DIY Ghost Garland: Get a Pottery Barn Look for Less

Have you ever spotted a seasonal decoration you loved, then decided you could make your own version for much less? That’s exactly what happened when I saw an adorable Halloween decoration on the Pottery Barn website and decided to make a DIY ghost garland inspired by it.

Instead of copying it exactly, I challenged myself to recreate the original’s feel with supplies I already had.

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I pulled out a package of Styrofoam balls I had bought for another project but never used, plus leftover cheesecloth from the Pottery Barn-inspired DIY standing ghosts I made last Halloween.

Starting with those supplies, I made seven little ghosts and attached them to a handmade garland wrapped with twinkling fairy lights.

A DIY ghost garland decoration made from cheesecloth, hangs in front of a white brick and ornate mantel.

The ghosts on the Pottery Barn garland light up individually, but in my version, the lights glow along the garland instead.

I love how a few leftover craft supplies came together to create a fun Halloween decoration with that high-end look for less.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Gather Your Supplies

Craft supplies on a table: cheesecloth, a bag of foam balls, a bottle of Mod Podge glue, orange scissors, a black foam brush, and a ruler. White drawers are in the background.

Here are the supplies I used to make my ghost garland:

Small Styrofoam balls- 1.3 inch
Cheesecloth
Mod Podge
Foam brush
Candle holder or similar item to hold the Styrofoam ball
Small scissors
Black and white brads
Black macramé cord
Black, white, and gray twisted yarn
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Silicone finger protectors
Battery-powered fairy lights

Tip: Before buying supplies, check your craft stash! I used Styrofoam balls I had purchased for another project, leftover cheesecloth from a previous Halloween DIY, macramé cord and yarn from older projects, and leftover fairy lights. Repurposing supplies I already had made this Pottery Barn-inspired project even more budget-friendly.

How to Make the Cheesecloth Ghosts

We’ll start by making adorable ghosts that will hang from the garland.

I thought Pottery Barn’s ghosts were a bit short, so I made mine longer and layered the cheesecloth to give them a wispy, ghostly shape.

Let me show you how I made them!

Measure and Cut the Cheesecloth

Orange scissors rest on white gauze with a metal ruler above, all placed on a white surface. The items suggest preparation for cutting the gauze to a specific size.

Open the cheesecloth package, but leave the fabric folded.

Measure and cut a 9-inch section from the folded cheesecloth.

Next, unfold the piece and cut it into four equal sections.

A pair of orange scissors and a metal ruler are placed on a piece of white gauze fabric lying on a light gray surface.

Mine measured approximately 8 1/2 inches long, giving me four squares of cheesecloth.

Each ghost requires eight squares, so repeat the process until you have enough pieces for the number of ghosts you want to make.

Since I made seven ghosts for my garland, I needed 56 cheesecloth squares altogether.

Don’t worry if your squares aren’t perfectly even!

Cover the Styrofoam Balls With Cheesecloth

A container of Mod Podge, a foam brush, a metal stand with a styrofoam ball, and a piece of white gauze cloth are placed on a light gray table with storage cubbies in the background.

Place a small Styrofoam ball on a candle holder or another sturdy object to hold it in place while you work.

Use a foam brush to apply Mod Podge to the top half of the Styrofoam ball.

Then, place two squares of cheesecloth over the ball and gently dab Mod Podge over the fabric to secure it.

Continue adding the cheesecloth two squares at a time until you have layered all eight pieces over the ball.

As you add each layer, turn the squares in different directions rather than lining up the edges.

This creates an uneven, wispy look around the bottom and gives each ghost a little more character.

White gauze draped over an object, resembling a ghost, with a paintbrush applying gray paint to the top; background shows a white table and shelves.

Tip: Dab the Mod Podge onto the cheesecloth with your foam brush instead of brushing it back and forth. Cheesecloth shifts and stretches easily, and I found that brushing disturbed the layers.

Once all eight layers are in place, set the ghost aside and allow the Mod Podge to dry completely.

Repeat the process to make the remaining ghosts.

Let the Ghosts Dry and Add the Eyes

Six white gauze masks lie on a table next to a bottle of Mod Podge glue. The masks appear to be handmade and are textured with frayed edges.

Once the Mod Podge is completely dry, it’s time to give your little ghosts some personality!

The Mod Podge made the cheesecloth layers surprisingly firm, so I couldn’t simply push the black brads through the fabric without bending them.

Instead, I used the pointed tip of a small pair of scissors and carefully pushed it through the cheesecloth and into the Styrofoam ball.

This created an opening that was just the right size for the brad.

A DIY ghost made from white gauze with black button eyes sits on a table beside scissors, black fasteners, and more gauze. White cabinets and drawers are seen in the background.

Make two small openings for the eyes, then push a black brad into each one.

Repeat these steps for all of your ghosts.

I made seven for my garland, but you can make more or fewer depending on the length of your garland and where you plan to display it.

How to Make the DIY Ghost Garland

Now that all the ghosts are finished, it’s time to make the garland they’ll hang from.

I combined a sturdy macramé cord with decorative yarn, then added fairy lights for a fun glow similar to my Pottery Barn inspiration.

Measure and Prepare the Garland

A white mantel with brown glass bottles, wicker vases, and dried branches. A large mirror reflects the room. Two black bowls sit at each end. The mantel is detailed and set against a white paneled wall.

Start by deciding where you want to display your DIY ghost garland.

Since I planned to hang mine across our mantel, I stretched a piece of black macramé cord across it to find the best length.

Once I had the length figured out, I made a loop at each end and secured it with several knots.

A black and white yarn ball, a twisted cord, a black hot glue gun, and two green silicone finger protectors are on a white surface.

These loops make it easy to hang the garland.

My finished cord measured approximately 57 inches from end to end, but you can make yours longer or shorter to fit your space.

Add the Decorative Yarn

I had some yarn left over from a DIY sweater wreath I made several years ago.

I loved the texture and colors for Halloween, but I didn’t think the yarn by itself would be strong enough to support seven ghosts.

Instead of giving up on the yarn, I paired it with sturdier black macramé cord.

Working a little at a time, carefully hot-glue the yarn directly to the macramé cord until you reach the opposite end.

This gives you the yarn’s decorative look and texture with the cord’s extra strength underneath.

A hand wearing a green finger protector presses a black and white twisted rope onto a surface next to a hot glue gun.

Tip: Wear silicone finger protectors while attaching the yarn. They’ll protect your fingertips as you press the yarn into the hot glue.

Add the Fairy Lights

A white mantel decorated with wicker and glass vases, brown bottles, black bowls, and a mirror reflecting a branch arrangement with orange berries. String lights are draped across the mantel.

Once the yarn was attached, I hung the garland on the mantel before adding the lights.

This made it much easier to see how the fairy lights would look and adjust them as I worked.

Starting at one end, wrap a strand of battery-powered fairy lights around the garland, spacing the lights as evenly as possible from end to end.

The Pottery Barn garland that inspired this project has lights inside the individual ghosts.

Instead of trying to recreate that feature, I wrapped fairy lights around my garland to give it a similar glow using the supplies I had on hand.

Since the lights are battery-operated, there’s no cord hanging down the side of the mantel.

I tucked the battery pack behind a vase on the mantel to keep it out of sight.

Attach the Ghosts to the Garland

Now for the fun part—adding the ghosts!

I didn’t measure the distance between my ghosts.

Instead, I spaced all seven along the garland by eye, adjusting them until everything looked balanced.

A hand holds scissors above a small ghost decoration made from white gauze with two black eyes, set on a table in a craft room.

To attach a ghost, use the pointed tip of one blade of your small scissors to carefully make a tiny opening through the cheesecloth and into the top of the Styrofoam ball, just as you did when adding the eyes.

A striped fuzzy garland is attached to a white-painted brick wall using a clear adhesive hook beneath an ornate, white decorative molding.

Open a white brad and place it over the garland so the cord rests between the two prongs.

A close-up of a homemade ghost decoration with black button eyes, covered in white gauze, and wearing a striped fuzzy headband.

Squeeze the prongs back together, then carefully push them into the opening on top of the ghost.

Repeat until you’ve attached all the ghosts to the garland.

The white brads blend in with the cheesecloth, so they’re barely noticeable once the ghosts are hanging in place.

Display Your DIY Ghost Garland

Once I attached all seven ghosts, I stepped back to see how the finished garland looked across the mantel.

Decorative mantel with brown glass and wicker vases, a black bowl, autumn branches, and a large mirror. A DIY ghost garland with small lights hangs across the white ornate fireplace for a festive touch.

I couldn’t be happier with how the garland turned out, but it didn’t look so great with the items on my mantel!

So, I did this instead!!

A Halloween-themed mantel with ghost and pumpkin decorations, black bats on the wall, brown leaves, and a DIY white ghost garland hanging below a mirror.

How fun is that?

If you’d like to see how the whole display came together, check out our Halloween mantel decor ideas here.

I’m loving how all the wispy cheesecloth ghosts look on our Halloween mantel.

White gauze ghosts and brown leaves decorate a white mantel. A jack-o-lantern, black witch hats, pinecones, and a DIY ghost garland hangs below, creating a festive Halloween scene.

During the day, you can really appreciate the texture of the handmade ghosts.

But I think they look even better after dark!

A fireplace mantel decorated with ghost figures, leaves, and a DIY ghost garland with lights, creating a spooky Halloween atmosphere. A small candle-lit ghost glows among the decorations.

Once you turn on the fairy lights, the entire garland gets an eerie glow.

The lighting may differ from the Pottery Barn version that inspired me, but it gives me the same whimsical look I love—and I’m so proud because I made it with supplies I already had on hand.

Get the Pottery Barn Look for Less This Halloween

One of my favorite things about DIY projects is finding inspiration in something I love and figuring out how to recreate the look in a way that works for my home and budget.

This DIY ghost garland may not be an exact copy of the Pottery Barn version, but that’s part of the fun!

By using supplies I already had and adapting the lighting, I created my own version without spending much.

I hope this project inspires you to look through your craft stash and see what you can use to create a ghost garland of your own.

And if you make one, have fun putting your own spin on it—that’s what makes handmade Halloween decor so special!

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Blessings, Donna and Rich

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