Creating A Ghostly Graveyard For Halloween

This is my second year participating in The Home Depot’s Halloween Style Challenge. I was beyond excited when I was asked to participate again this year! Last year, I did a Pirate Themed Halloween. So, I couldn’t wait to hear what my theme would be this year.

Design Ideas

First up, I always try to design my space and get all of my ideas going. This year my theme for the Halloween Style Challenge was “cemetery,” so I started brainstorming right away. I participated in this year’s virtual Halloween showcase to see The Home Depot’s decor options. Once I saw all of the products that were coming out, my ideas really started to fall in order. My front yard has a white picket fence that I knew would be perfect for a cemetery space. So, I started with that and ran with it.

Let’s Do Some Shopping

This year shopping looked so different. Instead of in-store shopping, I did most of my ordering and selecting online. A few items really stood out to me this year. My kids wanted to help and selected all of their favorite items to make our space so spooky and fun.

We ended up getting so many amazing things. The big winner this year was the giant skeleton. The box says that it’s 12 ft, but seriously there is no way to prepare yourself for how big this guy is! So many cars in my neighborhood stop to see when they drive by. We also got a mausoleum, a haunted hearse, baby doll heads, a skeleton pony, and graveyard tombstones.

DIY Ghosts

I always love adding some DIYs to my Halloween decor. I wanted to make something different this year so I made chicken wire ghosts. The only supplies I needed to make these were chicken wire, wire clippers, glow in the dark spray paint, firm grip gloves and a mannequin.

I started with the 2-foot chicken wire and wrapped it around the mannequin. I used the wire that wrapped it all together to tie the back pieces together and I made a corset for the top piece.

Then I cut the 4-foot chicken wire into strips. I used three strips per ghost. I folded the wire like an accordion, then I twisted the top cut pieces around the bottom part of the skirt.

I made three of the ghosts the exact way I would make a dress, but with wire. Who would have thought? Once they were all assembled I spray painted them with glow in the dark spray paint in hopes they would be seen in the dark as floating ghosts.

Styling My Cemetery

My favorite part is always putting everything together. It is where the real magic happens! Once I had all of my big items into place, I brought in the extra details. I added pallets to all the tombstones and stuck bones and skeletons inside so it looked like they were coming out of them. On the fence, I added little baby doll heads to each pike, which ended up being the perfect addition to the fence. I hung all of my ghosts in the trees with wire and wooden dowels across several branches. I used spider webbing to add an extra element of spookiness. Everything came together so well!

While styling the space, I had the best idea to add trick-or-treat bags to the other side of the fence. This year things are obviously so different, but this way no one has to come in contact with anyone. The kids can check out the yard, grab their bag and go. Trick-or-treat from 6 ft, I think it’s going to work so perfectly!

Final Reveal

So here it is, my final Cemetery Themed Halloween Style Challenge. I had the best time making this space. I always win brownie points with my kids as well for going all out for Halloween. We had such a fun time!

Special thanks to The Home Depot for inviting me to participate in the 2020 Halloween Style Challenge. I had an incredible time styling, DIY-ing and making my kids’ dream Halloween yard. It was a lot of hard work, but the end result was absolutely worth it!  I am beyond grateful for this incredible opportunity. To see more on this project head over to my blog at Eye in the Detail.  You can also follow along with all my projects by following me on Instagram.