22 Halloween Door Decorating Contest Ideas That Win

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Halloween door contest ideas are all about making one flat door look like a story. Judges walk past dozens of doors, so the winners are the ones that read from across the hall, use texture and have a clear theme. Most of the designs below are cut paper and a few cheap extras, so you can build one in an evening.

Each idea below says what the door looks like and how to build it. Most are classroom doors, and every one works the same way on an office door or your own front door.

After the list, you will find a short section on what judges look for, plus tips for office and apartment doors. When Halloween is over, our Christmas door decorating ideas can use the same tricks.

1. A kindness cauldron with bubbling green drips

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Credit: Art Beat Box

A black paper cauldron, a lime green drip and a few orange flames on a navy door make a scene that reads from across the hall. White ghosts and bats float around it, and the lettering tells everyone what the theme is.

Cut the cauldron and flames from cardstock and glue them to the paper first. Then hang the lettering last so you can still shift it before the tape goes on.

2. Rows of paper ghosts around a jack o lantern

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Rows of simple white ghosts around one big pumpkin look planned, even though each ghost is easy. Tinsel garland around the edge frames the whole door.

Cut one ghost template, trace it as many times as you like and draw the faces with a marker. Space them in neat rows with a ruler so the pattern looks tidy.

3. Glowing monster eyes in the dark

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Credit: Art Beat Box

Dozens of bright eyes peeking out of a black door is the easiest big win on this list. It takes one color of backing paper and a pile of scraps.

Cut oval eyes from neon paper, add a black pupil and slant the lids with a snip. Run orange tinsel garland around the edge to frame it.

4. A spiderweb door with spiders hanging on

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Orange paper, white stretch webbing and a bag of black plastic spiders is a classic combination that costs very little. The lettering sits around the window so the glass becomes part of the design.

Pull the webbing thin so you can see the orange through it. Fasten the spiders with a dab of hot glue or a loop of tape, and put a few on the floor below.

5. A swarm of bats flying up a purple door

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A crowd of bats against purple paper is simple and a bit dramatic. Layer them in different sizes so the swarm looks like it is moving up the door.

Cut the wings with folded paper so both sides match. Add white eyes and tiny fangs, and finish with a small paper house at the bottom.

6. Zombie hands reaching through wooden planks

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Brown paper strips crossed like boards, green hands pushing through and two eyes in the gap tell a story without a single word. The keep out sign is the finishing touch.

Trace children’s hands on green paper for the zombie hands, which also makes this a great group project. Crumple the brown strips first to give them a wood look.

7. A mummy door wrapped in white strips

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White paper strips wrapped across the door and a pair of eyes in a black gap turn any door into a mummy for very little money. A few black spiders add a creepy extra.

Rip the strips by hand rather than cutting them, so the edges look frayed. Leave a gap near the middle and tape in the eyes behind it.

8. A paper Dracula at the door

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Cover the door in white for the face and black for the hair and cape, then add a wide mouth with white fangs. A red bow tie is the detail people remember.

Use the door itself as the face, with the handle as part of the design. Bend the fangs slightly forward with a crease so they catch the light.

9. A friendly green monster with a big eye

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A one eyed monster with a toothy grin is cute rather than scary, which suits younger kids. Dots in different colors give it a playful look.

Start with a large circle for the eye, then add teeth, dots and curly strips of paper for the hair. Curl the strips around a pencil.

10. A skeleton joke door

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Skeletons cut from white paper look striking on black, and jokes in speech bubbles give people a reason to stop and read. It works for an office as well as a classroom.

Print or hand letter the jokes on white paper and cut them into bubble shapes. Tape the skeleton arms so they reach toward the reader.

11. Fake cobwebs and paper ghosts

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A bag of stretch cobwebs and a handful of paper ghosts is about the quickest decoration here. It is a good pick when you have an evening and not a weekend.

Stretch the cobweb across the door and tack it at the corners. Pull some strands out toward the hallway for a wild look, then tape on the ghosts.

12. A ghost holding a pumpkin bucket

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A big ghost with a pumpkin bucket in his hands is just the right amount of spooky and sweet. Candy corn shapes along the edge keep the colors on theme.

Make the pumpkin bucket a pocket so you can tuck real candy inside for visitors. Cut the candy corn from yellow, orange and white paper.

13. Paint splatters and ghost artists

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Ghosts holding paintbrushes and bright splatters on a black door suit an art room or any creative workplace. The color is fun and keeps it from looking too dark.

Cut the splatters from bright paper in random shapes and layer a few for depth. Add a palette with colored dots and brushes made from craft sticks.

14. A witch with a big bow and crinkled hair

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A witch with green hair, a big pink bow and striped legs has plenty of texture, and texture wins contests. Letting her stand tall on the door makes her feel like a real person.

Make the skirt from a black trash bag or tulle and the hair from crinkled green paper. Cut the legs from striped paper and add red shoes at the bottom.

15. The smartest pumpkins in the patch

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Every child, or every coworker, gets a pumpkin with a name on it, so the door feels personal. Judges like a door that says something about the people behind it.

Write each name on a paper pumpkin and hang them on string across the top. Add two or three bigger pumpkins with leaves at the bottom.

16. A man eating plant coming out of the door

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Green leaves stretching onto the wall and a toothy plant at the center take the door beyond its frame. Going past the edges of the door is a smart move for contests.

Cut big leaves from green paper and curl the edges with a pencil. Put cardboard behind the teeth so they stand away from the surface.

17. Smell our feet, a sock garland

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Striped Halloween socks hung on a string look cheerful and cost only a few dollars. The silly message, trick or treat smell our feet, makes people smile.

Run twine across the door in two or three lines and clip the socks on with mini clothespins. Tape the lettering on top.

18. A haunted house on a yellow brick road

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A winding road leading to a haunted house is a great idea when you want to tell a story on the door. Glowing windows draw the eye straight to the house.

Cut the yellow road in a curve so it leads up the door. Use yellow cellophane behind the windows so the house looks lit.

19. A spooky tree with glowing eyes

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Credit: Firstieland

A bare tree built from torn brown paper looks wonderfully creepy, and the pairs of small eyes in the dark add a surprise. Cobwebs at the base finish it.

Tear the brown paper in long strips and glue them in layers to give the trunk depth. Dot the background with eyes cut from white paper.

20. A howling wolf and a raven under the moon

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Black silhouettes on purple look polished with very little detail. A banner at the top keeps the door cheerful.

Project a picture on the door and trace the silhouette in pencil. Cut it from black paper and add a pale circle for the moon.

21. A purple monster with a curtain of fringe

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A big eyeball, a red fringe on top and a stitched seam make a silly monster that kids love. The green dots add quirky detail.

Cut the fringe by snipping a strip of paper almost all the way across, then tape it at the top of the door. Draw the stitches with a black marker.

22. A fab-boo-lous door covered in ghosts

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Layered ghosts in neat rows on lavender paper look soft and tidy, and the pun makes it memorable. A black border gives it a clean frame.

Make a stack of ghosts in two sizes and layer them with foam tape so they pop out. Use a black border with white dots around the edge.

How to win with these Halloween door contest ideas

Most contests score on the same few things, so build for them.

• A clear theme. Pick one idea and stick to it, like a haunted house or a cauldron, so the door reads in two seconds.
• Texture and depth. Layer paper, add foam tape behind pieces and hang something three dimensional, like a skirt, a garland or a pocket.
• Going past the door. Reach onto the wall or floor, or around the frame, so it feels bigger than the door.
• Color contrast. Pale shapes on dark paper, such as white ghosts on black, always look sharp.
• Neat edges and straight lettering. Use a ruler or a pencil line, because crooked words hurt an otherwise good door.
• A fun detail. A pun, a pocket of candy or a joke gives people a reason to stop.

Tips for office and apartment doors

Check the rules first. Many buildings do not allow tape on painted doors, and fire codes usually say you cannot cover the window, the handle or the door edges.

Use painter’s tape or removable putty, leave the handle free and keep paper away from any heat source. Flameless lights are fine, but real candles never belong on a door.

If your door cannot hold much weight, build the design on a large sheet of butcher paper at home and tape the whole panel up in one piece. That also makes taking it down quick. Keep the theme friendly, since your coworkers will be the judges.

Want a pumpkin to match your door? Try our pumpkin painting ideas or pumpkin carving ideas.

FAQ

Quick answers about supplies, timing and safety.

What supplies do I need for a Halloween door?

Roll paper or butcher paper for the base, colored cardstock, scissors, a pencil, markers, painter’s tape and hot glue or double sided tape. A small bag of cobwebs and plastic spiders adds texture for a few dollars.

How long does it take to decorate a door?

A simple door with cobwebs and paper ghosts takes an evening. A layered scene with lettering and 3D pieces takes a weekend, so cut your shapes ahead of time and assemble on the day.

How do I make my door stand out from the others?

Pick a theme that is a little different, add something three dimensional and carry the design onto the wall or floor. Judges remember the door with a story and texture.

Are there safe options for younger kids?

Paper and craft supplies are safe for most ages. Use blunt scissors, keep hot glue for adults and skip anything with small parts for toddlers.