Halloween Costumes and Decor – from Super Simple to Seriously Spooktacular

Looking for a super simple, budget friendly Halloween costume for your kiddo? Or some easy last minute Halloween decor? Look no further! Here are some of the easiest (and spookiest) costumes and props you can make with supplies you likely have lying around your house. Let’s get started!

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If you’ve been here for a while, you may remember my New Year’s Post where I talked about two things that apply here: (1) Decorating for more holidays and (2) Setting and sticking to a budget. These simple Halloween ideas will help you with both! Being frugal doesn’t have to be boring. Wake up your creative side and get to crafting!

Simple DIY Halloween Costumes

From superheroes to monsters to ghosts, I’ve got you covered. Get ready to let your little one show off their creative side this Halloween!

Simple Ghost

This is a great classic costume but still very versatile. The general idea: Cut a large piece of white cloth and put it over your head. Don’t forget to cut eye holes! Simple, right? Here are some other ways to change it up:

• For young kids or to avoid tripping hazard – Use a plain white sweatshirt and some black paint to make a ghost
• For some extra warmth – Create a ghost poncho (with hood!) out of a large piece of flannel. Think of creating one of those tie blankets, but in ghost form.
• For the princess that wants a little extra – Add an easy tutu like this one by Small Stuff Counts.

• For moms and dads who want to join in – Pair a white sweatsuit which a ghost-ish cape for an extra spooky look.

Scary Monster

Gather some supplies and let your creativity shine! Everyone can have their own monster look with these monster masks.

Spooktacular Superhero

Superheroes are very popular in our house. If you don’t have some dress up capes and masks on hand (pretty sure we’ve collected an entire basketful by now…), make your own cape and mask! For the cape, use a piece of fabric or an old sheet and safety pins to attach it around the neck. For the mask, you can use a paper plate or construction paper and attach it with tape or elastic. You can also decorate the cape and mask with markers or glitter. Your child will be ready to save the day in no time!

The best part? They can be whatever kind of hero they want!

Classic Witch

Create a witch costume by dressing your child in black clothes and adding a witch hat, broom, or other props. For the hat, you can use a cone-shaped piece of cardboard and attach it with tape or elastic. You can also decorate with markers or glitter. Your child will be ready to cast spells in no time!

Pro Tip: If you need something shiny (like a wand), some tin foil will work wonders and it’s very quick to do!

Character Costumes

Dress your child as a character from their favorite book or movie by using props and accessories to create a unique look. From Disney to Harry Potter, these are the best kids costumes inspired by books:

1. Clifford the Big Red Dog: Red sweatshirt, white tennis shoes, and red construction paper or a bandana to create the collar.
2. The Cat in the Hat: A red and white striped hat, a red bow tie, and white gloves. We did this one year and it’s still one of my favorites!

3. Dr. Seuss characters: Green clothes and a brown wig for the Grinch, a pink dress and white apron for Cindy Lou Who, or red and white clothes with a black hat for the Lorax.
4. Harry Potter: For boys, a robe and cape in black or dark green, a lightening bolt scar on their forehead, and brown hair pulled back in a messy bun. For girls, use the same basic idea but choose lighter colors like light blue for robes and capes, and slick back their hair with gel for that signature Harry Potter look.
5. Peter Pan: A green shirt and pants, brown shoe covers, and a green beanie cap. Bonus points if you dress your kids in pajamas like Wendy, Michael, and John. That means they’re already dressed for bed after trick or treating!

Halloween Makeup from the Pantry

Don’t worry about running out to get that Halloween makeup pallet that will be used one and then tossed or forgotten about until next year. You probably have enough supplies in your pantry to create what you need. Here are some pantry items you can use to create the perfect Halloween look:

• Red food coloring for creating a bloody look
• Cocoa powder for making dark circles around the eyes
• Mix blue and purple paint together to create bruises
• Powdered sugar for creating a white face makeup
• Cornstarch for making a pale complexion

Halloween Props

Now that you’ve got your costume and spooky makeup in place, it’s time to get your space more festive. These ideas will have your house ready in no time flat.

1. Use a shower curtain as a ghostly sheet. Hang it from a tree or porch railing to create a spooky effect.
2. Cut strips of black fabric and tie them around your door handle to create a haunted house effect
3. Fill a tall glass with water and freeze overnight. Then, place a string of white lights in the glass to create a spooky ice lantern. (NOTE: Make sure your lights are moisture rated and safe to use!)

Need some more ideas – check out what we’ve pulled together on Pinterest!