for wear and repair if possible (e.g., re-tie lights, repaint stakes).
Closing Thoughts
Decorating your outdoor space for Halloween doesn’t mean compromising your sustainability values. With a little planning and thoughtful purchasing (or DIY up-cycling), you can have a porch or garden that’s spooky, fun — and lovingly kind to the planet.
By blending natural elements, reusable props, wildlife-friendly materials, and smart storage, you’ll create a display you’ll be proud to pull out year after year. Plus, when you incorporate affiliate-linked products (like those above) you’re giving your readers ready-to-go options while staying true to your eco-friendly mission.