48 Unique Pumpkin Decorating Ideas to Try This Halloween
No carving necessary.
Whether you're a fan of fall or go hard for Halloween decor, one thing is for sure: Pumpkins are the go-to gourd for bringing a festive and timeless look to every corner of your home. While many revelers opt to carve jack-o'-lanterns each Halloween, the process can be super messy—not to mention unsafe for little ones' uncoordinated hands (and adults with sub-par knife skills). This year, why not try out a few creative pumpkin decorating ideas instead? They encourage creativity, swapping sharp instruments for all manner of craft supplies like paint, faux flowers, felt, googly eyes, and more.
With a bit of time, a few basic supplies, and a playful imagination, you can transform even the most basic gourd into something special, like a spooky skull, a seasonal floral display, or even a tribute to your favorite food (hello, donut pumpkins!). You can even paint your pumpkin a vibrant teal to let trick-or-treaters who have food allergies know that they'll find safe goodies at your place. The best part? A pumpkin that's not carved will last longer (and be less enticing to critters), so you'll have a better chance at keeping your jack 'o lanterns up until October 31. You can even store the ones made of plastic or foam and use them again next year.
Below, we're rounding up plenty of pumpkin decorating ideas that will help take your Halloween display to the next level, plus several creations you can leave out all season long. Check out our favorite no-carve pumpkin ideas—and don't forget to deck out your front porch and cozy up your home for fall while you're at it!
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Welcome Pumpkins
Write out your favorite seasonal (or evergreen) greetings, then display them on your porch to greet guests instead of a lawn sign.
Fingerprint Pumpkins
Encourage little ones to leave their mark—in more ways than one—with this clever craft. They can simply dip their finger into white paint and dot a pumpkin with fingerprints to create everything from ghosts to skulls and crossbones.
Get the tutorial at Handmade Charlotte.
Floral Moon Pumpkin
Spotlight the moon on your pumpkin this season. With a craft pumpkin and faux flowers, you can create a design you'll use to decorate your porch year after year.
Get the tutorial at The Merrythought.
Mummy Pumpkin
Head to your first aid cabinet for this mummy pumpkin—you're going to need all the bandages you can find! Truth is, this gory gourd couldn't be easier—simply wrap fabric around the entire thing, leaving a slit open in the front, then glue on a set of googly eyes to complete the look.
Get the tutorial at Everyday Reading.
Googly Eyes Pumpkins
As far as DIYs go, this is perhaps as easy as it gets. All you need to do is glue a pair of googly eyes onto your pumpkin. If you want to go more creepy than cute, glue a handful of eyes all over instead.
Neon Drip Pumpkins
Drip designs have been popular for years now, but the neon color scheme on these gourds makes them look totally fresh. To really make your design pop, give your pumpkins a fresh white base coat before using acrylic paint to create the drip effect.
Get the tutorial at A Night Owl Blog.
Sweater Pumpkins
Foam pumpkins are the foundation for these cozy fall decorations. Add jute twine, burlap ribbon, and raffia ribbon for organic accents.
Get the tutorial at Kippi at Home.
Pumpkin Animals
Lia Griffith always offers some of the best DIYs, and these animal pumpkins are no exception. Create a black cat, fox, or owl mask and simply attach it to a faux (or real!) pumpkin of your choice. Don't forget a felt tail!
Get the tutorial at Lia Griffith.
Corn Husk Pumpkin
Here's an easy way to give your pumpkin a new texture: Cover it in corn husks. You can use floral foam for a base, as the blog Paint Me Pink did here, or consider attaching them to a real or craft pumpkin.
Get the tutorial at Paint Me Pink.
Sticker Face Pumpkins
For minimal effort, use stickers to decorate your pumpkin. Order cute face decals like the ones seen here by Personalized Planet Co. on Etsy. Or head to your local craft store and stock up on a bunch of fun stickers to completely cover the pumpkin (which could be a fun activity for kids!).
BUY NOW Pumpkin Faces Vinyl Decals (Set of 4), $24
Collage Pumpkin
This collage pumpkin is adorable. If you use a faux pumpkin, you can display it every year. Bonus: Using black-and-white photos will give it a chic vintage vibe that just happens to go with your Halloween decor.
Get the tutorial at Sugar and Charm.
Personalized Pumpkins
Welcome guests with these low-key pumpkins. Paint or stencil your name or house number on each for a simple but elegant take on a fall front porch display.
Get the tutorial at Julie Blanner.
Painted Pumpkin Succulents
Pastel pumpkins with real succulents nestled inside? Sign us up!
Get the tutorial at Best Friends for Frosting.
Gilded Pumpkin
This gilded pumpkin is super moody and fun. The project is a little on the messier side, but it's worth it for the final design.
Get the tutorial at The Navage Patch.
Confetti Pumpkin
A confetti pumpkin can liven up any space. Plus, it's much easier than trying to paint perfect circles. All you need is a plastic pumpkin, paper confetti, and Mod Podge.
Get the tutorial at The Crafted Life.
Mini Friendly Ghosts Pumpkins
These friendly little ghost pumpkins definitely won't spook any passersby, but they will make anyone who looks at them smile.
Get the tutorial at The Crafted Life.
Starry Night Pumpkins
Re-create the perfect night sky with a black-painted pumpkin and a handful of gold and silver star stickers. This pumpkin look is ideal for those who prefer to stay away from gory Halloween decor.
Get the tutorial at Oh So Beautiful Paper.
Confetti Pumpkin
Who doesn't love sprinkles? This charming pumpkin—painted white and adorned with real sprinkles by Best Friends for Frosting—makes a fun and unexpected accent for an autumn tabletop.
Blue Porcelain Pumpkins
Take your favorite china pattern to your pumpkins. All you need is a stencil and paint marker to re-create every detail.
Get the tutorial at Craftberry Bush.
Concrete Pumpkins
These molded concrete pumpkins go with any color scheme or season and look lovely on your porch, in your entryway, or as a centerpiece.
Get the tutorial at Sugar and Charm.
Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
Kelly Allen is the Associate Editor at House Beautiful, where she creates design, culture, and travel content online and in the magazine. She’s been on the team since 2019, writing features on dreamy TV sets and movie filming locations, in-depth city guides, and inspiring home tours. From researching ethereal estates to discovering can’t-miss set decoration details onscreen, she’s always eager to answer burning pop culture questions through a design lens. In her five-year career, she’s built a strong network of designers across disciplines to tap for their invaluable expertise. Her background includes honing reporting skills while tackling viral news for Delish and contributing to Cosmopolitan’s entertainment coverage. When she’s not watching every new film and TV show, she’s browsing vintage home stores, attending industry events, and wandering around New York City—highlighting it all on Instagram.
Kate McGregor is House Beautiful's SEO Editor, writing in-depth home renovation cost guides, design inspiration stories while overseeing gardening content through routine plant care guides. With over five years in the shelter industry creating content for brands like Domino, Real Simple, and Architectural Digest’s Clever, Kate has developed a passion for uncovering the personal stories that often lie behind the inspiration for people’s spaces. She previously worked as the assistant market editor at ELLE Decor, where she identified top products and brands in the industry as well as interviewed emerging designers about their thoughts on the latest interior design trends. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University. When not researching the specificities of begonia plant care, you can find Kate scouring vintage markets for the ideal wrought-iron chair, knitting yet another cardigan, or reading historical nonfiction.
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