The Halloween jack-o’-lantern is a must-have for the spooky season. Show your Halloween spirit by lining a few pumpkins along your porch steps or in front of your door.

If you don’t want to carve the pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, you can leave the pumpkins whole for a look that lends itself to both Halloween and Thanksgiving. (Beware: If you hollow the pumpkins to make pumpkin seeds, expect the pumpkins to rot faster.)

So your “porch” consists of only a few steps? Consider lining mini-pumpkins on both sides of each step to make a short pumpkin trail.

If your front porch contains a rocking chair or patio set, you’re already halfway done creating this Halloween delight. The bad news? You ‘ll need to share your comfy rocking chair when handing out sweets and treats to trick-or-treaters.

Now, just fill the chair with whatever Halloween creature you want — a witch, a skeleton or even a scarecrow to fit the whole harvest season.

Consider adding a porch sign if you want a simple decoration that won’t take up too much space. Many Halloween signs include quotes alluding to the holiday and incorporate colors such as orange, black, brown, purple or yellow.

Many craft and general merchandise stores offer pre-made signs you can purchase, or you can make one yourself.

Cobwebs scream spooky, spiders and just plain ole’ Halloween. Add some cobwebs strewn across your front porch to add an eerie look to your Halloween decorations.

Some holidays call for elegant, refined decorations, but when it comes to Halloween, more is more! This over-the-top glittering garland will make a huge impact on your Halloween decor.

Supplies needed:

Photo courtesy of Jessica Hill/Mad in Crafts

Your garland doesn’t need to be especially expensive. I found the majority of my supplies at my local dollar store.

• Decorative mesh in Halloween colors
• Floral wire
• Pipe cleaners
• Glitter ribbon in Halloween colors
• Halloween embellishments
• Scissors

Making your DIY Halloween decoration

Begin by straightening the floral wire out and cutting it to the length of your railing. It’s best to work on a larger table so you can stretch the garland out to its full length.

Cut several pipe cleaners in half. Twist three pipe cleaner halves around the end of the floral wire to secure it in place. Twist on three more pipe cleaners every 4 to 6 inches of the length of the floral wire.

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Photo courtesy of Jessica Hill/Mad in Crafts

Choose your first color of decorative mesh and secure it to the floral wire using one of the pipe cleaners twisted to one end of the floral wire. Measure out 10 to 12 inches of mesh from that point, and pinch that spot between your fingers. Secure that pinched mesh to the next pipe cleaner down the wire. This should create a loop of mesh between the first and second groups of pipe cleaners. Continue this same process for the full length of the floral wire and trim off the end of the mesh.