Cheap, easy haunted house props - Scary sign ideas

Scary sign props point you in the right direction. They can lead you into trouble, or out of it. Navigating through a haunted house would be impossible without the scary signs. Some are helpful, some are frightening and others are just for looks. Here are some ideas for haunted house signs that may raise a hair or two on the back of your neck.

Indoor scary sign construction basics

Constructing conventional signs may not work when building props indoors. You'll have to make your sign board, attach a post and place the post in a bucket surrounded by small stones to hold it upright. Use a creepy cauldron as the bucket for effect. Drape a few cheap fake spiderwebs over the sign. Don't forget to add a spider!

Directional signs

Directional signs are important if your haunted house has multiple rooms. Signs with arrows and spooky directions like "turn left at the puddle of blood" or "take a quick right past the haunted cemetery" show your visitors where to go in scary style. You can also place signs over the doors of specific rooms to peak anticipation. Try something like, “Donate blood here, see the Count.”

Silly/kid-friendly signs

Break up the scary signs with some silly signs for stress relief or use exclusively in haunted houses frequented by younger kids. Feature a "Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch Through this Door" or "Bob for Apples Here" sign to lighten the mood. Some silly signs might include, "Broom Parking" and "All Wizards, Check Wands Here".

Unconventional signs

Don't forget to include a few unconventional signs in your Halloween haunted house. You could have live characters pointing the way, beckoning visitors to follow them or warning guests of upcoming attractions. Rather than directional signs as props, try leaving ghostly, bloody or monster footprints for visitors to follow. Use different types of scary signs to make your haunted house more interesting.

Sign enhancers

Try perching a rat on a foreboding sign. Bloody hand prints or drips of blood increase the scare factor. Using glow in the dark paint is another option for enhancing Halloween signs. Placing an electric candle next to a sign casts an eerie shadow. Putting the finishing touches on scary signs makes your Halloween haunted house special.