September 2022 — Comfort Works Blog & Sofa Resources

The best Halloween costume ideas of all time

Posted on September 30, 2022May 5, 2025 by Naomi

It’s that time of the year again.

Although Halloween may popularly be one of the best times of the year, it is admittedly a hectic season. From house parties to home decorations, it sometimes feels like we barely have any time left for an epic costume.

Don’t panic, we’ve got your back. Whether you’re planning for a proper get-up for yourself or some interesting yet easy-to-make costumes for your kids, we have a list of the best Halloween costume ideas of all time, right here!

Beware: Some of these looks could scare the hair off a cat!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Last minute (and super easy) costume ideas
Nostalgic vintage costume ideas
Kids’ costume ideas
Group and couples’ costume ideas

Last-minute (and super easy) costume ideas

If you’re looking at a blog post for Halloween ideas, then you’re either being really prepared, or you’re really late and desperate for ideas. So, we figured we’d start with the easiest costumes you can whip up at the very last minute and still be Halloween-ready!

1) Shego

Shego Kim Possible Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Reader’s Digest*

This one looks difficult but isn’t too hard to pull off – you just need a black upper lip, green eyes and sleek eyebrows. If you’re a makeup kind of person, this may be a nice last-minute costume for you.

And if you don’t have a full body suit in green, you can always wear all black :)

2) A comic book character

Comic book character Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Reader’s Digest*

Another one for the makeup geeks! There are tons of tutorials out there, and you don’t even need a special outfit for this. Once you’ve found the look you like, copy it on yourself and call it a day.

3) Scarecrow

Scarecrow Halloween costume idea — *Image: Reader’s Digest*

This would work very nicely if you’ve got dungarees! Grab some ribbons, string, and put together a fringe for your sleeves and fake scarecrow hair (stick it to a headband and then cover it with a hat over top).

All you’ll need to complete this look is to draw some fake freckles!

4) Skeleton head

Skull head Halloween costume idea — *Image: Reader’s Digest*

This is one of the classics – the skeleton! Or rather, just the head. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need apt makeup skills to pull this one off. The key is to smudge dark black kohl around the eyes, draw a simple skull nose and teeth lines, and wear light-coloured contact lenses.

Tip: It also helps to use the same black kohl to draw over your eyebrows, and smudge them over the hollows of your face.

5) A mummy

Mummy halloween costume idea — *Image: Reader’s Digest*

This is for when you really want to wear a costume, but don’t have much time at all.

Wear white clothing from top to toe, and then wrap (or glue on) white bandage/tissue paper/gauze around your entire outfit. Don’t forget to also cover your head!

6) Stranger Things characters

Stranger Things character costume ideas — *Image: Reader’s Digest*

This one’s fun! Depending on the character you want to dress up as, you may either need some sailor’s uniform or old-fashioned clothes. Otherwise, you can always throw on a beard, carry an empty liquor bottle and tell people you’re Murray.

7) Wednesday Addams

Wednesday Addams Halloween costume idea — *Image: Reader’s Digest*

This one is probably the easiest, most effective costume ever. With a black long-sleeved dress, pigtail braids, and a solemn expression, no one will miss the fact that you’re Wednesday Addams.

8) Bandit

Bandit Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Reader’s Digest*

Now, this one’s easy yet fun. All you’ll have to do is get a black Zorro-looking mask, some black clothes and a burlap sack with a dollar sign on it.

Tip: Black gloves really help too!

9) Cowgirl/Cowboy

Cowboy Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Reader’s Digest*

When in doubt, grab your favourite boots, cowboy hat and jeans and call it a day.

If you don’t have boots or a cowboy hat, don’t worry. It won’t be difficult to find one around the Halloween holidays!

10) Pirate

Pirate Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Reader’s Digest*

Easy yet effective – one of the classics. Wrap a bandana around your head, smudge some dark eyeliner around your eyes and wear some extra gold earrings (if that’s your thing).

Nostalgic vintage costume ideas

Have you ever wished you were born in a different era? Well, this is your one night of the year to catapult yourself (and your friends) to a time once been.

Here are some of the best vintage costume ideas we’ve come up with, inspired by icons and famous looks from the past. From a solo costume to a posse of horror, we’ve got you covered. Here are the most terrifying vintage costumes of all time!

1) Classic pin-up (hair and makeup)

Here are some classic pin-up looks that are achievable through some simple makeup rules and hairstyles.

pin-up girl Halloween costume idea — *Image: finder.com*

Pin-up makeup is known for the high-winged eyeliner, beauty mark, porcelain complexion and the iconic bold red lip. The hardest part about nailing this makeup look would be getting the eyeliner just right.

When in doubt, follow these steps:

Using a pencil liner, start with making a very thin line across your entire eyelid, sticking very closely to the eyelashes. Don’t stray too far from above your lashes.
Once you’ve created a nice neat line, go over it again, just a little thicker.
Using a fine-tip liquid liner, extend the tail of your eyeliner even longer, so that it goes past the end of your lash line. You may start with a short tail on each side first.
Working on both sides simultaneously, keep a cotton swab with some makeup remover to erase any mistakes you make along the way. Once you’re happy with the length of your eyeliner wings, apply some mascare (or falsies).
Using the same liquid liner, carefully make a dot either above your lip or below your eyes near the cheekbones to make a beauty mark.
Apply some light foundation and powder to your skin, focusing more on any area that needs more coverage.
Apply your favourite bold red lipstick and be careful not to smudge!
The next order of pin-up business would be hair! It involves a lot of styling, hairspray, and pins, but you could also opt to have a wig styled for you.

Here are some looks to try out:

pin-up girl hair Halloween costume ideas — *Image: rebelsmarket.com*

2) Rockabilly style pin-up

This one’s for the ladies with tattoos and a whole lot of edge!

Rockabilly style pin-up girl Halloween costume ideas — *Image: therockabillystyle.tumblr.com*

The key to a Rockabilly look is to add elements of toughness to a classic pin-up look. Switch it up with some arm tattoos (either real or fake), bandanas in the hair, a leather jacket, some animal-print pants, or even frayed denim shorts.

3) 40’s sailor women

POV: It’s the 1940’s, you are on a yacht with your Captain husband, kids, and friends on a nice summer day.

sailor woman sailor girl Halloween costume ideas — *Image: vintagedancer.com*

The key to this look is not just following an old-fashioned pin-up hairstyle and makeup look, but of course, wearing spot-on nautical outfits.

1940's Donna heels sailor girl look Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Donna heels*

Shirts with large v-collars and a matching scarf around it, sailor dresses with midi-length skirts, sailor shirts paired with shorts and even wide-legged pants, finished off with some tennis-style shoes, summer shoes, or Donna heels.

Top this off with some light daytime makeup, pin-up curls with a ribbon, and you’re done.

4) Era: WW2

If you’re not feeling a sailor vibe from the 40s, then you might consider a more classic look that was worn during the World War II era.

WW2 women outfit Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Women in WW2*

For women:
The look encompasses old-fashioned pin-up hairstyles, hats and scarves, formal collared dresses or suits, and Donna heels.

WW2 men outift Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Men in WW2*

For men:

The look encompasses an old-school suit and slicked back hair. And of course, old-fashioned dress shoes.

*Image: Women’s handbag with gas mask compartment*

Bonus: did you know that it was common for ladies’ handbags in the 40s during WW2 to have a compartment for gas masks?

5) 40’s kids’ fashion

Make it a family event and dress your kids in some 40’s getup, and go trick-or-treating together!

1940s kids fashion Halloween costume ideas — *Image: 1940’s children’s fashion*

There were apparently many rules on dressing children appropriately, but we’ve narrowed this down without complicating things too much.

For boys:

This was simple – they were dressed in very similar attire as their fathers’ or men in general, with the exception that most boys wore shorts instead of pants with their shirts and suits.
Dress shoes were always worn with long socks, never without it.
Suits and clothes were never made too tight, they were supposed to fit comfortably without creasing too much. They were also frequently worn with walking hats or fedoras – which you may get off Amazon!
The hair was combed back and slicked with gel.

vintage outfit girl Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Vintage party dress and bonnet*

For girls:

Girls were dressed in many different outfits, but among them, jumper skirts and shirtwaist dresses were considered outstanding outfits.
Girls too, wore dress shoes with long socks.
Party dresses were worn with feathered bonnets.
The hair was curled and pinned to the sides at the very least.

6) 1930’s men’s fashion

This goes all the way back to an era of working-class men who had responsibilities to their home and country, who were conservative, practical, and confident as they worked hard to overcome a recovering economy.

1930's mens' fashion Halloween costume ideas — *Image: 1930’s men’s fashion*

The look seems to be driven by suits that were made slightly oversized, paired with matching pants and finished off with dress shoes.

1930's men's outfit Halloween costume ideas — *Image: 1930’s men’s outfit with cigar*

The finer details of this look include slicked back hair, the use of various kind of hats (eg. fedoras, walking hats, boaters, etc.), broad and short ties, bows, and a cigar.

7) Bruce Lee

This is one martial arts legend that would be unmistakable anywhere, so you’re sure to be a hit with this. Whichever outfit you decide to wear, just always remember to style your hair to Bruce Lee’s signature hairstyle.

Bruce Lee yellow jumpsuit Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Bruce Lee in Game of Death*

Bruce Lee’s iconic yellow jumpsuit from Game of Death is easy to recreate – the costume is available on Amazon along with other stores both online and offline. Just wear this with yellow and black sports shoes and yellow nunchucks to match.

Bruce Lee white singlet black pants Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Bruce Lee in The Way of the Dragon*

Here is another iconic look by Bruce Lee, featuring a simple white wife-beater, black slacks that tie around the waist, black kung fu shoes and black nunchucks.

Bruce Lee black kung fu outfit Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury*

Something that will not go unnoticed would be Bruce Lee’s martial arts Wing Chun uniform, which features a black traditional Chinese kung fu top, black pants, black kung fu shoes, and white socks.

Bruce Lee 70s retro outfit neon green shirt bell bottom pants Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Bruce Lee in a retro suit*

And if you really want to capture Bruce Lee in the 70s, you may also cop one of his looks which involve bell-bottom pants, bright brown heeled shoes, an almost neon green collared shirt, and a colourful jacket with large collars.

Bruce Lee sunglasses retro outfit Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Bruce Lee in a retro suit*

In most of these kinds of looks, he also wore large brown sunglasses.

8) James Dean

There’s nothing more poignant and nostalgic than watching Rebel Without A Cause as a child (in present times), discovering, and falling in love with James Dean for the legend that he is, and then finding out right after that he had died 50 years before you ever watched the movie.

James Dean red jacket blue jeans in Rebel Without A Cause Halloween costume ideas — *Image: James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause*

James Dean was known for his insanely authentic method acting, his dashing looks, and his reckless abandon. This was all portrayed perfectly in one of the most iconic movies of all time, Rebel Without A Cause.

For this look, all you’ll need is some blue jeans, a white shirt, a red bomber jacket, black boots/shoes, slicked back hair, and a cigarette.

James Dean Rebel Without A Cause poster — *Image: James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause*

Tip: You can also get a fake cigarette prop and hold on to it all night as part of the costume without worrying about it burning away!

9) Charlie Chaplin

This is yet another icon – a true legend of the age of silent movies.

Charlie Chaplin Halloween outfit ideas — *Image: Charlie Chaplin*

To dress as the famous Charlie Chaplin, you’ll need a suit consisting of an inner white shirt, a tie, a loose button-down long sleeve outer shirt, and loose slacks. You will also need a bowler derby hat and a walking stick, and some plain black shoes to go with the entire outfit.

However, the hallmark of Chaplin’s look isn’t just in his dressing; it’s his thick dark eyebrows and short, curt moustache. For this, you may shave to fit yours – or just get a stick-on moustache from Amazon.

10) Archie comic characters

This is for those of you who are fans of old comics – Archie is a timeless comic series from those days that is still enjoyed even now.

Archie comic characters Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Archie comic book characters*

Using similar pin-up makeup steps, you may dress as any of the Archie characters and put together a similar outfit as what is typically illustrated in the comics.

You could also draw inspiration from the TV series Riverdale, since it is the live action of the comics.

If not, you could approach a whole different look by following some step-by-step comic style makeup tutorials on YouTube and then dressing up in Archie character costumes.

Kids’ costume ideas

Young children often have wild and vivid imaginations, which often lead them to come up with the most creative ideas. When Halloween comes around, it becomes our job as parents (or older siblings/cool aunties and uncles), to keep up with them and make their vision come true.

Here are some of the simplest yet most creative kids’ costume ideas for Halloween.

1) Creepy-crawly

Pool noodles, a bath mat and some black tape can suddenly become a creepy-crawly spider costume!

Spider boy kids Halloween costume idea — *Image: Woman’s Day*

This spider leg costume may be slightly bulky, but it is guaranteed to be worth the effort. Cut pool noodles into 3 parts, and then connect them using string or pipe cleaners.

Then, attach them to a bath mat using a hot glue gun. Cut a hole around the middle of the mat so that a child can wear it.

Once this is done, just stick black tape around the spider legs to make the spider stripes. Don’t forget to do the same to the sleeves of the costume! Top it off with some makeup or face paint and viola!

2) Three-headed four-armed monster

A unique and very creative costume that is unlikely to be worn by anyone else.

Unique three-headed four-armed monster kids Halloween costume — *Image: Woman’s Day*

To create this costume, here’s what you’ll need:

Materials:

Knee-high stockings
Polyester fiberfill stuffing
2 rubber full-head masks
3 black knit ski caps
Needle and thread
Scissors
Hot-glue gun
2 red sweatshirts
2 pairs of blue knit gloves
Red sweatpants
Safety pins
Bandanna (optional)

Directions:

Stuff stockings with fibre fill; tie the ends. Place the masks over them to form monster heads.
Glue a cap onto each head (child will wear remaining cap).
Hand-stitch a monster head to each side of child’s cap.
Cut arms off one sweatshirt. Glue wrist ends shut. Stuff arms with fiberfill; glue upper ends shut to make fake arms.
Stuff 2 gloves with fiberfill; glue over wrist ends of fake arms.
Sew fake arms to sides of remaining sweatshirt, under sleeves.

Dress child in sweatshirt, sweatpants and remaining gloves. Place middle cap on child’s head; pin fake heads to shoulders of the sweatshirt. If using, tie bandanna around neck.

3) Swamp monster

Probably the sweetest swamp monster you’ll ever see around!

Swamp monster Halloween costume ideas kids — *Image: Woman’s Day*

You’ll need a white top and bottom, some fabric green and blue dye, thin white fabric, plastic insects, a hot glue gun, and face paint.

Dip-dye the white top and bottom in the fabric dye. Cut the thin white fabric into random strips and dye those too, separately. Once dried, glue the plastic insects all over the fabric strips. Wrap the fabric strips all over – or sew them to the dip-dyed outfit. Save some strips to place over the head, too.

4) Spotted octopus

This costume is so easy to make it’s almost a cheat!

Octopus Halloween costume ideas kids — *Image: Woman’s Day*

You’ll need some long athletic socks, batting, a hoodie (in a complimenting colour), hot glue gun, white round adhesive stickers, sweatpants and shoes.

Stuff batting into the socks and sew the ends shut – these make the tentacles. You may make as many as you’d like, though 4 is recommended. Stick the white adhesive stickers all over the tentacles and then sew them or hot glue them to the hoodie.

Stick the rest of the white adhesive stickers all over the rest of the hoodie and pants and you’re done!

5) Peter Pan’s shadow

Halloween is when shadows become mischievous! This shadow costume involves 100% fun and 0% sewing.

Peter Pan's shadow kids' Halloween costume idea — *Image: Woman’s Day*

You’ll need to get a black morphsuit and some black felt, a hot glue gun, scissors, and a single black feather.

Cut out a tunic, a dagger sheath, and a single long strip to make a belt. Then, make Peter Pan’s hat and hot-glue it together. Don’t forget to also attach the black feather.

That’s pretty much it. Your kiddo will have so much fun being a mischievous shadow, you’ll find it difficult to get them to take the costume off! Good luck.

6) Baby scarecrow

Similar to the adult scarecrow costume, this tiny counterpart is almost as easy – and so much more fun to make!

Tiny scarecrow kids' Halloween costume idea — *Image: Woman’s Day*

You’ll need some felt, burlap, a spare plaid shirt or table cloth, hot glue gun, fake flowers and leaves, raffia, denim overalls, and some brown eyeliner.

Cut up some scrap pieces of burlap and plaid fabric into little squares (or any shape you want). Using the hot glue gun, stick the fabric scraps onto random places on the denim overalls. Follow with the fake flowers and leaves, and fringes of raffia.

Using more felt, some raffia string and the hot glue gun, make the scarecrow’s hat. Finish the look off with some fake freckles and lines on your child’s face.

7) Werewolf

While this looks cool, it definitely comes in handy as a last-minute costume. To really make this look come to life, be sure to use pigmented face paint that is guaranteed to last all day (or all night!).

Kids' wolfman werewolf Halloween costume idea — *Image: Woman’s Day*

You’ll need some face paint in black, brown, and white, some hair gel, and a vampire teeth and nails set. You’ll also need a typical werewolf outfit (plaid shirt, turtleneck, jeans and boots).

Draw the furry eyebrows on your kiddo and smudge the brown face paint around the eyes. If they aren’t comfortable wearing vampire teeth (which is highly unlikely), then paint the fangs white on the face. Don’t forget to attach the fake vampire nails!

8) Knight in shining (tinfoil) armour

Warning: this costume involves a LOT of tinfoil.

Knight in shining armour kids' Halloween costume idea — *Image: Woman’s Day*

Using cardboard, cut out the shapes of a sword and a shield – and then cover it in foil. It can either be hot-glued or simply wrapped. Do the same with a bicycle helmet. If you’re feeling extra handy, cut out an armour vest and finish with foil to complete the look!

9) Robin Hood and Marian

This adorable couple costume is ideal for siblings that fight a lot – they’ll HAVE to settle down and be a team for this one night!

Robin Hood and Marian kids' Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Woman’s Day*

For Marian’s costume, prepare a long pink dress with loads of ribbons and a veil to decorate with. For Robin’s costume, you’ll need a toy bow & arrow set, a brown belt, a green tunic and hat set.

You can also always include makeup to make the moustache on Robin!

10) Harry Potter and Hermione Granger

Are your kids Potterheads? If so, then this costume may be perfect for them…and it may be the one time they enjoy wearing school uniforms.

Harry Potter and Hermoine Granger kids' Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Woman’s Day*

You’ll need some Harry Potter robes, the magic wands, Harry’s glasses, some brown eyeliner, collared shirts, Harry Potter-themed ties, school shoes, school vests/sweaters, pants and a plaid skirt. Oh and don’t forget their house scarves!

The look is pretty simple, all you need is the props. And of course for Harry, you’ll want to draw his scar with some brown or red eyeliner.

Group and couples’ costume ideas

Most times, wearing a couple’s costume means having to stick by each other all day or night in order for others to understand the costume. Unless you’re dressed as a corpse bride; in which case, you would clearly be a corpse bride no matter where your rotten other half is.

Whether it’s platonic or romantic, here are our favourite couples’ costumes – some are also expandable to become group costumes!

1) The Shining twins

Wearing this also requires a solemn expression and hardly any talking (other than “come play with us”).

The Shining twins Halloween costume ideas — Image: Good Housekeeping

This one’s perfect for identical twins, but really, anyone can do it. Just grab 2 identical old-fashioned bright blue dresses, 2 pairs of long white socks, 2 pairs of the same type of dress shoes and tie your hair into pigtails.

You can always put your own spin on it by adding some dark circles under your eyes or wear identical wigs!

2) Morticia and Gomez Addams

A classic! Who doesn’t want to be this couple? All Halloween lovers understand that Morticia and Gomez are the dream couple of all time.

Morticia and Gomez Addams Halloween costume ideas couples — *Image: Good Housekeeping*

A sleek, long-sleeved black dress, red lips, smokey eyes, and long black hair makes the perfect Morticia. Gomez wears dark and dreary yet classy suits that are either B&W-striped, black and maroon, and always pairs them with either a bow or a tie. He also has his black hair slicked back with a middle parting, and a long black moustache.

To keep in character, show everyone how much you simply adore each other just like Morticia and Gomez do in the movies!

3) Wednesday and Pugsley Addams

Wednesday & Pugsley Addams Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Dream A Little Bigger*

Here’s an extension of the Addams Family! Perfect for siblings, besties, and anyone else who is a fan of this iconic duo.

The outfits are pretty simple – a black long sleeve dress with a round white collar (and pigtailed braids) for Wednesday, and a B&W striped t-shirt with black shorts for Pugsley.

4) Beetlejuice – and Lydia Deetz!

Now you might need a wig for this one.

Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Good Housekeeping*

The iconic Lydia Deetz look, fashioned with a jet-black fork-fringed wig, a black choker, a large black sun hat, and a long-sleeved black dress would stand out on its own. It would be near impossible for people to not know who you’re dressed as! But if you’re a couple, consider going as Lydia and Beetlejuice.

As Beetlejuice himself, be prepared to sport a bright maroon suit with a gold ruffled shirt and a black bow, along with some ghastly makeup and a wild yellow-green wig. This will be one whacky couple that will definitely not go unnoticed!

5) Chucky and Tiffany

Another iconic duo! Chucky was the toy character that made up all children’s nightmares. We watched the movie, we remembered the killer toy doll that snuck around and murdered everyone in the most gory ways. And then Tiffany came along, and then there were two…

Child's Play Chucky and Tiffany Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Good Housekeeping*

To be Chucky, you’ll need dungarees, a colourful striped long-sleeve top, sneakers, a (blunt) kitchen knife, glassy contact lenses, makeup stitches, and wild red hair. To be Tiffany, you’ll need a white wedding-like dress, a leather jacket, black heeled boots, black stockings, very dark eye makeup, and black lipstick. Don’t forget to draw the heart-shaped tattoo on your chest!

6) Zombie couplet

Resident Evil, anyone?

Zombie couple Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Good Housekeeping*

This has got to be one of our favourites, as you can go as mild or as crazy as you want. Of course the crazier, the better. This takes the least amount of effort and gets you the best results – just rock some fake blood and wear literally anything you want. A suit? A wedding dress? A school uniform? Pyjamas? They all work just the same. The key is to get the most realistic looking fake blood.

Tip: You can make your own fake blood. My personal favourite recipe involves instant coffee powder and red food colouring. That’s it! This combo gets the blood looking wet when it dries, and it sticks on ALL day. It’s even edible, tastes great and smells wonderful (and sure scares the heck out of everyone!).

Tip #2: Wear white contact lenses, it really pulls the look together.

7) Rockstars

Dressing up as your favourite rockstar has got to be one of the most fun-filled ways to celebrate Halloween. It’s even a great conversation starter at parties!

Rockstar Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Good Housekeeping*

Taylor Momsen, Hendricks, Elvis, Freddie Mercury, The Cranberries, Kiss….the possibilities are endless! For this look, you’ll have to get a photo of your favourite rockstar and recreate their outfit from head to toe. Feel free to improvise with accessories and materials or even clothing that you already have!

8) Greek Gods

What’s the best thing about Greek Mythology? They’re all cool, they’ve got powers, but most of all; they’re one BIG family.

Greek god family Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Good Housekeeping*

This means you can either go as a Greek God on your own – or with a special someone – or with your whole family!

It’s not so difficult, either. Just sport some white or gold fabric (into a toga), and then get matching accessories to go with it. Wear them in your hair or around your arms/waist/legs. And of course, don’t forget to grab a signature weapon according to who you’re going as :)

9) Alien Family

Think of the Jetsons, but totally silver.

Alien family Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Good Housekeeping*

There are many ways to go about this, but the key is to follow the space-themed outfit designs and keep them all in one colour. Silver works nicely – plus you can use tinfoil for most of it! And who wouldn’t want to rock silver hair, silver lips, and silver boots?

Of course, feel free to mix and match any combination of colours you want. We just like the idea of a colour-coordinated family from outer space!

10) The Royal Deck

You know what they say; always save the best for last.

Deck of cards Halloween costume ideas — *Image: Good Housekeeping*

This has got to be the awesomest couple/group Halloween costume theme, ever. You can even go solo on this.

The rules are pretty simple; choose a card out of the classic deck of playing cards, and then dress accordingly. You can be as simple or as creative as you wish. The most common theme would be the royal suit, but you could always go as a number if you wish!

You’ll just need to colour-coordinate your costumes in red, black, and white, and display your suit symbols somehow.

And there you have it! These are some of our top favourite looks for Halloween. We hope there’s something here for everyone.

Wearing the best Halloween costume isn’t enough. Take a look at the best Halloween food recipes that you can make on your own for your guests!

Best Halloween food recipes

How to clean your fabric sofa with 6 effective methods

Posted on September 28, 2022May 9, 2025 by Michele

Do you ever find yourself staring at your stained, well-worn fabric sofa, wishing you knew how to give it a good, thorough clean?

We dive into the 6 top ways to clean your fabric sofa – and it should look as good as new by the end of this post.

But first…

Check your sofa’s care and cleaning instructions

Depending on the fabric or material of your sofa (especially when it’s upholstered), there are certain cleaning solutions that you can and cannot use for each type of fabric.

Here’s how to decode your sofa’s care and cleaning instructions, which you can typically find on its tags:

W: water-based cleaner only
S/W: solvents and water-based cleaners
S: solvent cleaners only
X: no water, vacuum only

Once you know which cleaning solutions to look out for, you can even make water-based solutions yourself. However, if your tag has an ‘X’ on it, it’s best to hire a professional cleaner to give it a thorough clean – apart from vacuuming it lightly regularly.

Your other option? Cover it with a removable sofa slipcover that you can just throw into the washing machine whenever your sofa needs a clean.

As far as the actual cleaning goes, here are some simple methods that you can follow to effectively clean your fabric sofa:

1. Clean up fresh stains, pronto

hand-cleaning-sofa-stain — *Clean up stains immediately*

It’s best to tackle stains while they are still fresh. Whether it’s orange juice or pasta sauce, quickly shifting into cleaning mode can mean the difference between a stain that’s easily removed and one that you can never seem to get out.

2. Use a dry brush to remove crumbs and dust

brush off dust crumbs on sofa with brush — *Image: Pexels*

For the usual cleaning process, first of all, use a dry brush all over your sofa.

For any easily removable particles like dust, the dry brush will help you get rid of them once you flick it several times.

Brushing off excess dirt keeps it from getting stuck in the weaves of the fabric – which would be an absolute nightmare and near impossible to clean off.

3. Use a handheld vacuum to reach difficult corners of the sofa

use vacuum to clean sofa — *Image: Pexels*

You know how the corners of your sofa always seem to have stray bits of dirt, candy wrappers and even loose change hidden in their deep, dark depths?

Yup, we can relate.

Once you get the wrappers and loose change out of the way, use a handheld vacuum to suck up the stubborn bits of dirt and crumbs that have made a home in those impossible corners.

Not only does vacuuming excess dirt make it less likely to have pests like ants and roaches, it’ll actually be much easier to clean your sofa fabric without extra dirt covering it.

4. Use a fabric cleaner

Resolve upholstery multi-fabric cleaner — *Image: Amazon*

Now that you’ve read your sofa’s tags (preferably) and figured out how to clean it best, try doing a patch test on a small, out-of-the-way stain or spot.

This way you’ll be able to see the effects of the cleansing solution without risking a bad reaction where it’s noticeable.

Once that’s good to go, it’s quite simple. Just spray fabric cleaner onto the stain and dab repeatedly until the stain is gone or very much lightened. Finally, let it dry and you’ll get your clean sofa back again!

5. Use baking soda

Arm & Hammer baking soda — *Image: Amazon*

Our personal favourite method of cleaning a fabric sofa (which works on almost any surface) is to spill some dry baking soda onto any stained or soiled area while it is dry, leave for 20-30 minutes and then vacuum it off. Most dirt spots vanish almost magically with this method!

6. Washing machine

Save the hassle of cleaning up stains by tossing removable slipcovers into the washer every 3-6 months. Remember to dry them in the shade until almost dry, then slip it back on for that perfect, snug fit.

Is your upholstered sofa a little inconvenient to clean? Consider getting a slipcover that you can easily remove and throw into the washing machine for a quick, easy clean. You’ll never again struggle to know how to clean an upholstered sofa.

Take our sofa slipcover fabrics for a test run by having them sent to your doorstep:

Order free fabric samples

Best couch cover for everyone in the family – The Everyday Weave

Posted on September 26, 2022May 9, 2025 by Kay

Do you sometimes stand and look around the house, wishing you could change something to just give it a simple refresh?

Also, without breaking the bank.

Introducing our new Everyday Weave sofa slipcovers, made from a chemical-free fabric that’s durable yet affordable.

Whether you’re single, coupled or married with kids (or in the “it’s complicated” category), these sofa slipcovers are made for you.

What makes Everyday Weave the best couch cover for your family?

1. They’re soft and comfortable.

grey soft sofa slipcovers IKEA Stocksund armchair — *Everyday Weave Slate sofa slipcover*

When you come home from a long day outside, isn’t it a no-brainer to just plop down on the sofa and relax for an hour or so? The soft texture of our Everyday Weave is as inviting as freshly cleaned bed sheets in a hotel room.

On the contrary, if you work from home all day, sit comfortably in the embrace of the Everyday Weave and try to stay focused (read: please don’t fall asleep).

2. They’re chemical-free and skin-friendly.

mother and child on grey IKEA sofa — *Skin-friendly Everyday Weave*

Peace of mind when you sit, lie down or roll on the sofa.

The Everyday Weave comes with OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, an indication that the fabric is free from chemicals that are harmful to human skin.

3. They’re affordable.

Everyday Weave is our most affordable fabric – but still soft, durable and beautiful to look at. The price of this slipcover starts from USD279 for an IKEA Ektorp 2-seater.

4. They come in easy-to-match neutral colours.

Comfort Works Everyday Weave grey sofa slipcovers — *Everyday Weave in Slate (top) and Pebble (bottom)*

Our Everyday Weave is available in 2 colours: Pebble, a light grey that resembles the feathers on the middle section of a homing pigeon and Slate, a deep grey that looks like the feathers on its tail.

These 2 tones are great for matching many different interior styles.

You’ll have fun designing!

5. They’re durable AND come with a warranty.

IKEA Klippan grey sofa slipcovers Comfort Works Everyday Weave Pebble — *IKEA Klippan in Everyday Weave Pebble*

Just when you think that there can’t be any more good qualities to this fabric, we’ve got to let you know it’s meant for high traffic in the household, especially when you have very active children.

And, if/when you happen to make a mess on your sofa, you’d be able to clean them easily by loading them into the washing machine. Drip-dry them in the shade and put them on once they’re almost dry.

Simple!

As our Everyday Weave sofa slipcovers come with a 1-year warranty, you’re eligible for a replacement cover according to our fabric warranty policy in case there is a defect.

There you go. All the reasons that prove that the Everyday Weave is the best couch cover out there.

EXPLORE EVERYDAY WEAVE NOW

Don’t want to purchase yet? Order fabric samples to try them out in your home first!

The best Halloween food recipes ever

Posted on September 22, 2022May 8, 2025 by Naomi

So, Halloween is just around the corner and you’re racking your brain for Halloween-centric food and treats. You may even be thinking about preparing some of it beforehand – before all the Halloween craziness sets in.

But how? How does one prepare snacks, treats, and even dishes that not only taste good, but also look especially Halloween-worthy?

Fret not, we have a list of the best quick and creative ideas – from cute-spooky treats to downright frightening finger food. We’ve got you covered (in cobwebs)! >:)

Read on to discover the best Halloween food recipes ever!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) At-home Halloween Food Recipes
2) Halloween Cocktail Recipes
3) Easy Halloween Recipes (For Kids To Make!)

At-home Halloween Food Recipes

1) Meatball Monster Sandwiches

Now this one’s a treat the kids will especially love. It’s bite-sized and packed with (scary fun) protein!

meatball sandwiches with olive eyes for halloween — *Image: The Spruce*

You’ll need:

24 frozen precooked meatballs
2 cups (or 473 ml) of spaghetti/pasta sauce
3 tablespoons of softened butter
24 pimento-stuffed olive slices

Follow these instructions to make it – it’s pretty simple and you can’t go wrong with this. Be sure to arrange each little sandwich so that the top bun is slightly pushed back and you’ll have space just under it for the olive slice eyes.

2) Devilled (Eyeball) Eggs

Simple to make and can either be served on its own or in a salad, this recipe is too good to pass off.

eyeball shaped eggs salad Halloween — *Image: The Spruce*

You’ll need:

6 large eggs
¼ cup (or 59 ml) of mayonnaise
1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
⅛ teaspoon of salt
12 to 20 pitted black olives

Even with these same ingredients, you may either slice the pitted olives to make the “iris” parts on the eyeballs, or you may follow the decoration methods in the instructions and make spiders instead.

3) Mummy Pot Pie

How cute! These small pies are a meal on their own – and their spooky appearance definitely sets the mood for a nice Halloween dinner.

Mummy Pot Pies Halloween — *Image: Bowl Me Over*

Follow the full instructions here.
Tip: you can swap out black olives for green ones for extra rotten looking mummy eyes ;)

4) Rotting Evil Pumpkins

Here is one of my favourites – the tiny Jack-O-Lanterns filled with worms! This meal is cleverly encased in carved bell peppers, making them absolutely on point for Halloween.

spaghetti in carved bell peppers halloween Jack-O'-Lantern — *Image: Fountain Avenue Kitchen*

Make your own favourite pasta or follow this simple 3-step recipe. You can even add some brown or pink food colouring into the spaghetti and the pasta sauce to make it look even more like worms!

5) Mummy-dogs

This one’s a classic – one of the fun ones!

Baked hot dogs wrapped in dough that look like mummies — *Image: Delish*

You’ll need:

Your favourite sausages
Crescent dough (or any bread dough you can make)
American cheese slices
Dijon mustard

Basically, you’re going to wrap your hotdogs like in this video here in cheese slices and dough, and bake them until they’re cooked. Dot some mustard to make the glowing yellow eyes and you’re done!

6) Ghostly Pizza

This haunted delight is made possible by simply re-arranging the same old ingredients on a pizza to form your ghostly apparitions.

Pizza with ingredients that are arranged to look like ghosts flying around — *Image: Woman’s Day*

You’ll need:

Pizza base (you could also hand-make some pizza dough)
Marinara sauce
Large pitted olives (black and green for best results)
Sliced mozzarella

For this to work, you’ll have to first bake the crust with ONLY the marinara sauce on it for around 15 minutes at 425°F (or 218°C). Cut the olives to make into spiders and then cut the cheese slices into ghostly shapes. Once the pizza base is done, put all the ghosts and spiders together and voila!

Tip: The olives also make up the ghost eyes and mouth!

7) Severed Fingers

Get ready to prepare some truly frightening finger food!

Cocktail sausages that are made to look like severed fingers — *Image: Coldwell Banker*

You’ll need:

Cocktail sausages
Ketchup or homemade chilli sauce
Fresh onions (you may substitute this with almond slices)

All you’ll need to do is boil the sausages, make slits in the middle (to make the knuckles) and carve out the nail beds at the tip of each sausage. Then, stick onion slices onto the tips (to make the nails). Use ketchup or homemade chilli dip for blood and as a sticking agent.

Tip: Almond slices will make pretty gory-looking fingernails! Just carve out the nail beds and stick the almond slices right in it.

8) Cinnamon Intestines

Beware: this is a dessert you may not have the stomach for! We promise that it tastes wayyy more delicious than it looks.

Cinnamon roll dyed red and made to look like intestines — *Image: In The Kids’ Kitchen*

Photo instructions on how to make intestine shaped cinnamon rolls — *Image: In The Kids’ Kitchen*

You’ll need some typical cinnamon roll ingredients plus a load of red food colouring for the gutted, bloody look. Then of course, roll them into slim long intestines instead of thick rolls and voila!

Halloween Cocktail Recipes

1) Poison Apple Cocktail

Nothing screams poison drink like a swirl of edible glitter!

An apple cocktail with edible gold glitter swirling inside it — *Image: Delish*

You’ll need:

1/3 c. apple cider
1/3 c. cranberry juice
2 oz. fireball
1 oz. grenadine
1/4 tsp. edible gold glitter
Some ice

All you’ll have to do is combine the ingredients into a shaker and shake it until the drink is totally cold. Don’t forget to REALLY swirl the glitter – or it won’t have the same effect!

2) Bloody (Mary) Syringes

A trick and treat all in one! These shooters make the perfect addition to any Halloween dinner table or party. Best of all? They’re unbelievably easy to and only take 5 minutes to whip up.

Bloody Mary in syringes Halloween — *Image: Delish*

You’ll need:

2 c. tomato juice
8 oz. vodka
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. horseradish
2 tsp. hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
Freshly ground black pepper

Throw these into a large bowl and whisk it well. And then, fill up those syringes!

3) Jell-glo shots

Now here are some jell-o shots that will mess with your head before you even drink (or eat?) them!

Jell-O shots that glow in the dark — *Image: Delish*

You’ll need:

2 c. tonic water, divided
2 packages of Jell-O (two flavours; this uses pineapple and orange)
1 c. water
1 c. vodka

If you’re planning on having a Halloween party with loads of black light, then this recipe is perfect for you. It may take a while to wait for the jell-o shots to freeze in between preparation, but it’s totally worth it in the end.

4) Fluorescent Margaritas

Watch as your Margarita changes colour while you party – and wonder if it’s just the alcohol playing tricks on you.

Colour-changing margarita made of red cabbage ice cubes — *Image: Delish*

This genius idea simply combines ice made of steeped purple cabbage (totally flavourless, don’t worry) and your favourite margarita recipe. If you don’t know what kind of Margarita to make, you could also cop this recipe.

5) Boozy Screamsicle Shakes

Beware: children will want some, so make sure you make mocktail versions of this too!

orange sugary Halloween drink milkshake cocktail — *Image: Delish*

You’ll need:

Chocolate sauce, for garnish
6 Oreos, finely crushed
1 qt. orange sorbet
3/4 c. milk
8 oz. vanilla vodka
Whipped cream, for garnish
Orange & black sprinkles, for garnish

Dip the rim of your glasses in chocolate and then in the Oreo crumbs. Blend the sorbet, milk, and vodka and serve in the chocolate-drizzled, Oreo-rimmed glasses. Top off with sprinkles!

Tip: If you can get a hold of spider-shaped sprinkles, the drink would be extra spooky.
Tip #2: You could definitely sneak a couple of plastic spiders to give your drunk party guests an extra scare!

Easy Halloween Recipes (For Kids To Make!)

1) Witch Hat Cone-Cakes

How cute! This might be a little messy when making, but the process is fun and totally worth it. Kids will love decorating these little treats :)

Halloween treat made of ice cream cones and icing to look like witch hats — *Image: Wilton*

You’ll need:

Ice cream cones (the pointier, the better)
Black food colouring (if the cones aren’t already dark coloured)
Yellow and purple food colouring (any colour you’d like the hat belts to be!)
Your kids’ favourite icing
Dark coloured store-bought cookies (or homemade cookies)

If the cones aren’t already dark-coloured, you’ll want to paint or spray them with black food colouring and leave to dry.
Afterwards, you’ll want to mix up some food colouring and icing to make purple, yellow, or any colours you prefer.
Then, fill the cones with icing and stick some cookies to make the base hats.
Next, decorate the cone with colourful icing to make the witch-hat belts like in the photo. And that does it!

2) Witch Fingers

This is a spooky sugary treat that your kids will love making AND eating!

Cookies that are shaped like witches' fingers and dyed green — *Image: Wilton*

You’ll need:

Cookie dough (prepared beforehand)
Green & red food colouring
Favourite icing (or red candy melts)
Almond slices

To make things easier, prepare your favourite cookie dough beforehand, and add some green food colouring in until it becomes the perfect witch finger-green. If you don’t have a recipe, you could also follow this one.
Mix some red colouring into your favourite icing (also prepared beforehand), OR simply get some red candy melts and melt according to packet instructions.
Let your kids roll them out into long 4 or 5-inch finger sticks, and make depressions on the “fingertips” (to form nail beds) and thin slits to form the knuckles.

Once the cookies are baked, let them cool and then add red candy melts (or red icing) to stick on the almond slice into the nail beds. Add more at the base of the fingers for a severed bloody look.

3) Monster-Mallows

This set of treats are almost as easy to prepare as they are to eat.

Marshmallows decorated to look like cute Halloween monsters — *Image: Wilton*

You’ll need:

Marshmallows
Blue, green, and orange food colour spray (or you could make them with food colouring)
Toothpicks and cake pop sticks
Black icing or candy melts

Before getting the kids involved, you may want to spray or paint the marshmallows beforehand. If you can find already-coloured marshmallows, even better!
Get your kids to slowly stick the coloured marshmallows onto the cake pops (preferable 3 on a stick).Using the candy melts (or black icing), decorate the marshmallow to make the monster faces and hair. Let it cool in the refrigerator and then stick in a bucket of your favourite candy to prop it up!

4) Haunted House

Remember Hansel & Gretel? Kids will enjoy participating in all the fun making this edible haunted house.

Warning: This recipe involves a LOT of icing.

Halloween cookie house with candy ghost decorations — *Image: Wilton*

You’ll need:

Cookie house kit
Candy corn and any candy you’ll want as decorations for the house
Soft black and purple icing (or any colour you’ll want the house to be)
Coloured fondant icing

Once you’ve put the cookie house together, start with the roof. Spread black icing with a spatula and attach the orange fondant icing (in pieces) as roof tiles. Feel free to add any ghoulish candy pieces on the roof at this point, but be careful not to break it!

Make the front door and all the windows with your soft coloured icing. Make sure to solidify the edges with more icing, which will definitely help keep it together. Stick candy to make the door knobs and more candy to decorate all the windows and walls.

Now, finish up the rest of the house by putting more icing to the floor all around the house (this keeps the house together while making it look complete).
A bed of black grass? Green swamp? Red blood? You can do anything with the “ground” surrounding your spooky house!

5) Tiny Horrors (Cupcakes)

A classic in any Halloween party. And quite possibly the easiest to make!

Mini cupcakes with icing for Halloween — *Image: Wilton*

You’ll need:

Your favourite cupcake recipe
Mini cupcake moulds and liners
Loads of different food colouring
Soft icing
Decorative candy in various shapes
Sprinkles

Bake the mini cupcakes and let them cool.
Tint batches of icing in all the colours you’ll want to decorate with.
And start decorating your cupcakes!
With this simple recipe, you can go as simple or as crazy as you want with the decorations. Kids love this because it allows their imagination to run wild and they will be proud of their work once it’s done!
Best part of it all? They’re cute, yummy, and bite-sized.

Whether it’s an adults-only party, a kids party, or a family gig, these recipes have got you covered. The cocktails can be tweaked to be made into mocktail versions – without compromising on the excitement and fun.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead and start planning your graveyard party!

Oh, if you’re worried about spills on your sofa this Halloween, get these Performance Weave slipcovers to protect your sofa from spills and any messy food.

SEE our PERFORMANCE FABRIC SLIPCOVERS

From funky to fresh: How to get that dog smell out of your couch in 7 steps

Posted on September 22, 2022May 5, 2025 by Jan Johan

You probably came here to know how to get that musky, familiar yet unpleasant dog smell out of your couch.

We’ve all been there. Whether you’ve got a new puppy who still needs to be potty trained or a doggo who likes to get messy, these smells happen.

As loving pet owners, we might personally be able to ignore the odours that our pets leave around the house.,
However, it is not so easy for guests to get used to it.

Imagine your guests coming over and being greeted with a fresh-smelling couch — it makes all the difference in setting a warm, inviting mood.

Having your home smell pleasant is also important for your own well-being according to Rachel Herz, Brown University neuroscientist.

“Smell can instantly trigger an emotional response along with a memory, and our emotional states have a very strong effect on our physical well-being,” she says.

Having a refreshing smelling home can uplift your mood, and make your home feel even cleaner.

Before we go into how to get dog smell out of couch, let’s look at how these scents get stuck in the first place.

get that dog smell out of couch — _{How does that dog smell get onto your couch? (Image credit: Pexel)}

Why do odours stick to your couch?

Fabrics are porous, much like a sponge.

Think about how your clothes absorb sweat and smells as you go about your day.

Your sofa fabric works the same way.

It absorbs and holds onto moisture, oils, and particles from pets, food, and daily use.

Pet odours, in particular, can linger because dogs produce natural oils that can easily penetrate and cling to the fabric fibres.

When dogs sweat, the bacteria on their skin mix with these oils, creating that familiar musky scent.

Similarly, your sofa can pick up cooking smells if it’s near your stove or smoke smell if a cigarette is lit near it.

Over time, these particles break down and release odour-causing bacteria.

If you don’t clean your couch regularly or have them in a ventilated space, trapped moisture can lead to mould and mildew growth, intensifying the smell.

Pet odours can linger on furniture after some time, and in some instances, they can be extra tricky to get rid of.

So if your sofa has been smelling a lot like your pet lately, try some of these 7 tricks that will help you get that dog smell out of your couch.

7 easy tricks to get that dog smell out of your couch

1. White vinegar and water

When it comes to cleaning out odours, white vinegar is your best friend.

The acetic acid in white vinegar breaks down grease, neutralises odours, and kills bacteria.

It’s a natural disinfectant that can tackle even the toughest pet smells without leaving any residue.

Its highly-acidic properties make it an effective cleaner that can break down and dissolve even the most stubborn buildups in your fabric fibres.

To get rid of the remnants of wet dog and also cat puke (plus their accompanying scents) from your sofa, fill a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water, then spray it on your sofa.

Leave the solution to settle in for a few minutes so the vinegar can work its magic, then remove it by giving your sofa a gentle wipe down.

Voila! You’ve got yourself a smell-free sofa.

2. Baking soda

If vinegar is your best friend when it comes to odour neutralising and stain dissolving, then baking soda will make the perfect runner-up.

In fact, both these methods are the best eco-friendly cleaning solutions for most upholstery.

Baking soda absorbs moisture and neutralises odours, making it perfect for eliminating smells embedded in your sofa fabric.

It’s gentle yet effective and works especially well after using vinegar.

Unlike other household cleaners, baking soda is non-toxic, and just like vinegar, it does a great job at breaking down dirt and grease.

The best time to use baking soda is right after you’ve sprayed your sofa with a water-vinegar solution.

But before you give your sofa a wipe down, apply a thick coat of baking soda onto your sofa and let it rest for a few hours (or overnight) before cleaning it up.

Important note: Be sure to apply the baking soda only when the surface of your sofa is completely dry.

Try using a fan to help speed up the drying process before applying baking soda.

3. Unflavoured vodka

_{Make sure you use unflavoured vodka to get that dog smell out of couch. (Image credit: Pixabay)}

More than a great shot after hours, this stuff can work double duty to remove stains and odours from your sofa.

The alcohol in vodka acts as a solvent that binds to and evaporates odour-causing compounds.

It leaves no smell behind, making it a quick solution for musty or pet-odoured fabrics.

Inexpensive vodka works fine for cleaning, just make sure that it’s unflavoured since sugar and other added additives can end up complicating your cleaning efforts.

To clean with it, fill your spray bottle with vodka, neat (avoid diluting it with water).

Try not to wet the fabric too much to the point of making it damp.

Aim for a light mist instead.

The alcohol will collect the odorants that are clinging to the sofa fabric, and as the alcohol evaporates into the air, it takes the smell along with it.

4. Enzymatic cleaners

_{Check out your local supermarket for an enzymatic cleaner. (Image credit: Pexel)}

Many professional cleaning companies have been looking into bio-enzymatic cleaners for cleaning, and for good reason.

These products use “good” bacteria, which effectively digest waste, stains and bad odours.

These bacteria produce enzymes specifically designed to break down certain molecules into smaller pieces, which then becomes a source of nutrition for them.

This means that they literally ‘eat up’ the source of those pesky odours that linger on your sofa.

Before using an enzymatic cleaner, remove any dirt or hair from the surface of your sofa.

Let the solution sit on your sofa’s surface for around ten minutes before wiping it off with a microfibre cloth, and you’re all done!

5. Air-drying

_{Sometimes fresh air and sunlight is all your sofa needs. (Image credit: Pexel)}

If you’re not a fan of chemicals and liquid cleaning solutions, then simply airing out your sofa could be the best option for you.

Fresh air and sunlight are natural deodorisers.

They not only remove musty odours but also help kill bacteria and mould spores, which thrive in damp, poorly-ventilated conditions.

Opening your windows or better yet, bringing your furniture outside for a couple of hours in the sun can go a long way in terms of getting rid of funky, lingering smells.

6. Upholstery or carpet vacuum-cleaning

get that dog smell out of your couch — _{Having your sofa professionally cleaned can save you time. (Image credit: Pixabay)}

If you’re in need of some heavy-duty cleaning, you might want to drop by your local carpet cleaner or upholsterer to see if you can rent one of their heavy-duty vacuum cleaners.

Heavy-duty vacuums remove dirt, dander, and other debris trapped within the fabric.

Switching to a wet setting can help lift deeper, ground-in dirt and lingering odours.

These cleaners with an upholstery attachment can be toggled between dry and wet cleaning for a thorough dirt and smell removal.

To avoid ending up with a wet dog smell, try using the wet vacuum option at the very end after you’ve removed as much dirt as possible.

7. Activated charcoal

Activated bamboo charcoal bags — _{You can source activated charcoal online. (Image credit: Amazon)}

Activated charcoal is like a vacuum cleaner but it absorbs odours in the air instead of dust.

Due to its large surface area, activated charcoal can absorb a high amount of gas particles, removing unpleasant smells in your couch.

This is also an option for people who prefer using natural products.

Pick up a few sachets of activated charcoal and place them in the corner of your sofas where they’re not visible. Let them work wonders over time!

Prevention is better than cure

Now that you’ve learned how to get that dog smell out of your couch, perhaps it is time to take on more preventative measures.

You may have gotten rid of the smell, but is your sofa covered in fabric that’s not ideal for a household with pets?

We have the solution for you: durable slipcovers that are designed with your pet in mind:

Explore our pet-friendly sofa covers

How long does a couch last and what to do with your old couch

Posted on September 20, 2022May 8, 2025 by Aaron Wong

You’re probably wondering how long does a couch last.

Typically, a couch can last anywhere from 7 to 15 years.

To every beginning there’s an end – not even the trusty couch can escape these philosophical words.

Through years of parties and movie nights, your couch has faithfully served by your side and now it’s looking a little worse for wear. Teary-eyed, you know what must be done.

In classic Marie Kondo fashion the time has come to thank your couch for its service, say your goodbyes and prepare to see it off… except it’s not quite that simple this time.

It’s a hulking piece of furniture after all – you can’t simply put it in the bin. So what exactly are you supposed to do with your old sofa?

That’s exactly what we’re going to answer today with a list of ways you can get rid of that old sofa, or if you’re lucky, find it a new life!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Give it away to friends & family
2. Donate it to chair-ity
3. Reupholster it
4. Search for takers online
5. Schedule a large item pick-up
6. Leave it on the curb (responsibly)
7. Bring in the professionals
8. Break it down
9. Restore it with a custom slipcover

1) Give it away to friends or family

family with kids and dog on yellow couch — *Image: Pexels*

If you ask around, I’m pretty sure there are people who are waiting to pounce on the offer of a free couch which can still be used. The couch is often the most expensive piece of living room furniture and could be greatly appreciated by someone in your immediate circle of contacts if it’s in good condition.

There’s no tedious research involved and no dealing with strangers. To top it all off you’ll know your couch is going to a better place.

2) Donate it to chair-ity

men in uniforms moving couch outdoors — *Image: lovetoknow*

Even if nobody you know needs a couch, there’s someone out there who does. That’s where the Salvation Army, Goodwill or your local equivalent comes in. Provided the couch is in half-decent condition, you’ll find that they will be willing to pick up your couch donation free of charge in many cities.

Other options include scouting out local orphanages and churches to find out if they can use what you have. A couple of calls is all it takes to know if this is possible, and you might discover that you’ll be doing someone a great service at the same time.

3) Reupholster it

man fixing green tufted sofa — *Image: drsofa*

Saving your couch instead of sending it to the landfill is a great way to reuse what you have and it’s great for the earth as well. Upholstery is expensive but there are some cases where it can make sense to splurge on it for your couch.

They don’t make couches like how they used to anymore so if you’ve got a quality couch from the days of bygone craftsmanship, it might be worth going the reupholstery route. Cushions deflated? Get them stuffed! Fabric tearing? Let them refabric (now a word) it. Upholstery really can fix just about any problem your sofa might have if you’re willing to pay the price.

Should you reupholster your sofa?

4) Search for takers online

Facebook Marketplace furniture sofas screenshot — *Image: aglassofbovino*

It’s the 21st century and some of the quickest and most convenient ways to get rid of an old couch are to list it online. There’s no shortage of people looking for a usable couch especially if it’s dirt cheap or free. Bonus: they’ll usually even agree to pick it up themselves.

If you just want the couch gone, listing it as free on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace is a sure-proof way to get your couch snatched up in no time at all. The key is to include some good-looking photos and it will be fought over like TVs on a Black Friday.

5) Schedule a large item pick-up

Schedule local waste management United States — *Image: Google*

A neat option that’s available to property owners in most cities in the United States is to schedule a large item/bulky item pickup with the city’s waste management. This way, everything will be taken care of conveniently, and for free.

Getting rid of your couch using this method is one of the most straightforward and should be one of the first choices if there’s no one else to give it to and you can’t repair it. All it takes is a quick call to the city’s waste management and to set a day and time.

Plus, as a property owner you’re entitled to a couple of these a year so don’t let those credits go to waste if the option is there!

6) Leave it on the curb (responsibly)

sofa on curbside of neighborhood — *Image: Reddit*

It may be basic, but it really does work surprisingly well. Simply leave your couch out by the curbside on a sunny day with a sign advertising it as free and there’s an excellent chance that junkers or someone in need of it will pick it up.

Just make sure to be mindful of local laws since this is completely illegal in some states. Also be prepared to haul it in before it rains as nobody wants to deal with a soggy, heavy mess of a couch.

7) Bring in the professionals

Men in uniforms moving couch out of house — *Image: goloadup*

Sometimes, the couch in question is simply damaged beyond repair. The frame may have given way or the bonded leather may have peeled into a flaky mess. Nobody’s going to want that.

Times like these you can always rely on the furniture/junk removal services operating in your area. These are available almost everywhere globally and a sure way to get rid of the couch, if you’re willing to shell out.

The typical costs for couch removal in the US range from $50-$100, but may be well worth it if you need that couch gone and need it gone now.

8) Break it down

How to break up a couch

Got some pent-up stress that needs to be released? Solve both your problems at once by breaking down the couch (or disassembling it if possible) and bagging the parts up. Yes people do this, especially in high-rise apartments where getting the couch out any other way would be something that belongs on the anti-bucket list.

Sure it’s physically intensive and not the most appreciated option for the aching back, but many hands will make quick work of it. Invite a couple of strong friends over for a beer and pizza party… and an extra couple of hours of surprise manual labour 🙂

9) Restore it with a custom slipcover

IKEA Farlov sofa white replacement slipcovers — *IKEA Farlov sofa in Eco Weave White slipcovers*

Got a couch that’s still going strong in the frame and cushion departments? Bring it back to life with a tailor-made slipcover!

Just like upholstery, a slipcover can reverse time on a sad-looking couch, but is far more affordable. Think of it as paying only for the fabric portion of the couch.

You can even customise everything from the colour, material, and style of the slipcover to completely overhaul the look of your couch. It’s like getting a new couch without buying a new one.

The best part? To make sure your “new” couch remains pristine, the covers are machine-washable (except the leather ones) to keep them looking great.

Interested in saving your couch? Visit our website to learn more on how you can renew your couch affordably with a slipcover and keep it from becoming landfill:

DISCOVER BESPOKE SOFA COVERS