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‘Beetlejuice’ Halloween Costumes and Decorations: Dress Like Lydia or Barbara With These DIY TikTok Ideas

Learn how to create a Shrunken Head Bob costume, Beetlejuice suit, sandworm decorations and more!

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Tim Burton’s iconic film Beetlejuice may have come out in 1988, but that hasn’t stopped fans from continuing to incorporate it into their Halloween celebrations over the last 36 years. The release of the new movie Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice also means the iconic characters and story elements are even more popular than ever. Looking to pay homage to the movie? Thankfully, you don’t have to spend a lot to dress up your home or yourself during the spooky season. Below, you’ll find DIY Beetlejuice Halloween costumes and decorations from TikTok that you can create for impressive results! 

‘Beetlejuice’ Halloween Costumes 

Barbara Maitland 

One of the movie’s most iconic – and visually shocking – scenes involves ghost Barbara Maitland, played by Geena Davis. Alongside husband Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin), she attempts to haunt the new, living residents of their home to scare them off. In one incident, the pair distort their appearances to try and shock them. 

For Barbara, this means a stretched-out face with eyeballs visible in the back of her throat. In the video below, TikTok user @t00thluvvr.cos showed how she brought this to life with her own DIY costume. A baseball cap, wire, aluminum foil and paper mâché created the structure. With a paint job and hair extensions, the horrifying mask was finished! 

@t00thluvvr.cos

💚🖤 Pause to read!#beetlejuice #beetlejuicetiktok #barabramaitland #propmaker #maskmaking #beetlejuicecostume #CapCut Font from:fontbolt.com

♬ Main Titles – From “Beetlejuice” Soundtrack – Danny Elfman

  

Lydia Deetz 

A Lydia Deetz costume
Noam Galai / Contributor/Getty

Lydia Deetz (played by Winona Ryder) has a rather dark wardrobe throughout most of the movie. Despite this, many movie fans love to recreate the bright red wedding dress she dons for her unwilling nuptials to Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton). 

TikTok user @jordaneaerley9 highlighted how she sewed her own dress using fabric scraps and upcycled garments to create her own Beetlejuice costume. Watch below: 

@jordanearley9

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice 🕷 The process of sewing my Lydia Deetz costume for Halloween out of upcycled garments and @Mood Fabrics #diyhalloween #beetlejuice #sewing

♬ Beetlejuice – Main Title – The Hit Crew

  

Looking for an easier costume inspired by the horror comedy? You can put one together and channel your inner Lydia in no time. TikTok user @monicaeddyart showed how a black sunhat, black dress, black lace shirt and a camera can bring the look together. 

@monicaeddyart

I love Beetlejuice, and I cannot wait for Halloween! Here is an easy costume idea: black sunhat, black dress, black lace shirt, makeup and camera = LYDIA DEETZ! #beetlejuice #lydiadeetzcosplay #80smovies #halloweencostume #diycostumes #winonaryder

♬ I didnt make this sound I just used it – Ella (Pedro’s Version) 🌙

Shrunken Head Bob 

 "Shrunken Head Guy" and Catherine O'Hara backstage at "Beetlejuice" on Broadway in 2019
Bruce Glikas / Contributor/Getty

In the waiting room of the afterlife, Beetlejuice finds himself alongside Shrunken Head Bob. Fans of the movie will immediately recognize this character, and it’s sure to be a hit at any Halloween get-together. 

Creating the costume at home can be done; it just takes a little creativity and patience! In the Tik Tok video below, @aliciawhohall used a paper mâché skull as the base of the head, then enlisted the help of air-dry clay and doll hair. Nude fabric, a cardboard box, a shirt and pants rounded out the costume. 

See how it all comes together in the video below:  

@aliciawhohall

In girl world… I’ve always wanted to be the shrunken head man from Beetlejuice. 😂🥹 #halloween #fyp

♬ Beetlejuice: Main Theme – M.S.

 

Beetlejuice 

Beetlejuice’s eye-catching black and white striped suit has continued to be a popular costume for decades. Though store-bought versions for both men and women exist at retailers like Spirit Halloween, you don’t have to pay the hefty price tag for them! All you need is an old suit jacket and pants (either your own or from a thrift store). 

TikTok user @shelbysessler revealed how you can use simple painters’ tape on the garment and some white spray paint to recreate the look. 

@shelbysessler

Quick and easy idea for a Beetlejuice Cosplay! Thanks Steb for being the actual best #Beetlejuice #thewholebeingdeadthing #beetlejuicebway #cosplaydiy

♬ The Whole “Being Dead” Thing – Alex Brightman & Beetlejuice Original Broadway Cast Recording Ensemble

Adam Maitland

Beetlejuice costumes at 2019 New York Comic Con
Craig Barritt / Stringer/Getty

The perfect pairing to Barbara’s horrifying “mask” is that of Adam, who stretches his own face to a beak-like appearance in the film. Like the aforementioned DIY costume, one TikTok user (@clementine_art) made her own version beginning with a hat as the base. 

Cardboard tubes, aluminum foil and plenty of tape are the supplies she used to build the structure. In the second video, she finished the impressive mask with paper mâché, paint and other details. 

@clementine_art

Beetlejuice Adam Mask DIY Part 1 #fyp #fypシ #maskmaker #cosplay #diy #art #wip #artchallenge #artist #halloween #beetlejuice #foryou #foryoupage #fy

♬ Beetlejuice – Main Theme – Best Movie Soundtracks

‘Beetlejuice’ Halloween Decorations 

If you aren’t planning to dress up for Halloween but still want to add a touch of Beetlejuice to your home, consider making one of these clever DIY decorations. 

‘Beetlejuice’ centerpiece 

In 2022, Target’s Halloween collection featured several items that were very reminiscent of the movie’s aesthetic. TikTok user @chontellemakes put them together to create her own Beetlejuice-inspired centerpiece. (Click through for more Halloween centerpiece ideas). 

Though the decorations may not be sold this year, it’s still easy to create a similar display. You can paint a faux pumpkin black and white and do the same with fake snakes. Add those onto a black tray, and top with black candles and purple and black faux foliage. 

@chontellemakes

Replying to @alma._.73 DIY Beetlejuice Halloween centerpiece using Target finds! #halloween #targetfinds #diy #diyhalloween #diyfall #craftok #crafts

♬ Day-O The Banana Boat Song (From “Beetlejuice”) – Geek Music

Sandworm 

Sandworm in Beetlejuice on Broadway
Bruce Glikas / Contributor/Getty

For an impressive outdoor display, TikTok user @ali_bongo24 wanted to create her very own sandworm. According to comments on the video, she used industrial piping and added duct tape to create the stripes. 

Then she placed the piping pieces at various spots outside of her house to make it appear as though the sandworm was slithering its way through walls. Spooky! 

@ali_bongo24

#beetlejuice #halloween #decorations #halloween2023 #halloweendiy

♬ Say My Name – Alex Brightman & Sophia Anne Caruso & Kerry Butler & Rob McClure

‘Beetlejuice’ plant

On a smaller scale, a sandworm can also be turned into an eye-catching indoor decoration. In one craft, @totsandtouchdowns on TikTok formed tentacle shapes with modeling clay, then painted them with blank paint. 

Once dry, the pieces were added to a ceramic pot she had painted black. Colorful faux moss (in purple, green and black) rounded out the craft. 

@totsandtouchdowns

Beetlejuice. Halloween craft. #diy #craftymoms #beetlejuice #halloweendecorations #halloweendiy

♬ Day-O The Banana Boat Song (From “Beetlejuice”) – Geek Music

 

Beetlejuice’ sign 

Though a bit more involved than the other decorations, you can even make your own Beetlejuice sign — complete with working lights! For a visual reference of how you can do it yourself, watch the video below posted by @epi_tami on TikTok: 

@epi_tami

Here is a DIY Beetlejuice sign that was fun to make! Channeling the OG movie. Thank you @Austin Chase for your help. Are you ready for the release of #beetlejuice ? Lights are Mainstays from Walmart. 2 foam boards, one yellow poster board and 2 different red paints. I was going to distress the sign, but changed my mind. not bad for under $20! #beetlejuicebeetlejuicebeetlejuice #betelgeuse #diyhalloween #spooky

♬ original sound – Epi-Tami

‘Beetlejuice’ hand sculpture 

Want your neighbors to be surprised by your artistic skills? Consider creating the hand-like sculpture that comes to life at one point in the film. The team of Dave & Aubrey on TikTok (user @horrorprops) walked their followers through the process of making the sculpture out of PVC pipes, foam blocks, pool noodles and more. 

If you’re short on storage or yard space, you can always make one on a smaller scale, as one commenter excitedly vowed to do. For inspiration, watch the video below: 

@horrorprops

How we made our favorite Beetlejuice sculpture! #halloween #maker #horrortiktok #beetlejuice #daveandaubrey

♬ Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – In Theaters September – Day-O – Beetlejuice

  

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