No-carve pumpkin painting ideas: Our favorite pumpkin decorating tips for fall

A large assortment of painted pumpkins is displayed against a teal background.

If fall had a defining symbol, I have to argue that it would be a pumpkin. Don’t get me wrong, there are other great contenders: apple cider, a beautiful leaf, the coziest hand-knit sweater you can imagine.

But still, none are quite as iconic as the pumpkin when it comes to fall. There’s pumpkin pie, pumpkin-spice lattes, and best of all, pumpkin painting…our favorite autumn activity! We’ve rounded up our best pumpkin painting ideas to get you started. Spoiler alert: They’re all fun and cheap. So let’s grab a paintbrush and craft the night away!

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First, why no-carve pumpkin painting?  

Reason #1: Obviously, they last longer. Which means if you’re ready to start getting in the Halloween spirit the second you flip your calendar to October, you won’t end up with a squishy mess by the time All Hallows Eve actually happens.

Reason #2: We like to paint on the artificial ones because they last pretty much forever, then mix them with gorgeous gourds we find at a farmers market. Humans can easily pick out too-perfect shapes, and mixing up faux pumpkins with real ones makes it harder to spot the difference.

Reason #3: Fake painted squash isn’t nearly as attractive to pesky, ravenous squirrels.

Reason #4: It’s the ultimate easy art project for kids! Whether you’re a parent who needs a pre-trick-or-treating activity or a teacher wanting something fun for the class Halloween party, pumpkin painting is a great choice.

Speaking of kiddos, we’ve got tons of ideas to make fall their favorite season. If you’re celebrating Halloween, make it extra special for them with these sweet-as-candy ideas! Or if you just can’t get enough of all things pumpkin, check out these adorable pumpkin treat bags for a festive surprise. 

A light blue pumpkin sits next to various art supplies.

Step 1: Grab your pumpkin painting supplies  

What you’ll need:

  • Real and/or artificial pumpkins in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors
  • Different shades of matte spray paint
  • Acrylic paint for painting designs
  • Paint primer
  • Smocks/aprons if you don’t want paint stains
  • Brushes (different sizes and shapes)
  • Permanent markers
  • Metallic paint pens
  • Glitter paint or pens
  • Paint palettes or paper plates
  • Masking tape
  • Bowls or cups for water
  • Newsprint or butcher paper (to cover tables)
  • Halloween candy (for snacking 😉)

 

A large assortment of painted pumpkins is displayed against a wood background.

Step 2: Prepare your pumpkin decorating plan    

The perfect time to experiment with different vibes is before you start painting. And while we’re all for freestyling your gourd-geous pumpkins, if you want a more cohesive look, we’ve got tips to help!

Start off with a mood board and color palette that matches your style, interesting trends or your idea of the perfect Halloween front porch.

You could do a ’70s disco vibe with ALL the sparkles. Perhaps A DIY vintage look with upcycled materials and perfectly imperfect details (like paper and macramé attachments). Or something traditional with black, orange and playful splashes of neon.

A Black artist traces the word

Step 3: Use a sketch or stencil  

Sketch your design right onto your pumpkin before you begin painting so you can make sure the scale is right. You might have to erase and start over a few times to get it just right, and that’s totally okay!

If you want to go high-tech and you have access to a laptop, digital tablet and a projector, try these tips:

  • Take a picture of your pumpkin and use a digital tablet to draw designs onto the photo. This helps a ton with perfecting your design and scale.
  • Once you’ve figured out your approach, project and trace your drawing onto the pumpkin.
  • Finally, test your paints to check how many coats you’ll need for your desired shade. Paint on the back or bottom of the pumpkin where no one will see, paint and wipe off, or just plan to paint over the test. Spraying your pumpkin with a primer also works wonders.

 

A woman paints on a black pumpkin.

Step 4: PAINT, finally!  

You’ve got a plan and your pumpkins are officially primed and prepped for some color. Make them flawless with our painting secrets below:

  • Grab your pumpkin by the stem and use that to rotate it and paint from different angles as you make your way around.
  • If you don’t like how something turns out, paint over it or start over on the back side of the pumpkin.
  • For more controlled linework or shapes, use a colored Sharpie. Or if you’re looking for something expressive and bold, try acrylic paint and a thick brush!
  • Some craft paints are not very pigmented and require multiple coats. Using heavier body acrylics or adding a little heavy body white acrylic paint helps this a little. (“Heavy body” or “high viscosity” paints have a thicker consistency.) 
  • If you’re using plastic pumpkins, prime them with matte primer or white spray paint. This makes the colors look brighter, helps the acrylic paint stick better and ultimately saves you a few coats of paint.
  • Spray large areas with spray paint. It looks cleaner and you won’t have to worry about messy brush stroke marks.
  • Premix or pre-pour your paint beforehand so you’re not deciding on colors while you’re painting. And always mix more of a unique color than you think you will need—you don’t want to run out halfway through your pumpkin.
  • Also, don’t be scared to do a double coat—it might need it.
Various painted pumpkins are displayed.
A large assortment of painted pumpkins is displayed against a teal background.

Step 5: Show ’em off!  

After all your hard work, these beauties deserve some admiration! The most obvious place to display them is the front porch, but don’t forget to use plastic ones or spray real ones with spray paint to stymie squirrels. There are so many other great places to show off your pretty pumpkins:

  • A windowsill (especially if you live in an apartment)
  • Arranged around your fireplace or on the mantel
  • As a centerpiece on your dining table
  • On your desk at work
  • In a styled vignette on a bookshelf
  • Lining that awkward space on top of your kitchen cabinets
  • In the corner of a staircase landing
  • Piled on a bedside table in a kiddo’s room
  • On top of the fridge

 

A woman holds a pink and orange painted pumpkin that has the words

We love easy-peasy color blocking (with a boo-tiful twist this time).

A white pumpkin is decorated with black hand-drawn doodles.

Little doodles like these with a permanent marker are creepy-cute.

Three pumpkins displayed against a neon orange background are painted with icons like a skeleton, stars, moon and eyes.

Whimsical graphic illustrations/icons that fit the occasion are always a good choice. Think witches, classic monsters and ghouls, or your fave candies.

A pair of hands grasp a painted pumpkin that reads,

Puns + pumpkin painting = yes, please! Practice some fun lettering with these quotes:

  • Boo-yah!
  • Candy crazy
  • Hello gourd-geous!
  • Too ghoul for you
  • Where’s my broom?
  • Oh my gourd!

Two colorfully painted plastic pumpkins are placed on a white cloth.

Go wild with abstract brushstrokes using different colors and brush sizes.

Three pumpkins are painted black and white with various patterns like stripes and polka dots.

Polka dots and stripes never go out of style. Experiment with different colors. Make some dots small and some Franken-sized. Leave some stripes straight and others wiggly. Just have fun with it!

Three vintage-inspired pumpkins decorated in painted flowers and a knit cover are displayed in front of a checkered background.

Channel vintage vibes with some retro florals and crochet embellishments.

A paper cut-out owl is placed over a green pumpkin.

If you’re a perfectionist, we’re looking at you for this idea. Practice painting on paper first, then cut out your best design and glue it directly onto your pumpkin. No mess, no mishaps, and you get to look in the mirror and say “Picasso WHO?” 😎

If you need us, we’ll be snacking on some pumpkin seeds and having fun with these pumpkin painting ideas. Cheers to welcoming all your new pumpkins into the world, and happy crafting, friends! 🎃

 

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