Jason Donnelly
Take a new twist on the traditional jack-o-lantern this Halloween with our best pumpkin decorating ideas.
Learn new ways to paint, sculpt, and embellish your gourds with thesepumpkin carvingalternatives.
Paint Abstract Designs
Carson Downing
These vibrant pumpkins add a pop of color to any space.
Credit:Jason Donnelly
Choose a variety of hues and let your creativity flow.
Use acrylic paints for the best results and the easiest clean-up when your masterpieces are complete.
Get Wild with Animal Prints
Decoupaging adhesive andanimal printpaper make this pumpkin decorating idea easy to achieve.
Credit:Carson Downing
Cut the paper into strips and attach each to the pumpkin using a foam brush and decoupaging adhesive.
Rub out any creases or wrinkles with your fingers or a foam brush.
Addgold paintto the pumpkin stems for a bit of glam to enhance the sophisticated look of these designs.
Credit:Jason Donnelly
Once the pumpkin is covered, double-check to apply a final layer of adhesive to seal the paper.
Marbleize Your Gourds
Thesegorgeous marbled pumpkinsare made with one surprising materialnail polishand getting the look is easy!
Try Out Different Textures
Dont be scared toplay with different textureswhen deciding on pumpkin decorating ideas.
Credit: Michael Piazza
These designs look as good as any embellished pumpkins youll find in home decor stores.
To make these textured gourds, paint your pumpkin and a piece of fabric cording the same shade.
Finish the look by darkening the squares where each line intersects.
Credit:Carson Downing
Place small pumpkins on large candleholders, tables, and ceramic stools to create a welcoming tableau.
Once the pumpkin is covered, wrap the stem with twine or replace it with a faux stem.
Use this pumpkin decorating idea for indoor accents since they wont withstand rain or snow.
Credit:Jason Donnelly
Pair them with natural details like dried stems and wooden beads for a textured look.
First, paint the pumpkin a solid color.
Then, press your thumb into a different shade of paint and transfer it onto the gourd.
Credit:Brie Goldman
Once dry, use markers to create faces, pumpkin shapes, or smallcreepy crawlies.
Invite a Witch to Fly By
This witch pumpkin is magically simple.
Incorporate patterns like Xs and stripes, and wrap the pumpkins in various directions to add texture.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Keep these cute gourds for inside decor.
Blow Pumpkin Bubbles
This bubble-painted pumpkin decorating idea isfun for all ages.
Then, hammer small nails into the pumpkin, following the outline of the design.
Credit:Blaine Moats
Finally, wrap the string around the nails in a crisscross manner to fill in the design.
Draw a Straight Line
This geometric pumpkin decorating idea is simple and modern.
To achieve this look, paint short, horizontal lines on one side of your pumpkin.
Credit:Carson Downing
Add Stenciled Doily Patterns
Matthew Benson
These lacy pumpkins add vintage appeal to your home this Halloween.
Carefully remove the doily when finished and set aside to dry.
First, paint a pumpkin black ornavy blueand let it dry.
Credit:Scott Little
Splatter white paint on top to represent galaxies far away.
Add a battery-operated tea light inside your pumpkin to make it glow like the night sky.
Write It Down
These beaded pumpkins are anything but scary.
Credit:Carson Downing
Secure in place with decoupaging adhesive.
Use black felt and hot glue to create hair and facial features for your pumpkins.
Light them from inside with a small battery-operated candle.
Credit:Matthew Benson
Decorate with Dried Flowers
Thisdried floral pumpkinpops with richly colored dried blooms.
To recreate it, glue dried flowers on a faux pumpkin and finish with a natural dried pumpkin stem.
This elegant flower pumpkin makes a pretty fall centerpiece or covered front porch decoration.
Credit:Jason Donnelly
you’re able to buy dried flowers at the crafts store ormake them yourself.
Speak Your Mind
Who says pumpkins have to be funny or scary?
To create a long-lasting decoration, use afaux pumpkin(Oriental Trading) instead of a real one.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
If you dont like black, choose your favorite autumn color and use it instead.
Make a Splash
These arent your classicpainted pumpkins!
These colorful miniature pumpkins can dress up any Halloween decor scheme.
Credit:Paul Brissman
To get the look, paint a bucket full of mini pumpkins in solid colors.
Then, use a paintbrush and watered-down acrylic paint to splatter them all with black and white paint.
Add colorful splatters to coordinate your look for an eye-catching array of fall decor.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Keep your carved pumpkin from rotting by coating the edges in petroleum jelly or WD-40.
Keep an Eye Out
This pile of pumpkins could not be cuter or easier to make!
The secret embellishment to theseeasy owl pumpkins?
Credit: Adam Albright
Layered sunflower seeds create delightful eyes for sweet pumpkin faces and cute little bird feet.
Pin It Down
David Prince
These black and silver pumpkins give any porch a glamorous touch.
Paint silver letters or designs onto black-painted pumpkins and outline them with silver push pins.
Credit: Carson Downing
Create a stack or set the finished pumpkins beside each other to spell out a fun fall orHalloween phrase.
Carve or attach stickers to form the eyes.
Add Fun Masks
Greg Scheidemann
Masks arent just forHalloween costumesand parties.
Credit: Michael Piazza
Spray-paint them with your favorite colors and attach them to pumpkins using hot glue.
For glowing eyes, carve holes before attaching the masks.
Go Green
You cant go wrong with a triangle nose and eyes with a crooked grin.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
When the traditional jack-o-lantern design iscarved into a green pumpkin, it stands out amidst its orange counterparts.
This jolly fellow will add a fun accent to your pumpkin decorating ideas all season.
Adorn Pumpkins with Ribbon
Using ribbon is an easy, mess-free pumpkin decorating idea.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Bring on the Spiders
Create a not-so-scary creation decorated with creepy crawly spidersfaux, of course.
Try this with faux ladybugs for a colorful alternative that keeps the bug theme.
Train Your Pumpkins
This pumpkin decorating idea is as sweet as can be!
Credit: Alexandra Grablewski
First, let everyone choose theirpumpkin at the patch.
Then, have each person paint part of the train onto their pumpkins.
Then, line them up on the front porch for the neighbors to admire.
Credit: Michael Piazza
Customize Count Dracula
This fanged, painted pumpkin isnt so scary!
Hell be the most popular guest at your Halloween bash.
Weave a Web
Adorn a gourd with a knotted spiderweb for a simple but spooky pumpkindecorating idea.
Credit: Alexandra Grablewski
Incorporate Flower Power
Ditch the traditional carving knife for this creative pumpkin decorating idea.
Use floral-inspired metal cookie cutters to create a fantastic blooming design on pumpkins of all colors.
Do the same with small circles to make small polka dots.
Credit:David Prince
This design feels alittle bit retroand a lot of fun.
Light Up the Place
Illuminate flowers instead of jack-o-lantern faces with light-up pumpkins.
Use an apple corer to carve out the flower centers for this blooming pumpkin.
Credit:Adam Albright
Then, etch petal designs around the holes by scraping away only the pumpkin surface.
Find Carveable Fruits and Veggies
Beforecarved pumpkinsbecame popular, people used to carve vegetables instead!
Search farmers markets for unique varieties of pumpkins and gourds as alternatives to classic orange pumpkins.
Credit:Greg Scheidemann
Then, carve out cute pumpkin faces for an irresistibly adorable new look.
Try a pineapple jack-o-lantern for your first project.
Build a Pumpkin Man
This tower of pumpkins mimics his winter cousin, the snowman.
Credit: Helen Norman
Just as friendly and customizable, make one of these grinning yard decorations to last the entire season.
These faces were sketched and then drilled to make evenly spaced holes along the drawn lines.
Light up pumpkins with asmall candleor light.
Credit:Matthew Benson
Make a few to create a glow-in-the-dark crowd to greet trick-or-treaters on Halloween.
Plant Flowers
Three pumpkinstwo orange and one whiteform a cleverkeeper for mumsor other fall blossoms.
Cutouts from the white pumpkin form striking accents on the base, while a smaller pumpkin holds the flowerpot.
Credit: Adam Albright
Switch out the flowers as needed to keep them always looking fresh.
Opt for a Tower of Pumpkins
Stacked pumpkins are a Halloweenarchitectural treat.
Add them to white pumpkins or old-school orange pumpkins tomatch your decor.
Credit: Adam Albright
Then, choose your drivers.
We opted for a raven and a mouse as our racing creatures.
Go big and create a traffic jam on your walkway to delight neighbors and friends.
Credit: Dane Tashima
Credit: Adam Albright
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Credit: Blaine Moats
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Quentin Bacon
Credit: Reed Davis
Credit: Steven Randazzo
Credit: Blaine Moats
Credit: Michael Grand
Credit: Robyn Lehr
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
