House Costume
Bring the neighborhood home with this creative, customizable cardboard box costume.
A literal house costume is a classic, highly creative DIY project perfect for school events, Halloween, or themed parties. This look uses a lightweight cardboard box decorated with windows, a door, and shingles to transform you into a walking home. It is highly customizable, allowing you to create a cozy cottage, a brick house, or a haunted mansion.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~120 min
- Budget
- $15–40
Try it on
See yourself as House
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a House costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete House costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Large cardboard box
A sturdy moving box or appliance box that fits comfortably over your torso.
DIY: Recycle a shipping box or appliance box from a local appliance store.
Acrylic paint set
Vibrant colors including brick red, white, black, and yellow for windows and details.
Wide utility ribbon
Two-inch wide black or white nylon webbing or heavy-duty ribbon to act as shoulder straps.
DIY: Use old backpack straps or thick fabric strips.
Hot glue gun
A high-temperature glue gun with extra glue sticks to secure the straps and cardboard pieces.
Box cutter
A sharp utility knife to cleanly cut armholes and head openings in the cardboard.
Cardboard scraps
Extra flat cardboard pieces to construct a triangular roof collar or a chimney hat.
DIY: Use the cut-out pieces from the box's armholes and head opening.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made House costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Find a large cardboard box that fits comfortably over your torso, leaving room for your arms to move freely.
- 2
Use a box cutter to carefully cut out a large hole in the top flap for your head and two holes on the sides for your arms.
- 3
Paint the exterior of the box with your chosen base color, such as brick red or light blue siding, and let it dry completely.
- 4
Use white and black paint to add details like a front door, window panes, and a shingled roof pattern.
- 5
Measure and cut two strips of wide utility ribbon, then hot glue them securely inside the box to act as shoulder straps for support.
- 6
Construct a simple triangular roof piece from cardboard scraps, paint it gray or black, and attach it to a headband to wear as a hat.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup simple with rosy cheeks, or paint a small chimney on one cheek. Hair can be styled normally or tucked under a DIY cardboard chimney hat.
House for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person goes as a house, and the other dresses as a lawnmower, a tree, or a white picket fence.
- group
- Create an entire neighborhood block with different styles of houses, like a Victorian, a modern home, and a haunted house.
- kids
- Use a smaller shipping box and lightweight straps so it is easy for a child to carry while trick-or-treating.
- Plus size
- Select an extra-large appliance box (like a washing machine box) and cut wider armholes for a comfortable, spacious fit.
- pet
- Craft a miniature doghouse out of felt or light cardstock to attach to a dog harness.
Tips
- Cut the armholes larger than you think you need to ensure you can comfortably reach for candy or drinks.
- Wear comfortable, solid-colored clothing underneath, like a black long-sleeve shirt and leggings, to keep the focus on the house.
- If wearing this outdoors, use water-resistant acrylic paint or spray a clear sealant to protect the cardboard from light rain.
House costume FAQ
- How do you make a house costume comfortable to wear?
- Use thick, padded ribbon or backpack straps glued to the inside of the box to distribute the weight evenly across your shoulders.
- What is the best box to use for a house costume?
- A standard medium-to-large moving box or a tall wardrobe box cut down to size works best because the cardboard is sturdy but easy to cut.
- Can I make a haunted house version?
- Yes, paint the box dark gray or purple, add crooked yellow windows, draw fake cobwebs, and stick plastic spiders or bats to the exterior.
Did you know? Cardboard box costumes have been a staple of DIY Halloween since the mid-20th century, celebrated for their low cost and endless creative possibilities.