DIY Pottery Barn Ghost Wreath Tutorial Saves You $60

Difficulty: Novice
Time: 90 minutes
Cost: ~$30

You've probably seen it all over your feed — that adorable Pottery Barn ghost wreath everyone's posting. And honestly, who can blame them? Those little cheesecloth ghosts with their soft, candlelike glow are perfect for Halloween. But here's the part that makes your wallet tremble: the original Pottery Barn version costs $90. Ninety dollars! For a wreath!

Don't worry though, I've got you. You can make your own charming version for about a third of that using clear ornaments, cheesecloth, and battery lights. So you'll save about $60, and you get the joy of making something with your hands. Add personal touches, tweak the spacing, give a few ghosts a little attitude. Your neighbors will ask how you did it, promise.

Steps (in order)

1. Prep ornaments: Choose clear plastic bulbs (the clear look is preferred because the lights inside show nicely). Avoid styrofoam bulbs — they didn't work well.

2. Drill holes in each bulb: Use a drill and small bit to make two holes about 1 inch apart near the bulb opening. (If holes are too close, the zip tie won't slide easily.)

3. Thread zip ties: Push a clear plastic zip tie through the two holes in each bulb so the bulb can be attached to the wreath. Use a pencil tip to help feed the tie if needed.

4. Mount bulbs on wreath: Push the zip ties through grapevine branches (or through the back of the wreath), then tighten to secure. You can leave bulbs a little loose if you want them to sway; tighten fully if you want them fixed.

5. Insert lights: Bend and tuck the thin-wire string lights into each clear bulb, with bulb openings facing down (this helps hide openings and battery pack wiring). Secure the light wires inside bulbs with a tiny piece of scotch tape if needed.

6. Attach battery pack: zip-tie the battery pack to the back of the wreath so it's accessible but hidden from the front.

7. Add cheesecloth "ghost" shrouds: Apply a thin bead of hot glue across the top/front of each bulb and drape folded cheesecloth over it to form the ghost body. Embrace imperfection — uneven draping looks ghostly and charming. (Watch fingers; hot glue is hot — lower-temp gun recommended.)

8. Glue on faces: Cut eyes and mouths from black felt and glue onto the cheesecloth/front of bulbs. A little hot glue behind the felt also helps secure the cheesecloth to the bulb.

   Tip: Use a hole punch for perfectly round, uniform eyes that look professionally made.

9. Test the lighting with the remote control and set timer functions if available. Smart crafters set timers so they don't have to turn them on and off every night. Your porch gets the glow, you keep your routine.

10. Final touches: Add optional tiny hats or other props; trim cheesecloth layers as desired; tidy any glue strings.

Cleanup & Disposal

• Store leftover cheesecloth in a sealed container for future Halloween projects

• Dispose of ornament caps in regular recycling if they're plastic

• Clean your hot glue gun while it's still warm for easier maintenance

• Save battery pack instructions for timer programming, you'll want to reference them later

Troubleshooting

Problem: Ghosts look too uniform and boring → Fix: Vary cheesecloth lengths and add more fraying to the edges for character
Problem: Lights don't stay in place inside ornaments → Fix: Use more floral pins or small dabs of hot glue to secure the strand
Problem: Battery pack is visible from the front → Fix: Reposition with longer zip ties or add a small cheesecloth cover over it

Variations & Upgrades

• Budget version: Use foam balls instead of ornaments, the foam will cost about half of the ornaments, though you'll lose the stunning internal lighting effect

• Mini version: Scale down with a smaller wreath and ornaments for craft parties or multiple door displays

• Personality boost: Add tiny witch hats or colored ribbon accents to some ghosts for extra charm

• Renter-friendly: Use removable Command hooks for hanging instead of nails to keep your security deposit safe

Why it works so well

The magic comes from internal lighting paired with flowing cheesecloth, it creates depth and movement that static decorations can't match. The clear ornaments let light blur and soften through the fabric, so the ghosts feel alive, like they just drifted in on a cool October evening. Add the cost savings and the satisfaction of crafting something this good yourself, and it's a no-brainer for anyone chasing that Pottery Barn look without the premium price tag.