Decorating pumpkins without a big mess is so easy! Get 75+ ideas for unique pumpkin decor that is perfect for fall and Halloween. These projects are all great for beginners.
I’ll never forget the biggest pumpkin I’ve ever seen in my life. My dad surprised me and my fourth brothers with a ginormous gourd on a garbage cart, because it was too heavy to lift.
It was so big we even named it! I can’t remember the name, but it was girthy just like the pumpkin. And we were both excited and scared to carve it. It was probably only 4′ wide or so, and not terribly tall. But in my mind’s eye it was ten feet tall and filled with pumpkin guts.
Because the truth is, I’ve never really liked carving pumpkins for Halloween. For whatever reason that I’m sure is chemical or genetic, I hate the smell of the innards. They turn my stomach. And the texture? Makes me gag as well.
I know I’m being picky, but the whole process really grosses me out. And usually I would consider myself a little bit tougher. Especially when it comes to Halloween crafting. I mean . . . that’s my jam. I will go to great lengths to make the season fabulous.
Carving isn’t a requirement, though. While carving is very cool, there are other ways to decorate pumpkins. And I’m going to give you over 75 ideas for how to do exactly that!
There are a variety of craft items you can use for decorating pumpkins. They include but are not limited to: painting, decoupage, hot glue, pom poms, stickers, vinyl, gems, feathers, and more.
AND there are a few carving ideas in here, but they are fake pumpkins, so the experience is very different. Some fake pumpkins you can carve, some you cannot (check the tag).
If you’re ready to grab a huge list ideas for pumpkin decorating (without the smell), check out the list below! Then let me know in the comments which you try!
1
Courtney Sanchez
R2-D2 and C-3PO Star Wars Pumpkins
These Star Wars pumpkins are so fun to make. Celebrate fall and Halloween with your own version of R2-D2 and C-3PO. These ARE the droids you’re looking for!
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2
Mod Podge Pumpkins with Maps
Try a seasonal craft that is a bit different with these unique Mod Podge pumpkins! These DIY pumpkins are SO easy to make.
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3
simpleasthatblog.com
Woodland Creature No-Carve Pumpkins
These woodland creature no-carve pumpkins are the perfect way to dress up your gourds this fall.
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4
Crystal Owens
Glow in the Dark Vinyl
Learn how to make glow in the dark pumpkins using vinyl! This is a very EASY project with absolutely no mess, and a great way to decorate your Halloween porch.
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5
Amy Bell
DIY Painted Buffalo Check Pumpkins
Learn how to make these buffalo check pumpkins with plain craft pumpkins. An easy and trendy craft project to make for fall!
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6
thediyplaybook.com
Ice Cream Cones
Oh my – these ice cream cones are the cutest! Just requires some simply painting.
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7
plaidonline.com
Pumpkin Spice Latte Gift
Give that coffee lover what they love most, a 'pumpkin' spice latte sprinkled with color and creativity.
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8
thehousethatlarsbuilt.com
Scandinavian Inspired
White mini gourds are made up with this no-carve idea. Just mini painted pumpkins for a fast and lovely look.
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9
Plaid Crafts
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!
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10
www.stylemepretty.com
DIY Fruit Pumpkins
Try these no-carve, no mess pumpkins for Halloween. Using paint and paper, you can style them into your favorite fruit.
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11
thehousethatlarsbuilt.com
DIY Rainbow Pumpkins
Click for my top tips + every shade of paint you'll need to make your own DIY rainbow pumpkins to fill your front porch this Halloween and Thanksgiving!
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12
Crystal Owens
Disney UP Pumpkin
This easy decorating idea is inspired by the Disney Pixar movie and is easy for kids to make.
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13
DIY Skeleton Pumpkin
Learn how to turn a plain faux pumpkin into a spooky Halloween skull pumpkin! It's very easy to do, and perfect for your holiday decor.
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14
meaningfulmenagerie.blogspot.com
Snoopy as Red Baron
Remember Snoopy's imaginary battles against the Red Baron? They began in the 60s and lasted for several decades!
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15
Ashley Hackshaw
How to Make Sharpie Owl Pumpkins
A cute idea for decorating a pumpkin without carving it: draw these "sugar skull" owls on the pumpkins using sharpie markers. Make a whole family of owls!
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16
asubtlerevelry.com
Abstract Painted
These painted gourds are bold, beautiful and a great way to make this Halloween the brightest one yet.
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17
www.craftberrybush.com
Hand Painted Florals
You might be thinking that if you don't know how to paint, you can't decorate a pumpkin using this method. But that's the thing! This is really easy beginner painting, and Lucy is going to show you how.
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18
plaidonline.com
Abstract Acrylic Pour
Give your gourds some spooky Halloween colors with this fun acrylic paint pouring project.
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19
www.awwsam.com
DIY Caramel Apple Decorated Pumpkins
These caramel apple pumpkins are super easy to make, and would be a fun project to make with kiddos.
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20
Pretty Life Girls
Fabric Covered Pumpkins
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.
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21
Allison Murray
Out of this World Jack-o-Lantern
This is a bit of a different way to create a galaxy pumpkin! You don't need any painting skills (it's very "loose"), and if you want to light it up, you can. Simply drill into the bottom and add LED Christmas lights!
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22
thesoccermomblog.com
Mickey & Minnie Mouse Pumpkins
Transform a dollar store foam pumpkin into an adorable Minnie or Mickey Mouse Pumpkin.
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23
ohsobeautifulpaper.com
DIY Matisse-Inspired Pumpkins
Who says Halloween pumpkins have to be scary (or messy)? This post shares the how-to for these DIY Matisse-inspired pumpkins inspired by art and made with colorful vinyl.
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24
Aki Alltuna
DIY Unicorn Pumpkins with Batty Embellishments
I'm really loving that the horn for this sweet little unicorn is made with clay! That gives you a lot of flexibility to make this using any size gourd you like.
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25
make-it-your-own.com
Gumball Machine
Purchase inexpensive tissue paper confetti dots at a party store, dollar store or online. Then cover your surface in "gumballs" using Mod Podge. Add a bucket for the base!
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26
www.epbot.com
Stay Puft Pumpkin Man
If you think about it, the mini white pumpkins are perfect for the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man's fabulous rolls.
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27
kidfriendlythingstodo.com
Make A Black Cat
Set this kitty cat pumpkin on your porch for an adorable Halloween display. You can make it out of a few simple items including a broom and a velvet witch's hat.
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28
www.livinglavidaholoka.com
Look Sharp with a DIY Cactus Pumpkin
Your Halloween decor will be looking sharp this year when you make this adorable cactus! You just need basic painting skills.
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29
www.shrimpsaladcircus.com
Hamburger Pumpkin Fall Decor
Skip the jack o' lantern this Halloween and carve up a cute hamburger pumpkin that you can put on display year after year since it's reusable!
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30
megduerksen.typepad.com
Colorful and Bright
Who says that pumpkins have to be decorated with orange and black only? I love these bright colors and eye catching designs.
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31
www.ctrlcurate.com
DIY Tiny Terrazzo Pumpkins
Play with the terrazzo trend and get your home ready for Fall-oween with these DIY, modern terrazzo pumpkins.
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32
Stephanie Dirks
Melted Crayon Pumpkin
This is a very satisfying no carve pumpkin! If you've never melted crayons before, it looks striking on a white faux gourd.
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33
www.handmadecharlotte.com
Painted Party Pumpkins
Get creative and play with color this autumn! Not only also these cute pumpkins painted so pretty, but I love their paper party hats.
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34
Lucy Atkins
Blue Porcelain Craft Pumpkin
Lucy said that for this project she pushed herself outside her comfort zone – and I'm so glad she did! If you're not comfortable using paint pens, she also made a design that you can print out and Mod Podge on.
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35
asthebunnyhops.com
Glow In The Dark Poison Apple
You'll be surprised by just how easy it is to make this Disney inspired pumpkin! The best part is that it glows, and there are only a few supplies required.
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36
akailochiclife.com
DIY 90’s Patterned Pumpkins
This project is great for those of you without a steady hand because it is essentially like putting stickers on a pumpkin. You just have to make the stickers first.
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37
cutefetti.com
No Carve Emoji Pumpkins
Make emoji gourds using yellow spray paint and any faces you like! These are really easy for even kids to put together.
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38
karenkavett.com
DIY No-Carve Harry Potter Pumpkins
A little bit of vinyl and you can have the cutest Harry Potter pumpkins in the world! You'll get the Harry shown as well as a golden snitch and a few other fun options.
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39
Think.Make.Share.
Tissue Paper Matisse Pumpkins
I shared some Matisse pumpkins already, but these are made with tissue paper! Learn how to apply tissue paper to pumpkins with Mod Podge. So easy.
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40
thehousethatlarsbuilt.com
DIY Pastel Pumpkin Faces
These cute DIY painted pumpkin templates will make your Halloween porch decor so easy and clever this year.
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41
Kimberly West
Letterboard Pumpkin
Do you love letter boards? Me too! This is a cute way to use that idea on a pumpkin surface. And it's perfect for the saying of your choice.
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42
www.theresasmixednuts.com
Shine Bright Like Jack Skellington
My favorite things at Halloween are the things that glow in the dark! This Nightmare Before Christmas inspired pumpkin does just that.
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43
apumpkinandaprincess.com
Black and White Glam Pumpkin
Looking for something a little fancier for your Halloween decor? This glam pumpkin features rhinestones and a witch hat.
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44
asthebunnyhops.com
Buzz and Woody Toy Story Pumpkins
It doesn't matter if you're a Space Ranger or a cowboy – you'll have a friend in these Toy Story-inspired Buzz and Woody pumpkins!
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45
onelittleproject.com
My Little Pony
These no-carve pumpkins are SO EASY! All you do is paint the gourd, add the cute printable faces, and use a feather boa for the hair.
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46
studiodiy.com
DIY Donut Pumpkins
Kelly turned some mini pumpkins into frosting covered, sprinkle dipped pieces of goodness.
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47
matsutakeblog.blogspot.com
Stained Glass Pumpkins
I've never seen a pumpkin that reminded me of a church, but these do. The stained glass is made with transparency firm.
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48
thistlewoodfarms.com
Chalkboard Word Find Pumpkin
Paint a pumpkin with chalkboard paint and add letters to create your own word find gourd! And of course, the chalk is erasable.
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49
www.aliceandlois.com
Marbled Indigo Pumpkins
Do you have a thing for indigo? Decorate pumpkins with nail polish using a marbled effect! This is so simple, and so unique.
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50
Duct Tape
Learn how to decorate a pumpkin with Duck Tape! This is the easiest method, and both kids and adults can do it.
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51
funmoneymom.com
Hello Kitty Pumpkin
Littles and 70s babies alike are going to love making this fun Hello Kitty pumpkin for Halloween!
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52
arinsolangeathome.com
Color Block Pink
Color blocked pink pumpkins are such a fun way to add color to your fall or Halloween decor.
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53
funmoneymom.com
Baby Yoda
This Baby Yoda pumpkin couldn't get much cuter, and your kids will love making a bunch of them for the holiday.
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54
www.homeyohmy.com
DIY Gold Confetti Pumpkins
Grab a roll of a gold washi tape and give this idea a go! All you have to do is cut the tape with scissors and you're ready to decorate.
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55
letsmingleblog.com
DIY Football Pumpkins
Looking for an easy and awesome way to decorate your pumpkins with a sports theme this year? It doesn't get more simple than these DIY football pumpkins!
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56
prettyprovidence.com
No-Carve Pumpkin People
This is a fun and easy way to decorate your porch for fall and Halloween! All you need are craft pumpkins, hot glue, and some inexpensive accessories.
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57
Ashley Hackshaw
Hedgehog Pumpkins
Make these cute no-carve hedgehog pumpkins – a simple easy way to decorate your gourds to use as table or porch decor!
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58
www.anightowlblog.com
Neon Paint Dipped
An easy, fun and modern take on the pumpkin – neon dipped! This is a very simple decorating technique that anyone can master.
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59
authenticallyemmie.com
DIY Leopard Print Pumpkin
No painting required! The use of temporary tattoo paper makes for an easy and fun autumn project.
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60
Coastal Beach Inspired Pumpkins
These sand covered pumpkins are EASY to make and perfect for adding to a coastal fall decor display.
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61
www.professorpincushion.com
Pincushion Pumpkin
A fun alternative to carving, this Halloween pumpkin looks like a pincushion and is perfect for anyone who loves sewing.
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62
Kelly Rowe
DIY Steampunk Pumpkin
Create a fun DIY steampunk pumpkin with random hardware! This is a great kids' craft too, and kids will love creating their own unique faces.
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63
simpleasthatblog.com
Give Thanks Pumpkins
These pretty pumpkins have a soft, painted look! I love that you can keep them up from fall through Thanksgiving.
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64
www.craftymorning.com
No Carve Minions
Make no-carve minion pumpkins from the movie Despicable Me! They are so fun to paint, and are great for a Halloween porch decoration.
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65
DIY Nautical Pumpkin
This DIY nautical pumpkin uses Mod Podge and fabric to turn a gourd into fantastic fall decor.
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66
themerrythought.com
DIY Fresh Floral Moon Pumpkin
The fresh flowers take this unique pumpkin from spooky to sweet! It would also be a perfect centerpiece for your Halloween table spread if you’re planning a get together this year.
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67
asthebunnyhops.com
Disney’s Dumbo Pumpkin
Dumbo was a movie I loved growing up! This pumpkin is inspired by our favorite elephant, and I love the ruffled collar and the tiny hat.
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68
www.homeyohmy.com
DIY Mud Cloth Pumpkins
Pumpkins are a great low commitment way to try out trends or designs for the season, and this particular project was inspired by mud cloth!
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69
Decorate with Confetti
Try to decorate a pumpkin with confetti and Mod Podge. So easy even a kid could do it!
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70
Amy Buchanan
No-Carve Pizza
Check out these adorable pizza pumpkins. Paint on the sauce and use yarn and craft foam to add your favorite toppings.
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71
Steve Carrell
Colorful Harlequin Pumpkins
These awesome harlequin painted pumpkins are so easy to make – the perfect last minute DIY project for your Halloween or Thanksgiving decor.
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72
Pumpkin Decorating for Kids
This is one of the coolest pumpkin decorating ideas for kids you'll find! It's easy to do with Mod Podge and confetti.
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73
Diamond Dust
Learn how to make these pumpkin decorations with chalk paint, Mod Podge, and diamond dust!
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74
Day of the Dead Pumpkin Craft
Are you ready for a cool Day of the Dead pumpkin craft you can make in a matter of minutes? You can customize this project with any napkins you like.
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If you enjoyed these fall and Halloween pumpkins, I’d love for you to check out these other posts:
- Dollar Tree Halloween Crafts You’ll Have to Try
- 30+ Fun Halloween Paper Plate Crafts for Kids
- Wood Halloween Crafts You Need For Spooky Decor
- Halloween Crafts for Kids: 50 Spooky Projects!
- Halloween Garlands: Festive DIYs for Party or Decor!
Debby Cole
Wednesday 31st of August 2022
Amazing and very cool.
Amy
Wednesday 31st of August 2022
Thank you so much!