Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

DIY

Our Take on The Thrifted Ghost Painting Trend

October 13, 2023

I've been dying to get my hands on this thrifted ghost painting trend! You may have seen this trend sweep your TikTok or Instagram Reels, where you paint ghosts onto a thrifted art piece, transforming it into a spooky Halloween decoration. Love this TikTok example, and this one, oh, and this one! Rather than head to the thrift store, I ventured into my attic to find some unused art I tend to have lying around. Luckily, I found this perfect scenic landscape painting that didn't hold sentimental or monetary value, perfect for painting a few ghosts on. Here's how it went.

Step 1: Gather Materials

You don't need much for this little art project, but you will need some thrifted art or something you have lying around, plus acrylic paints and brushes.

Primrose Mirror | Remodelista Book | Console Table (similar) | 3-Wick Candle (similar) | Styled Book

Step 2: Add Some Fall Colors

To make your painting more fall-appropriate, add some oranges and yellows to your trees. Remember, a little paint goes a long way! You can mix some water with your paints to thin them out and make your paints more translucent.

Step 3: Paint Your Ghosts

The next step is pretty self-explanatory! But before you jump in, you might want to plan out where you want your ghosts to go roughly. We put a few ghosts holding hands in the field, a couple in the barn, and one hanging out by the fence. Also, note the scale. You certainly don't want your ghosts to be taller than trees or buildings, so keep that in mind.

Step 3: Add The Finishing Touches

Lastly, you can add a few more details so that your painting fits the mood of the season. We added a dreary cloud over the bright blue sky and a little gravesite, but you can really get after it with some bats, spiderwebs, pumpkins, and more! There's no wrong way to do this, and you can make it your own.

And that's it! If you want to make a night of it, you could invite all your friends over, have them bring their own painting, but provide paints and brushes, and most importantly, snacks.

Of course, if you don't want to go through the hassle of thrifting for art and painting over it, you could print some already-made digital ghost art! I've linked a bunch of cute options below, along with some gorgeous gold frames. Happy Ghostin'!

Shop Gold Frames

  1. Cute Ghost in Vintage Landscape $2
  2. Ghost Haunted Scene $3
  3. Gothic Halloween Ghost Print $3
  4. Spooky Ghost Landscape $3
  5. Cute Ghosts In A Fall Meadow w/ Haunted House $4
  6. Ghosts in a Forest $5
  7. Cottagecore Ghosts in a Field $5
  8. Ghosts by the Sea $2
  9. Lounging Ghost $4
  10. Ghosts & Jack-o-Lanterns $8
  11. Ghost Under the Moonlight $17
  12. Ghost Holding A Candle in the Dark $19
filed under: 
— Hide Comments
+ ShowComments
What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

What We're

Loving

Right Now

What We're

Loving

Right Now

Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop
Shop All

Love Stories

Love Where You Live

In an industry that often feels designed to make you discontent, we want this to be place you come for inspiration, ideas, and encouragement to make the space you're already in feel like home.
Read All Posts
let's break this thing up

BROWSE BY CATEGORY

01

Portfolio

Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here.
read more
02

Projects

We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen.
read more
03

Design

Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.
read more
hello world!

looking for inspiration?

Blue bonus room with paneled ceiling and Frame TV
Design

My Formula for When to Paint the Ceilings a Color and When Not To

Here's something you don't need me to tell you, but I'm telling you anyway: You get to choose whether you want to paint your ceiling or not! But, still, almost daily, I get asked "Why don't you paint that ceiling the color of the walls?" If you've never tried painting a ceiling and you're considering […]
A bowl of Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Stir-Fry with jasmine rice
Chris Cooks

Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Stir Fry

I'm back at it today with the Asian-inspired flavors. I always seem to lean that way in my recipes, but why would I use less flavor when I can fill my kitchen with the scent of ginger, garlic, and chilies?! Thai Basil Beef is one of my all-time favorite things to order for takeout. What […]
Sales

The Best Presidents' Day Sales: Home, Tech, Apparel & More

We're halfway through February, and the first big sale weekend of the year is here! You know we love curating the best Presidents' Day sales for you in one spot. (It makes my life easier too when I want to check my favorite retailers!) It's a big deal weekend for major appliances, tech devices, and […]
Design

7 Things You Probably Shouldn't Have in Your House—If You're a Perfectionist

While I don't consider myself a perfectionist, I do like things neat—most of the time. It's important to me that my home is beautiful and lived in. I want it filled with laughter, joy, and life. If that means a few nicks and spills? That's fine with me. Even so, over the years of home […]
Learn With Us
Want to do what we do? Get the tools, mentorship, and training to be a Good Influencer professionally.
Learn More
Looking for Something?

SEARCH THE BLOG

We've been doing this since 2009 and we've posted a whopping 24145+ blog posts and counting. You might need a little help searching, huh?

Can We Send You Our Love Letter?

Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!

hello world!
Follow Along on Instagram
Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations
© 2025 Chris Loves Julia, LLC
PRIVACY POLICYTERMS & CONDITIONSAFFILIATE DISCLAIMERSITE CREDITCOMMUNITY GUIDELINES