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Decorating Fake Pumpkins for Halloween (20+ Ideas!)

Are you looking for simple ways to decorate a pumpkin for Halloween? Here are 20+ fun ideas, all easy to accomplish and so festive!

fake pumpkin decorating ideas

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!

1
Sparkle Skeleton Pumpkin
Steve Carrell

Sparkle Skeleton

Paint the design of your choice on a pumpkin, then add Sparkle Mod Podge to make it bling.
Get the Tutorial
2
DIY-galaxy-pumpkins

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!
Get the Tutorial
3
Glowing Diorama Pumpkin
www.theartofdoingstuff.com

Glowing Diorama

This cool diorama features a skeleton and glows when you turn the lights out.
Get the Tutorial
4
These awesome harlequin DIY pumpkins are so easy to make - the perfect last minute idea for your holiday decor.

Harlequin

These awesome harlequin painted pumpkins are so easy to make – the perfect last minute DIY project for your Halloween or Thanksgiving decor.
Get the Tutorial
5
DIY chalkboard pumpkin
pintsizedtreasures.com

Chalkboard Surface

Use chalkboard paint on a real or fake pumpkin to create a writing surface – you can draw anything you like with chalk!
Get the Tutorial
6
Bats on Pumpkin - No Carve Idea
www.itallstartedwithpaint.com

Bat Swarm

Make teeny bats out of cardstock and attach to a real pumpkin using glue dots.
Get the Tutorial
7
How to cover pumpkins with fabric and Mod Podge

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.
Get the Tutorial
8
candy corn chevron pumpkin
www.theswelldesigner.com

Colorful Chevron

Use paint directly from the bottle to decorate a pumpkin with a chevron pattern – and you can be done in minutes.
Get the Tutorial
9
designimprovised.com

Pipe Cleaners

Turn a faux pumpkin into pretty colorful decor with pipe cleaners. This project couldn't be an easier.
Get the Tutorial
10
no-carve confetti pumpkins
Steve Carrell

Confetti

Try decorating a pumpkin with confetti and Mod Podge. So easy even a kid could do it!
Get the Tutorial
11
Typography pumpkin
www.theswelldesigner.com

Easy Typography

Make a bold statement with this typographic pumpkin – that you can make in minutes.
Get the Tutorial
12
DIY triangular woodland pumpkin diorama
www.hellolidy.com

Woodland Diorama

Lidy turned faux pumpkins into woodland dioramas with a few simple supplies.
Get the Tutorial
13
DIY Gold Doily Pumpkin decorating
www.17apart.com

Pretty Doilies

Golden doilies add a sophisticated touch to real pumpkins!
Get the Tutorial
14
Paint and sequin pumpkin decoration
damselindior.com

Simple Sequins

How can you improve a simple painted pumpkin? Add bling-y sequins.
Get the Tutorial
15
www.downredbuddrive.com

Bright & Sparkly

For a simple solution to making a statement pumpkin, just add glitter.
Get the Tutorial
16
argyle pumpkin decorating
maxandellie.blogspot.com

Bold Argyle

Use your favorite paint colors to turn a pumpkin into an argyle statement piece.
Get the Tutorial
17
spider duck tape craft: make a Halloween pumpkin
Steve Carrell

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!
Get the Tutorial
18
candy corn owl pumpkin
plaidonline.com

Candy Corn Owl

Decorate a faux pumpkin with paint in a candy corn motif, then add wings and eyes to make a fun owl.
Get the Tutorial
19
nailhead trim pumpkin
lovelyindeed.com

Nailhead Trim

I love this idea of decorating pumpkins by creating designs using nailheads.
Get the Tutorial
20
Silver leaf pumpkin Halloween door decor
ahomefordesign.com

Silver Leaf

Decorate a painted pumpkin with another natural material – leaves.
Get the Tutorial
21
Subway art pumpkin
Jen Hadfield

Subway Art

Inspired by the DIY canvases, Alexa turned a pumpkin into subway art using vinyl stickers and spray paint.
Get the Tutorial
22
paint pumpkin faces
annsgardenpath.blogspot.com

Painting Faces

In this alternative to carving, you paint a happy face on your pumpkin using acrylic paint.
Get the Tutorial

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: