How to Make Your DIY Haunted House the Best on the Block

People might think you’re crazy (maybe you think so yourself) but this Halloween, you’re seriously considering constructing your own haunted house.

There are several reasons why you’ve suddenly become obsessed with creepy clowns and plastic skeletons, giant spiders and eerie ghosts, why you stop mid-sentence to ponder a new way to use homemade glow-in-the-dark slime.

• You really enjoy Halloween – and you love a good scare even more.

• You can’t wait to one-up the Halloween decor of the neighbor down the street.

• Your kids want to visit a haunted house, but you’re wary about the level of frights and gore they may encounter.

• You want to entertain friends and family and a do-it-yourself haunted attraction is a challenge you’re primed to tackle.

As Halloween approaches, we’re reminded of the holiday’s massive popularity. Between the lights, outdoor decorations, home decor and the like, Halloween is second only to Christmas in decoration sales.

However, creating a do-it-yourself haunted house is not for the faint of heart. It’s an investment in time and creativity. And, despite the thousands of money-saving Halloween hacks you’ll find on the internet, creating a haunted funhouse may involve a significant financial investment, too. 

But if you’re truly motivated, building a Halloween house of horrors in your yard, garage or home can be a rewarding project for you and your family.

Before you start pulling together decorations willy-nilly, however, there are five points you’ll want to hash out first.

Every good fun house has a theme. It could be a creepy carnival, an abandoned asylum, a monster manor or a pirate’s hideaway, for example.

Setting a theme for your funhouse is important for a few reasons. First, it helps you focus on your audience. The thrills you cook up for your 5-year-old will look vastly different from the scares offered to your upper middle school kids.

Second, sticking to a theme helps you create a cohesive attraction. You may even want to develop a backstory for your haunted house.

There are tons of possible Halloween house themes. Pick one that’s appropriate for your audience’s age group and concentrate on how you can build it into your haunted house set, decorations and storyline. Consider the tone, mood and scare intensity you present and keep them consistent throughout your haunted house.

How much space can you devote to your haunted house? You may want to stay small for your first foray into designing a Halloween attraction so you’re not overwhelmed by the details and implementation of your project.

Where will your haunted house be located? Chances are, you can’t turn your entire home into a fright house, but you may have a room or two to devote to your temporary Halloween attraction. Logistics and decorating will take some time, so decide whether you can devote those rooms solely to your Halloween house for the duration.

Other areas to stage a haunted house include a shed, garage, barn, lawn or driveway. Each has its pros and cons. You’ll want a location with close access to electricity. You’ll also need a location that is easily accessible to guests. Avoid using stairways and areas with uneven surfaces that could cause visitors to trip. 

With your theme and location decided, it’s time to let your imagination loose. Consider all the things associated with your theme and storyline. Think about the characters and objects someone might encounter in your scenario and write them down. Get family and friends involved, too, and ask for their suggestions.

Identifying the fantastic elements is just one part of the project; you need to figure out the logistics, as well.

Sketch out your ideas and a floor plan to decide how much space you need for your project. Try to draw out the individual elements of your funhouse as best you can.

You’ll want to strategically locate decorations, props and animated figures while preserving a cohesive flow through your haunted house. Planning the layout to scale on paper can help you decide the best places to use decorations, space out the scares and guide your guests through the experience. 

When it comes to a haunted attraction, lighting makes or breaks the atmosphere. Use Halloween lights to set the tone and focus guests’ attention on the important elements of your display.

Effective lighting has another benefit; it creates dark pockets where you can hide wires, ties and supporting structures so they don’t ruin the overall effect.

Consider these lighting options to set the right mood for your haunted house:

• Flameless candles

• Candelabras

• Lanterns

• Blacklight

• Strobe lights

• Mini lights, especially red, orange, green, purple and white lights

• Spotlights

Successful haunted houses engage multiple senses. So, while effective lighting is essential, think about ways to make your display a multisensory experience. What does your environment sound like, feel like (if guests are invited to touch) or even smell like?

Some sound effects just naturally make things more spooky. Which sounds can enhance your theme and build tension? Ghostly whispers, eerie moans, a creaky door, soft skittering or a thunderstorm are just a few possibilities. An abrupt absence of sound can be effective, too. Use sudden silence to build tension before a big scare.

Props and decorations are critical to developing your storyline. What items are specific to your theme?

Halloween figures can help set the theme, too. For do-it-yourselfers, the internet features many how-to videos on creating dummies from old clothes, papier mache and other materials.

Animated Halloween figures are another option. While they cost a little more than a do-it-yourself project, an animated witch or grim reaper could easily be your haunted house’s “star attraction.” Prioritize your purchases to include items that offer the most bang for your buck.

Show-stopping (and heart-stopping!) figures aside, don’t neglect the details. While it’s easy to sit a witch in a rocking chair and call it a day, the scene becomes much spookier with additions like a flickering flameless candle, a bubbling cauldron and a raven or black cat with glowing eyes.

Consider elements that could enhance your theme and setting and suggest supporting details.

Start itemizing your supplies. Decide which elements you can make or borrow and which items you need to purchase.

Make a detailed list of supplies required for every element of your Halloween display. Start with your main characters and props, then add the supplies necessary to set the scene and make it work.

Your supply list will likely be long and should include everything from power cords and zip ties to yellow caution tape and theatrical makeup.

Last, but never least, come issues of safety. Your haunted house likely will be a dimly lit temporary construction. Make sure your guests can navigate the area without difficulty. Some safety tips to consider:

• Use fire-retardant materials for construction and props. Avoid decor made from highly flammable materials like cotton batting, straw and dried plant materials.

• Never include open flames in your haunted house.

• Have a fire extinguisher handy, just in case.

• Consider using LED lighting whenever possible. In addition to being long-lasting, LED lights don’t get hot and are less likely to overheat.

• If you must use bulbs that get hot, keep them away from decorations and other surfaces.

• Make sure electrical cords are in good condition. Use heavy-duty extension cords and don’t overload your electrical outlets.

• Don’t place electrical cords across a walking path. Tape cords down to avoid tripping hazards.

• Don’t place decorations on the floor where people can trip over them. If you must have something displayed low to the ground, set it out of the way in a marked-off area.

• Don’t use fog machines in enclosed spaces. Not only can fake fog reduce visibility in your darkened funhouse even further, but it can also trigger asthma attacks.

• Clearly mark the entrance and exit for your haunted house. Emphasize to young guests especially that running and roughhousing are not permitted.

Building and hosting a haunted house can be a rewarding challenge for you and an exciting adventure for your guests.

Think through the experience and plan it carefully to craft a Halloween house that will be the talk of the neighborhood for many years to come.

You may also like:

The Appropriate Age to Take Kids to a Haunted House

Tips, Tricks and Treats for a Perfectly Happy Halloween Party