Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (2024)

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (1)

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Is there anything more exciting than the start of fall? You’re probably eager to jump into all things pumpkin—think pumpkin recipes, pumpkin crafts, and of course, pumpkin decor. This year, why not mix it up and go beyond the usual carved Jack-o'-lanterns? Traditional carving is just the tip of the iceberg. Grab a paintbrush and get ready to unleash your creativity with our favorite pumpkin painting ideas!

Painting counts as easy, no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas, too. Whether you're hoping to upgrade your fall porch décor, decorate for an upcoming Halloween party, make a pumpkin centerpiece, or simply partake in a creative Halloween craft to get in the spirit of the season, you'll find something here that fits the bill. Watch Ree Drummond's beloved floral patterns come to life on a series of sophisticated-looking pumpkins, or opt for something guaranteed to make you smile like a pumpkin painted to look like an ice cream cone or sprinkle doughnut. There's plenty of pumpkin faces to give you inspiration. Transform a traditional orange pumpkin with some stencils or go for black or white pumpkin décor ideas for a more modern twist. You can use real or faux pumpkins with most of these ideas, too, since you don't have to worry about slicing into them.

Make the most of pumpkin season with these cute ideas:

  • The Most Creative Pumpkin Carving Ideas to Try This Year
  • These Pumpkin Desserts Will Make Your Kitchen Smell Heavenly
  • A Guide to All Different Types of Pumpkins

1

Painted Botanical Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (3)

Floral prints look great on pretty much everything—including fall pumpkins! Use craft paint and a few leaf-and-flower stencils to recreate one of these gorgeous, nature-inspired pumpkins. Just tape your stencils to an all-white pumpkin, grab a paintbrush, and dab on the paint.

SHOP FLORAL STENCILS

2

Painted Floral Band Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (4)

Add a touch of elegance to your fall decor with this pretty floral pumpkin. Start by using painter's tape to outline a bold horizontal stripe or several vertical stripes on your pumpkin. Then, secure floral stencils over those taped areas and use craft paint to fill in the designs.

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3

Painted Floral Monogram Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (5)

A monogrammed pumpkin is so versatile and fun! You can use it to showcase your family initials, display your house number, or even spell out a playful word like "BOO!" Start by drawing thick block letters on your pumpkin and outline them with painter's tape. Secure stencils inside the letters, then use a foam pouncer to apply craft paint. Once it’s dry, remove the tape to reveal your unique creation!

4

Painted Colorful Vine Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (6)

Having a variety of stencils makes this colorful craft even more fun! Begin by painting a long, looping vine around your pumpkin. Then, use the stencils to incorporate vibrant flowers and leaves.

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5

Painted Floral Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (7)

For this fun idea, think of your pumpkin as a blank canvas! Paint flowers freehand, and carry the pattern across a few different gourds for a cohesive look.

6

Painted Ombré Flower Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (8)

Create stunning ombre pumpkins using a large flower stencil and craft paint. Start by dabbing the lightest shade at the center of the flower with a foam pouncer, then gradually blend darker hues toward the edges for a beautiful gradient effect.

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7

Floral Moon Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (9)

Get ready to mix sweet and spooky with this stunning floral moon pumpkin! To create this gorgeous design, simply paint any faux or real pumpkin black, trace a crescent moon shape, drill some holes, and fill them with fresh flowers for a pop of color. This beauty lasts for days—but if you want it to last all season, just swap in some faux blooms!

Get the tutorial at The Merrythought.

8

Glow-in-the-Dark Dot Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (10)

You don't have to carve up a Jack-o'-lantern to make your pumpkin shine. With a little creativity and some glow-in-the-dark paint, you can create a unique masterpiece that lights up the night!

Get the tutorial at The Craft Patch.

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9

Pineapple Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (11)

Bring summer vibes into your fall decor with a fun pineapple pumpkin! Just spray paint a pumpkin yellow, add some green cardstock leaves around the stem, and you'll have an unexpected piece to show off at your Halloween festivities.

Get the tutorial at Studio DIY!.

10

Menu Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (12)

Bring an extra special touch to your fall gatherings with this charming menu pumpkin! Perfect for any occasion, this painted pumpkin adds a delightful touch to your table and makes it easy for guests to see what’s on the menu. Simply grab a large pumpkin, some paint, and a brush, and you’ll have a festive way to showcase your delicious fall dishes!

Get the tutorial at The Merrythought.

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11

Painted Pun-Kins

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (13)

Why settle for ordinary pumpkins when you can create these pun-derful masterpieces? With some colorful paint and tattoo paper, you can transform your pumpkins into hilarious pun-kins that are sure to steal the show. From “Creep It Real” to “Gourd Vibes Only,” let your creativity shine and get ready for some laughs this Halloween!

Get the tutorial at Studio DIY!.

12

Chinoiserie Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (14)

How elegant are these pretty blue and cream pumpkins? You don't need to be an artist to recreate the intricate chinoiserie pattern, as this tutorial features a hack for imprinting the design of cocktail napkins on pumpkins using Mod Podge and paint.

Get the tutorial at Alice and Lois.

SHOP PAPER NAPKINS

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13

Abstract Mountain Painted Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (15)

Recreate the beauty of jagged mountain peaks on the surface of your pumpkins this fall! This abstract creation is easy to make by painting layers of peaks starting from top to bottom in different colors.

Get the tutorial at The Craft Patch.

14

Buffalo Plaid Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (16)

Buffalo plaid isn't just for your favorite flannel! It's also a great pattern to paint onto your pumpkins this fall! Paint your pumpkin with a white base coat. Then, create the plaid pattern using different shades of red and purple!

Get the tutorial at One Little Project.

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15

Gold Geometric Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (17)

With a simple color palette of gold and white, these painted pumpkins are versatile yet fun, thanks to the eclectic geometric patterns on their surfaces! To create the pattern, start by drawing a triangle on the front side of the pumpkin. Draw another triangle right next to it, and continue until a randomized pattern starts to appear!

Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed.

SHOP GOLD PAINT PENS

16

Harlequin Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (18)

Your pumpkin deserves to dress up for Halloween, too! Dress it to the nines as a harlequin using rubber bands to create a symmetrical diamond pattern on the pumpkin's surface. Then, fill in the diamonds with pink paint and add yellow dots at the corners!

Get the tutorial at DIY Candy.

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17

Sparkly Skeleton Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (19)

Pay homage to spooky season by painting this classic Halloween symbol on your pumpkin. The black sparkly base makes the thick white skeleton outline pop!

Get the tutorial at Mod Podge Rocks.

18

Disco Ball Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (20)

This disco ball-inspired pumpkin is the perfect way to get the party started! To achieve the disco ball effect, use black paint, silver paint, and washi tape to create uniform squares.

Get the tutorial at Club Crafted.

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19

Minimal Shape Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (21)

These minimal geometric shape pumpkins aren't your traditional jack-o-lantern! Using a paint pen or marker, draw different shapes on each pumpkin, then fill them in with a few coats.

Get the tutorial at Almost Makes Perfect.

20

Spray Painted Pumpkin

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (22)

These aesthetically pleasing pumpkins don't require a paintbrush as they come together with a few layers of spray paint! Spray your pumpkins in the colors you desire, making sure to work in light, thin coats. Then, add a shot of spray adhesive and glitter for a shimmering finish!

Get the tutorial at Mad In Crafts.

SHOP SPRAY PAINT

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (23)

Micaela Bahn

Micaela Bahn is a freelance editorial assistant and recent graduate from Carleton College, where she majored in English literature. She loves running, photography, and cooking the best new recipes.

Skip the Carving This Year—Try These Creative Pumpkin Painting Ideas Instead! (2024)

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