Witch brooms are one of my favorite Fall decorations. They’re a little spooky and a little rustic, and they’re simple to make with things you can find on a walk or grab at the grocery store.
My goal this year has been to stop overbuying and use what I already have, and that carried right into my Fall decorating. So instead of buying new decor, I went back to a project I made a few years ago and gave it a refresh.
In this post, I’ll show you two ways to make a DIY witch broom. The first is the original foraged version, made with a branch from the woods and a bundle of birch twigs. The second is a budget-smart version made from two grocery store cinnamon brooms, which works great if you don’t have woods out your back door. I’ll also share how I add lights and display my brooms on the porch.
Make A Witch Broom for Halloween: 2 Ways
I grew up in Massachusetts, not far from Salem, so witches are woven into New England history in a way that goes deeper than Halloween decorations. Every New England kid learns about the Salem witch trials of 1692!
These days, Salem embraces that history and becomes the center of the Halloween universe every October. And the classic witch on a broomstick, which actually is still one of the most recognizable symbols of the season.
So today I’m going to show you how to make witch brooms for your Fall porch. They’re simple to make, and you don’t need any special skills. Just a branch, a bundle of twigs (or a couple of cinnamon brooms!), and a little time.
What You Will Need
Foraged Broom:
- Long Branch (5 ft is perfect, but adjust to a length that fits your space)
- Bundle of small twigs-I suggest birch
- Zip tie
- Jute Twine/Raffia/Roping
Budget-Version:
- Long Branch
- 2 Cinnamon Brooms (Trader Joe’s or Grocery Store)
- Jute Twine/Raffia/Roping
Welcome! I’m Jennifer, and I’ve always believed nature is the most beautiful art supply. For years, I’ve been preserving New England’s blooms and foliage through pressing, drying, and crafting. Let me show you how to capture a little bit of the season and bring it indoors—simply and beautifully.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure policy here.
Foraged Broom Version
Gather Your Materials
The first thing I had to do was take a walk into the woods to forage for the right materials to use to make a couple of witches’ brooms to use out on my porch to decorate for Fall.
Taking a basket and a pair of clippers with me, I went out to look for branches to use for the witch broom handle and also twigs to use for the broom head.
I am in New England, so the best twigs to use would be birch. Birch twigs have the perfect wiry look and are thin and flexible.
The Broom Handles
For the broom handle, look for a branch that’s about 5 feet long. The first time I made these, I got lucky and found a long, very dead branch lying on the ground. I snapped it in half and ended up with two perfectly sized handles. The wood was crooked, and most of the bark had already peeled off, which is exactly the look you want for a witch broom. The more gnarled, the better!
No woods behind your house? Take a walk along a trail or the edge of a field, or even look around your own yard after a windy day. Fallen branches are everywhere this time of year. Just be sure to ask before collecting on private property, and check the rules first at parks and conservation land, since many don’t allow you to take anything home.
The Step-by-Step Process
Prepare Your Surface
If you’re working inside, cover your work surface first, because bits of bark and twigs end up everywhere.
If your branch still has a lot of bark on it, peel some of it away. A bare, weathered handle gives the broom that rustic, been-around-for-ages look.
A word of warning: you’ll need way more twigs than you think. The first time I made these, I had to head back out for a second round of birch branches, so cut extra on your first trip and save yourself the walk!
Build The Broom Head
Lay your branch flat on your work surface. Grab a handful of birch twigs and arrange them around the bottom of the handle, then keep adding until it looks full enough to you.
Hold off on securing anything yet. Doing a “dry fit” first lets you see whether you need more twigs or fewer before you commit. A fuller broom looks classic and storybook, while a sparser one has a spookier, more windswept feel. The first time I made these, I made one of each so you can see the difference.
Once you like the shape, even out the ends so the bristles are all roughly the same length.
Wrap a zip tie around the twigs where they meet the handle and pull it snug. Then stand your broom up and take a look. If anything looks lopsided, you can still slide the twigs up or down a bit with the zip tie on, so adjust until you’re happy with it.
Once the shape looks right, pull the zip tie tight and use your clippers to trim any cut ends at the top that are sticking out too far.
Wrap The Broom
Now for the part that makes it look like a real witch broom! Wrap the top of the bristles with jute twine, rope, or whatever cord you have on hand.
I always have leftover craft supplies in my studio, so I used a roll of seagrass rope left over from an old project. It has the perfect rustic texture, and it meant I didn’t have to buy a thing. Take a look through your craft stash before you head to the store.
Wrap the rope around the top of the twigs until you like how it looks. There’s no right or wrong here, so go thick and chunky or keep it to a few neat rows. Just make sure the zip tie is completely covered. When you get to the end, tuck it under the last wrap or add a dab of hot glue to hold it in place.
When I remade my broom this Fall, I used a braided jute twine to wrap the neck of the broom.
Adding Lights (Optional)
Want a little extra glow? Add a string of battery-operated fairy lights. Most come with a built-in timer, so you can set it once and not think about it again.
A shorter string works best. Start at the bottom of the bristles and weave the wire in and out of the twigs, then wrap the rest of the string up around the handle. I tucked the battery box into the cornstalks next to my broom so it stayed hidden. A pumpkin, a planter, or the back of the broom works too.
Tip: If your broom will be outside, look for lights rated for outdoor use, so a rainy night doesn’t end the show early.
Budget-Smart Version: A Witch Broom From Cinnamon Brooms
No woods behind your house? No problem. This version takes about ten minutes and uses those cinnamon brooms that show up at the grocery store every fall. I picked mine up at Trader Joe’s, but most grocery stores and plenty of other stores carry them this time of year.
What You’ll Need
- 2 cinnamon brooms
- 1 long branch for the handle (look for one about 5 feet tall)
- A zip tie
- Jute twine or raffia
- Scissors or clippers
Cost: about $10 if you already have a branch and some twine on hand.
How To Make It
It’s basically the same way that you create the broom from a branch and twigs. But first you have to deconstruct the cinnamon brooms, which is just removing the jute binding the branches together.
Take Apart Broom
Take the cinnamon brooms apart.
Each broom is held together with jute twine. You can snip it off, or find the knot, untie it, and pull the jute out in one piece. I recommend saving it, because you can reuse it to wrap the finished broom. Use what you have!
Putting It Together
Arrange the bundles around your branch. Lay your branch on a flat surface. Place the two cinnamon broom bundles around the base of the branch so they surround the handle.
Secure with a zip tie. Cinch a zip tie tightly around the bundles where they meet the branch. Stand the broom up and adjust anything that looks lopsided before you move on.
Finishing Touches
Wrap it up. Wrap the jute you saved (or raffia) around the top of the bristles to hide the zip tie and give it that classic witch broom look. There’s no wrong way to do this. Wrap until it looks right to you.
Tip: Cinnamon brooms have a strong scent, so this version is happiest on the porch. If you’re sensitive to it, give the broom a day or two outside before bringing it in.
Displaying The Witches’ Brooms
Here I leaned one of the witches’ brooms (with the lights) against the side of the house. Next to it is a ceramic pumpkin (I’ve had it for over a decade), my all-time favorite $2 thrift store chair that is holding a vintage container filled with mums.
Witches’ brooms are the perfect piece of decor to add to your Fall porch. Even if you don’t decorate for Halloween, the broom adds a natural and rustic touch to your Fall displays.
I leaned the more sparse witch’s broom against a vintage barrel that I had popped a few cinnamon brooms into.
The theme of my porch this year was “garden witch”, so the brooms added a fun touch along with a witch sign, floral witch hat, and lots of flowers and mini pumpkins that I collected from my garden.
…and here is a peek of the broom lit up as it gets dark out! So cute, right??
For the 2026 Fall porch, I am using the stick broom rested against the top of the railing on the porch (I zip-tied it to the post and then disguised it with raffia)
Whichever version you make, a witch broom is one of the simplest ways to bring a little New England magic to your porch. And it’s a fun reminder that some of the best Fall decor isn’t sitting on a store shelf.
When on first made these, I’m pretty sure I spent more time wandering the woods and clipping twigs than putting the brooms together. Honestly, that’s my favorite part. Remaking it this year fit right in with my goal of using what I already have: a branch from the woods, leftover rope from my craft stash, and a couple of grocery store cinnamon brooms.
Looking for more Fall broom ideas?
If you make this project or any of my other ones, let me know because I would love to share them.
xo, Jennifer
Cozy Fall Finds
I love this!!! They look so great. Now I’ll be looking for twigs everywhere I go! Thanks for the inspo. Pinning. XO- MaryJo
Thanks MaryJo!! I love how they came out, sometimes what we picture in our heads doesn’t always translate to real life!!
Wow, this DIY Witch Broom idea is absolutely bewitching! It’s the perfect way to add some spooky charm to my Halloween porch. I can already imagine it blending in with the eerie atmosphere and making a delightful frightful statement. Can’t wait to give this a try!!!