Are you looking for simple ways to decorate a pumpkin for Halloween? Here are 20+ fun ideas, all easy to accomplish and so festive!
Halloween is just around the corner, and one of the best ways to get into the spirit of the season is by decorating pumpkins.
While traditional carving is a popular choice, there are plenty of other ways to create a spooky and festive pumpkin display without the mess and hassle of using a knife.
In this post, we’ll explore some creative and no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas that everyone is going to love. No matter your Halloween decorating style . . . modern, vintage, rustic . . . . you’re going to find a project you want to make below.
In this blog post, I share some of my favorite no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas! I’m serious – use this opportunity to express your holiday creativity. There are some wacky ideas here!
Pumpkin decorating is a great way to get the whole family involved in the Halloween festivities. Kids will love getting their hands dirty with paint or glue and can even help come up with their own unique designs.
Find me a person who doesn’t love decorating pumpkins and I’ll give you all my candy.
You won’t be able to.
Now, some of these use faux pumpkins, and others use real pumpkins. But you can recreate these on faux pumpkins too. Keep in mind that if you choose to use a real pumpkin, it will last about 2-3 months (not carved).
If you’re ready to check out the ideas, keep scrolling to the list below. Add some fun gourds to your Halloween decor! I’d love to know which are your favorites in the comments. Happy Halloween!
Decorating Fake Pumpkins
Are you looking for simple ways to decorate a pumpkin for Halloween? Here are 20+ fun ideas, all easy to accomplish and so festive!
Sparkle Skeleton
Paint the design of your choice on a pumpkin, then add Sparkle Mod Podge to make it bling.
These Galaxy Pumpkins Are Out of This World
These cool painted galaxy pumpkins remind me of a night sky! Keep them on your porch for Halloween decor. No crafting skills required!
Glowing Diorama
This cool diorama features a skeleton and glows when you turn the lights out.
Harlequin
These awesome harlequin painted pumpkins are so easy to make – the perfect last minute DIY project for your Halloween or Thanksgiving decor.
Chalkboard Surface
Use chalkboard paint on a real or fake pumpkin to create a writing surface – you can draw anything you like with chalk!
Bat Swarm
Make teeny bats out of cardstock and attach to a real pumpkin using glue dots.
Fabric Covered
Use a cool and modern fabric to make these unique fabric covered pumpkins! You’ll love this easy, no carve idea made with Mod Podge. Check out this fun nautical themed version.
Colorful Chevron
Use paint directly from the bottle to decorate a pumpkin with a chevron pattern – and you can be done in minutes.
Pipe Cleaners
Turn a faux pumpkin into pretty colorful decor with pipe cleaners. This project couldn't be an easier.
Pretty Kitty
Turn a faux pumpkin into a pretty kitty with felt and pipe cleaners.
Confetti
Try decorating a pumpkin with confetti and Mod Podge. So easy even a kid could do it!
Easy Typography
Make a bold statement with this typographic pumpkin – that you can make in minutes.
Woodland Diorama
Lidy turned faux pumpkins into woodland dioramas with a few simple supplies.
Pretty Doilies
Golden doilies add a sophisticated touch to to real pumpkins!
Simple Sequins
How can you improve a simple painted pumpkin? Add bling-y sequins.
Bright & Sparkly
For a simple solution to making a statement pumpkin, just add glitter.
Bold Argyle
Use your favorite paint colors to turn a pumpkin into an argyle statement piece.
Duck Tape
Learn how to decorate a pumpkin with Duck Tape! This is the easiest method, and both kids and adults can do it. Perfect for Halloween decor!
Candy Corn Owl
Decorate a faux pumpkin with paint in a candy corn motif, then add wings and eyes to make a fun owl.
Top Hat
Carve and paint a fake pumpkin, then add a jaunty top hat made from cardboard.
Nailhead Trim
I love this idea of decorating pumpkins by creating designs using nailheads.
Silver Leaf
Decorate a painted pumpkin with another natural material – leaves.
Subway Art
Inspired by the DIY canvases, Alexa turned a pumpkin into subway art using vinyl stickers and spray paint.
Painting Faces
In this alternative to carving, you paint a happy face on your pumpkin using acrylic paint.
Now that you have these ideas, how would you decorate a pumpkin? I’d love to hear in the comments! You should also check out these other seasonal posts: