Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about costumes! If you’re looking for fun, easy, and budget-friendly ideas that your whole family can get in on, we’ve got you covered. Here are some creative tips for putting together memorable family Halloween costumes that won’t break the bank.
1. Pick a Theme Everyone Will Love
A cohesive family theme is always a hit on Halloween, and I am a sucker for matching outfits. Choose something that excites everyone. Here are a few theme ideas that are fun, recognizable, and can be pulled together with minimal effort:
- Superheroes: Everyone can choose their favorite hero, and costumes are easy to find or make. Use matching capes or DIY masks.
- Classic Monsters: Think vampires, werewolves, mummies, and Frankenstein. These can be made with household items like old clothes, face paint, and fabric strips.
- Storybook Characters: From fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood to favorite books like Where the Wild Things Are, you can mix and match characters from your kids’ favorite books.
2. DIY or Thrift Store Finds
You don’t need to spend a fortune to create amazing costumes. DIY costumes can be easy and fun to make! Many items can be sourced from your own closet or a local thrift store. Some great local thrift stores include Helping Hands in Bothell, Small Threads with locations in Redmond, Kirkland, and Mill Creek, or ECA Thrift Shop in Kirkland. Some examples:
- Animals: A simple brown hoodie can be transformed into a bear, or a grey shirt can become a mouse with some ears and face paint. Add ears and a tail, and voilà!
- Pirates: Rummage for old scarves, striped shirts, and baggy pants. Add an eye patch and a cardboard sword, and your swashbucklers are ready for action.
3. Use Accessories for a Quick Transformation
Accessories can turn ordinary clothing into fun costumes. Hats, wigs, and props make it easy to transform a simple outfit into a creative look.
- Magical Wands and Hats: Transform into wizards, witches, or magicians with just a hat, wand, and cloak. Bonus points if you already have black clothing, which happens to be my favorite color clothing.
- Animal Ears and Tails: Pick up a set of animal ears and a tail, and pair it with any matching color clothing to instantly become a cat, dog, mouse or bunny.
4. Mix and Match for Creativity
There’s no rule that says all costumes have to perfectly match. Let each family member put their own spin on the theme. For instance:
- If you’re going with a space theme, one person can be an astronaut while another is an alien, and a third can be a planet!
- For a firefighter theme, we added a little Dalmatian in there.
- Or mix it up with the kiddos. There have been times that I couldn't get my kids to agree on a theme, so my husband and I split up and each matched one of them.
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5. Comfort is Key
Keep in mind the weather and your child’s comfort. We know there is always a possibility of rain here, so make sure costumes can be layered. You can always create costumes that fit over jackets or that work with cozy layers underneath.
6. Don't Forget Face Paint!
Face paint can be a game-changer when it comes to creating memorable looks. It’s inexpensive, and with a few colors, you can transform your kids into just about anything—from a tiger to a superhero. Plus, it's a fun activity to do together as you prepare for trick-or-treating.
7. Make It a Family Tradition
Turn the costume planning into a family event. You can designate a night to brainstorm ideas, make DIY elements together, and have fun as a family creating something unique. It’s all part of the Halloween magic!
Halloween doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. With a little creativity and teamwork, your family can have the best costumes on the block—whether you choose to go spooky, silly, or super! Looking for more Halloween ideas? Check out our Fall and Halloween Guide for more inspiration and local events.
