Channel ‘Beetlejuice’ This Halloween with These Spookily Simple Decor Ideas
Even if you’re too scared to say his name three times, you can still bring that signature Beetlejuice aesthetic into your home.
Jason Donnelly
Fans of Tim Burton’s 1988 comedy-horror classic Beetlejuice are officially materializing in theaters for the sequel—and it's been a long time coming.
The characters in the original made up the soul of the film, particularly Michael Keaton’s portrayal of the unhinged and fantastical Beetlejuice. (Fun fact: Filmmakers originally wanted Sammy Davis Jr. for the part, but it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Keaton in it.) Fittingly titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, key cast members Winona Ryder (Lydia Deetz) and Catherine O’Hara (Delia Deetz) are making a reappearance.
As important as the actors are to the film's smashing success, the home and its transformation from quaint farmhouse to haunted mansion are essential in conjuring up the film's eerie atmosphere. The sequel promises to be another freaky-fun adventure—and taking cues from the original Beetlejuice home for your Halloween decor could turn out to be as quirky and thrilling as summoning Beetlejuice himself. You only need to gather a few materials, pay attention to the details, and utter his name three times—if you dare.
A Makeshift Graveyard
Start by welcoming trick-or-treaters to your apparitional abode with a yard filled with headstones. Make them out of styrofoam and use acrylic paints to give them a dark and dirty look. If you want to stay on theme, add names from the film, like Adam Maitland or Barbara Maitland, and of course, "Here Lies Beetlejuice."
Use battery-powered candles to shine light on your eerie creations. Hang white sheets with cut-out eyes over small beach balls or balloons from trees for ghosts (and do this inside, too).
Black and White and Bones
Get plenty of skeletons, whether made from paper or a couple bags of fake bones, to place around your entryway, and light it up with a green lightbulb to conjure up the afterlife atmosphere where the dead go to get their assignments. Add a black-and-white checkerboard faux floor to take the theme to the next level—you can draw it yourself on poster board or butcher paper.
Related: 19 Outdoor Skeleton Decorations for the Spookiest Halloween Display
Ghosting and Hosting
Greet guests dressed in black and white—either stripes or checks—and if you want to embrace the Beetlejuice look fully, add white makeup to your face with black smudges. Matted hair is a must for this creepy look.
If you’re having a Halloween party, be sure to serve shrimp cocktails just like the Deetz family enjoyed at their dinner party for a ghoulishly tasty appetizer. Turn on the original Beetlejuice in the background, and your guests will feel like they’ve stepped into the Maitland/Deetz home.
For more Better Homes & Gardens news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens.