20 Best Painted Pumpkin Ideas For Fall
As the fall season approaches, it’s time to start thinking about festive decor, and what better way to embrace the season than with painted pumpkins? Whether you’re using real pumpkins or faux pumpkins, there are endless ways to make your pumpkins stand out this year. In this post, I’m sharing 20 cute and creative ways to paint pumpkins for this fall season.
From TikTok-inspired techniques to intricate designs perfect for Halloween, this blog post will guide you through the best pumpkin painting ideas. Get ready to grab your paint brush and paint pen—let’s dive into some of the most creative pumpkin crafts you’ll want to try this year!
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Painted Pumpkins Versus Carved Pumpkins
There are so many ways you can style pumpkins for the fall season. The more traditional approach to pumpkin styling is to carve pumpkins. While carving pumpkins is a fun tradition, they aren’t the best for longevity and decor.
Here are the pros and cons to carving pumpkins versus painting pumpkins:
Carving:
- Cute/traditional look
- Fun tradition for the family to do together
- Makes a huge mess with slimy seeds, etc…
- Pumpkins wither and rot quickly after being cut open
- Less options for adding color/unique designs.
Painted:
- Broad variety of styles from vintage to modern to bright colors, etc…
- Can be messy but generally less messy than carving
- Kids can participate
- May require some artistic skill depending on the style desired.
- Pumpkins may last longer if treated appropriately.
Real Pumpkins Versus Faux Pumpkins
All of these designs can be painted on real pumpkins OR faux pumpkins.
Faux Pumpkins: These are perfect for those who want their decorations to last year after year. They’re smooth, easy to paint, and come in various sizes, making them a versatile choice for your fall decor.
Real Pumpkins: Real pumpkins offer an authentic look and feel, but they require more care. They’re great for traditionalists who enjoy the process of selecting the perfect pumpkin from the grocery store or pumpkin patch.
If you plan to paint your pumpkins entirely, I’d recommend finding the cheapest source for pumpkins possible. Since you don’t have to worry about the background color, you could purchase all bright orange pumpkins and be good to go.
NOTE: If you have an Aldi in your area, they usually offer real pumpkins for under $4.00!! That is an amazing deal. Typically they only offer the large bright orange pumpkins but if you are looking to paint this is a great option.
Tips for a Successful Pumpkin Painting Project
- Smooth Surface: Start with a clean, smooth surface by wiping your pumpkin down with a damp cloth. This will help the paint adhere better and create a flawless finish.
- Hot Glue for Added Dimension: Use hot glue to add raised elements to your pumpkin before painting. This is great for creating 3D effects or adding fun details.
- Ditch the mess: If the weather allows, lay out a giant tarp outdoors and keep your painting party far away from household fixtures.
Supplies:
1. Floral Painted Pumpkins
These pumpkins are the prettiest I’ve ever seen! To create this look, use a floral stencil and stick with a neutral shade of pumpkin to draw attention to the flowers. For a more drastic background, paint the entire pumpkin black and use a variety of pale shades to create the flowers.
2. Black Bats and Cats
This would be such an easy painted pumpkin DIY! To achieve this look, paint the entire pumpkin (including stem) in glossy black paint. Next, use white paint to add eyes, mouths, whiskers, etc… Lastly, use black construction paper or cardstock to create wings, ears, etc…
3. Chinoiserie Pumpkins
Check out these stunning chinoiserie-inspired pumpkins! For this look, use a white pumpkin (or a painted white pumpkin) as the base. This can be achieved with a stencil or a decoupage with paper napkins like THESE .
4. Bright Color Checkered Painted Pumpkins
I’m usually a neutral gal, but these brightly colored pumpkins are so fun and attractive to kids. Use masking tape to create plaid designs on each pumpkin. Alternatativley a pencil can be used to sketch the design on the pumpkin. Paint contrasting bright colors to create these fun patterns.
5. Color Block Pumpkins
This cute painted pumpkin idea is so easy. Use masking tape to create a line of division. Select 2 colors in the same color wheel and paint the pumpkin roughly half and half or 3/4 to 1/4 in the different shades.
6. Painted Pumpkin Donut
I can’t believe how cute these little donut pumpkins are! Select the “fairytale” pumpkin type and then use masking tape to tape off the top and paint with white, pink or brown “icing”. Use a variety of colors to add sprinkles on top!
7. Mackenzie Child Painted Pumpkin
Tap into an elegant French vibe with this Mackenzie Childs painted pumpkin. The simple checkered pattern is so simple to paint. Use a soft cream and black shade to create the checkered pattern. Use gold paint or rub n buff to create the gold stem topper.
8. Bright Solids Painted Pumpkins
What a cool look for a front porch! The trick here is to select a color scheme and mix paints to create the perfect shades that all mesh together. This method is super simple and doesn’t require any masking tape or skill in painting designs.
9. Gold Confetti Painted Pumpkin
Use a white pumpkin or paint a pumpkin with a white base color. Dip a paintbrush in gold paint and gently “splatter” the white background. After the paint has dried, use neon-colored paints to jazz up the pumpkin stems!
10. Buffalo Check Painted Pumpkin
I’m loving this simple buffalo check DIY-painted pumpkin look. For this look, start with a white pumpkin or a white-painted pumpkin base. You’ll need 2 shades in a similar color palette. Use masking tape for a very symmetrical look or free-hand if you want a more casual look. Create the checkered look by overlapping the shades. Be sure to let the first coat dry before moving on to the second color.
11. Glitter Painted Pumpkin
This idea would be so great for decorating a teen, tween or college girls room! Paint a faux (or real) pumpkin in a solid shade like this lovely soft pink. Use glitter letters to create wording on the front of the pumpkin after it has dried completely. Finish the look by painting the stem gold!
12. Watercolor Painted Pumpkin
How adorable is this artsy, watercolor pumpkin design?! To start, paint the pumpkin a solid shade of your choice and let it dry completely. Next, you must water down acrylic paint to make it a bit more spreadable. Paint a few different shades of paint on the pumpkin and then gently drag the paintbrush through the colors to blend in a layered design.
13. Weather Stone Pumpkin
This variation of a painted pumpkin is so creative! This look was created by smearing plaster on the outside of a pumpkin and then allowing it to dry. If the shade isn’t quite the stone look you are going for, try spray painting with grey or brown paint after the pumpkin has dried. Finish the look by painting the stem dark brown.
14. Ghost Painted Pumpkins
These ghostly-painted pumpkins from Jenna Sue are some of my favorites! Start by painting the entire pumpkin, stem and all, with white acrylic paint. Let the pumpkin dry completely. Next, using black paint, add eyes and a mouth to the pumpkin. A stencil can be used to create the perfect look.
15. Tie Dye Pumpkin
This fun look (by Alice and Lois) was created by adding several drops of nail polish to lukewarm water. The pumpkins are then dipped in the water and moved around to coat and create a marbled look! So fun.
16. Terracotta Pumpkins
The TikTok trend that is still going strong! Terracotta pumpkins are so easy to create and look beautiful with a variety of decor. To create this look, use a mixture of terracotta shade acrylic paint and baking soda to create the stone texture. For a full tutorial, check out THIS POST.
17. Drip Paint Pumpkins
The easiest painted pumpkin DIY that anyone can do! Using a few shades at a time, simple pour acrylic paint at the stem of a pumpkin and let the paint drip down the pumpkin to dry!
18. Not-So-Spooky Jack O Lantern Painted Pumpkins
Check out this cute and fun take on a Jack-O-Lantern painted pumpkin but without the spooky faces. This design reminds me of a more vintage look Jack O lantern and would be easy to freehand OR create a simple stencil to make sure your designs are consistent!
19. Simple Ghost Pumpkin
This design was created using a “fairytale” pumpkin. The only paint that was applied here is for the little ghost figures covering the pumpkin. Use white and black acrylic paint to paint as many ghosts as you want. Adorable!
20. Pressed Flower Pumpkins
It’s one of the prettiest and most creative pumpkin ideas I’ve seen! For this design, use a white pumpkin for a clean background. Press various flowers, weeds and stems between the pages of a book or under a paperweight. Once the flowers are pressed and flat, use Mod Podge or glue to adhere to the pumpkin.
How to Style Painted Pumpkins:
There are so many ways to incorporate painted pumpkins into your fall decor! Here are some of my favorites:
- As Centerpieces: Painted pumpkins make stunning centerpieces for your fall table. Arrange them with candles, leaves, and other fall decor for a cohesive look.
- On the Porch: Display your painted pumpkins on your porch for a festive welcome. Combine different sizes and colors for visual interest.
- Halloween Decor: Use your painted pumpkins to create a spooky Halloween display. Add some fake cobwebs, bats, and other decorations for a fun, themed look.
