Creative Pumpkin Decorating Ideas to Cozy Up Your Fall Home
Looking for new ways to decorate with pumpkins this fall? Whether you love classic heirloom pumpkins, metallic finishes, or unique DIY designs, there are so many creative ways to use them around your home.
From a simple pumpkin on a pedestal to a beautiful centerpiece overflowing with heirloom pumpkins, these ideas will help you cozy up your spaces with plenty of fall texture and warmth.
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I have to admit, I might have a bit of a pumpkin problem. There are just so many cute shapes, colors, and textures, I can’t help myself! I love finding new ways to decorate with them, both inside and out. It just isn’t fall without a few pumpkins around the house.
If you’re in fall decorating mode and love “no carve” pumpkin ideas, I’ve got you covered. Here are some of my favorite creative ways to decorate and display pumpkins this season, with no messy pumpkin guts required!
Creative Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Fall
From simple DIYs to easy styling tips, here are some creative ways to decorate with pumpkins around your home this fall.
DIY Pumpkin Crafts
1. Decoupage a Pumpkin
Find paper napkins in your favorite colors and patterns and create beautiful patterned pumpkins. All you need is some Mod Podge, a sponge brush, and your favorite napkins and you’re ready to go! It’s such a fun project to make!
Craft supplies:
- paper napkins or tissue paper
- pumpkins
- Mod Podge
- sponge brush
How to Do It:
- Separate the printed layer of your napkin.
- Apply Mod Podge to the pumpkin in small sections.
- Cut the napkin into manageable pieces and gently press it onto the pumpkin.
- Match up the print as you go (if needed) and smooth with your brush.
- Finish with a light coat of Mod Podge to seal.
Tip: For a softer look, cut out smaller pieces of the napkin design and apply them just to the top or sides of your pumpkin instead of covering the whole thing.
For a full tutorial, you can read more about creating beautiful decoupage pumpkins here!
2. Paint a Blue and White Chinoiserie Pumpkin
If you love blue and white decor, this idea is perfect. Create the look of a Chinoiserie ginger jar with a few simple materials.
Craft Supplies:
- White pumpkin
- Blue Sharpie
- Blue and white acrylic craft paints
- Small paint brush
How To:
- Use a blue Sharpie to draw swirling patterns around a white pumpkin.
- Paint over the lines with blue and white acrylic paint, mixing as you go for variation.
- Let dry and seal if desired.
3. Add Rose Gold Metal Leaf to Mini Pumpkins
Metal leaf is so much fun to use. Yes, it can be a little sticky and messy, but I get so much satisfaction from applying the metal leaf. It’s quite forgiving. I gave these little rose gold pumpkins a distressed look by sparingly applying the adhesive and then the gold leaf. I love how they turned out!
Craft Supplies:
- Metal Leaf Adhesive
- Rose Gold Metal Leaf sheets
- Small sponge brush
How To:
- Apply metal leaf adhesive to your pumpkin.
- Tear small pieces of rose gold leaf and apply with a sponge brush.
- Gently brush away the excess for a distressed look.
3. Paint a Blue and White Buffalo Plaid Pumpkin
I love buffalo plaid, and fall is the perfect time to make a little plaid painted pumpkin. You can get creative with so many color possibilities, but I like these little blue and white guys!
Styled Pumpkin Displays
Once you’ve crafted a few pumpkins (or gathered some favorites), try displaying them in these simple, creative ways.
- On a Pedestal or Urn: Everything looks prettier elevated, so display a pumpkin on a small pedestal or urn for instant style.
- A wooden pedestal bowl full of small pumpkins is a simple way to make a subtle fall statement in the kitchen.
- A small pumpkin on a small concrete pedestal urn is the perfect addition to a countertop or tablescape. Add a layer of moss at the base for a pretty look.
- A milk glass pedestal bowl is perfect for displaying a white velvet pumpkin and bittersweet!
- Under a Glass Cloche: A mix of colorful pumpkins under glass feels collected and special. I added a mixture of colorful pumpkins to the glass cloche on our countertop. The glass cloche makes them feel extra special!
- In a Bowl or Basket: The best pumpkin ideas are the easy ones, and it doesn’t get much easier than this.
- Gather velvet or heirloom pumpkins in a pretty footed bowl or large basket for easy texture. I love the pretty green velvet pumpkins mixed with the white pumpkins and pinecones. And everything just looks more special in a pretty blue and white bowl!
- I’ve added large green and white pumpkins to a large round basket on our coffee table, and added large moss covered balls for texture. (As a side note, if you have a cute little goldendoodle who really loves to eat moss-covered balls, this might not be the best idea for you. Guess why I know this!.)
- And I love them styled in the large basket on our kitchen table!
- On a Tray or Cutting Board: Add a few small pumpkins to a wooden tray or board for a casual kitchen accent. These cute little braided pumpkins add great fall texture wherever you place them. I’m displaying them in the kitchen on a cutting board next to our glass canisters.
- In a Lantern or on Shelves: Fill lanterns with pumpkins or tuck small ones into bookshelves for a cozy seasonal touch.
- Pumpkin and Wheat Bundle Display: Add tied bundles of wheat with pumpkins on a woven tray or console table or buffet.
- Pumpkin Wreath in a Window: Use miniature white pumpkins to make a wreath and hang it over your kitchen or porch window.
- Velvet Pumpkins on the Dining Room Buffet: Velvet pumpkins add rich, luxurious texture to your room. They come in so many colors, and pairing some velvet pumpkins in rich fall colors with a bouquet of fresh flowers adds a pretty fall touch!
- Pumpkins Sprawling Across the Mantle: Pumpkins just make fall decorating so easy. Combine a variety of textures and styles of pumpkins on your mantel. I scattered some small pumpkins along our fireplace mantel and mixed in some bittersweet vine. Add some candles, and you’re good to go.
- Pumpkins with Pretty Blue and White Kitchen Linens: Add a simple touch of elegance to a table or countertop by pairing white pumpkins with the prettiest tea towels.
- Pumpkins and Candy Corn in a Dough Bowl: If you prefer festive over scary for Halloween, this dough bowl full of mini white pumpkins and candy corn makes the perfect centerpiece for your party!
- Pair of Beaded Wooden Pumpkins on a Foyer Table: This pair of beaded wooden pumpkins adds warmth and a bit of rustic texture to our entryway table. The wooden texture contrasts with the smooth glazed vase full of fresh hydrangeas.
- Pumpkins Stacked by the Fireplace: Whether you use real or faux pumpkins, display some pumpkins on your hearth beside a large vase full of fall branches for a cozy fall look.
- Tiny Grapevine Pumpkins on a Three Tiered Tray: Miniature pumpkins made from grapevines add natural texture to a 3-tiered tray all decked out for fall. Tuck them in with fall dish towels, small potted plants, and framed fall artwork.
- Pumpkins Leaning Against a Vase: These peachy velvet pumpkins add a soft subtle touch our sofa table, and are perfect with the blue and white vase of flowers.
- Pumpkins Tucked into Your Bookshelves: Give your built-in shelving a fall makeover with the fun addition of pumpkins scattered about. It’s an easy way to add a little fall fun.
- Stack a Pumpkin on Some Books: Sometimes simple is best when it comes to fall decor, and a simple little pumpkin on a stack of vintage books is a great way to add the perfect hint of fall.
Pumpkin Centerpiece Ideas
Pumpkins make the prettiest centerpieces whether on a casual coffee table or in an elegant dining room.
- Heirloom Pumpkin Centerpiece: Mix various sizes and soft muted tones for a collected, organic look.
- Footed Bowl with Bittersweet and Pumpkins: Combine white or peach pumpkins with bittersweet stems for a classic fall statement.
- Round Tray with Pumpkins, Candles, and Ribbon-Tied Wheat: Need an easy centerpiece for your fall table? It doesn’t get much easier than gathering a few pumpkins and gourds, a couple of fall-colored candles, and a few sprigs of wheat tied in a fall ribbon on a simple round tray.
- Pumpkins and bittersweet in a wooden dough bowl: White pumpkins, plaid pumpkins, and orange bittersweet combine for a classic fall decor touch. The wheat bundles tied with blue velvet ribbon complete the look!
- Ceramic jack-o-lantern in a cheerful Halloween tablescape: This cheerful Halloween table features a happy little terracotta pumpkin vase resting atop a small concrete urn as its focal point. It’s a display full of Halloween fun that kids of all ages will enjoy!
- Variety of Pumpkins in Your Tablescape: Piling white pumpkins on the dining table surrounding a pretty fall floral arrangement made from faux or fresh flowers is the perfect way to decorate your table for a fall gathering. Add some pink velvet pumpkins, some faux red pears, and some taper candles in reds and gold to the mix and you’ll have a gorgeous fall tablescape.
Outdoor Pumpkin Ideas
Extend your pumpkin decorating outdoors with these easy, welcoming displays.
- Heirloom Pumpkins and Mums on the Porch: Pair soft green pumpkins with rich burgundy mums in these elegant white planter boxes for a timeless fall color scheme.
- Outdoor Fall Tablescape with Pumpkins: An outdoor fall table is the perfect place to add pumpkins. Pair them with a pretty fall scarf for a fun table runner idea!
- Tuck a pumpkin in a planter: A small pumpkin tucked inside a planter pot is another fun way to add fall color to your porch.
Shop the Details
Scroll through for favorite finds to style your home for fall.
Budget-Friendly Tips for Decorating with Pumpkins:
Repurpose Old Decor: Take a fresh look at your existing fall decor items. Sometimes, a simple rearrangement or incorporating your old decorations with pumpkins can breathe new life into your space without spending a dime. Combine your pumpkins with items like candles, lanterns, or seasonal tablecloths to create a cohesive and budget-friendly look.
Use Natural Elements: Incorporate free or inexpensive natural elements like leaves, pinecones, or acorns to complement your pumpkin decor. These items can be found in your yard or a nearby park, adding a rustic touch without spending extra money.
DIY Paint and Decorate: Instead of buying expensive pre-decorated pumpkins, opt for DIY projects. Paint and decorate pumpkins yourself, using materials you already have at home, such as acrylic paints, markers, or ribbons. This allows you to customize your pumpkin decor while staying on budget.
Repurpose and Reuse: Don’t limit pumpkins to just one use. After Halloween, repurpose them for Thanksgiving by incorporating them into your table centerpiece or outdoor displays. This way, you get more mileage out of your pumpkin investments.
Explore Alternative Gourds: Consider using other affordable gourds and squashes alongside pumpkins. Varieties like butternut squash, spaghetti squash, or decorative gourds often cost less than traditional carving pumpkins but can add unique shapes and colors to your fall decor.
I hope these creative pumpkin decorating ideas inspire you to try something new in your home this fall. Whether you go bold with a metallic finish, keep it simple with a few velvet pumpkins, or style a pretty centerpiece, there are endless ways to make your home feel cozy and seasonal.
Which of these pumpkin ideas will you try first?
Happy Fall Decorating!
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You might also enjoy reading these fall decorating posts:
Easy Fall Decorating with Blue and White Decor
So many good ideas! I love the rose metal leaf pumpkins. Thank you for the inspiration. Pinned!
Thank you so much, Anna!! They are some of my favorites as well. Have a wonderful weekend!
So many great ideas! I love every single idea! ~Missy
Thank you so much, Missy!!
So many great ideas. I love the rose gold leaf pumpkins.
Isn’t leafing relaxing?
Thank you so much, Cindy! Those are some of my favorites, too!
I love pumpkins and enjoyed seeing all of yours displayed in such creative ways! Thanks for sharing your ideas!
Thank you so much, Donna!
Hi Kim,
Wondering if you could tell me the colors you used on the blue plaid pumpkin.
Thank you,
Sherri
Hi Sherri, I think I mixed a couple of colors together to achieve that look, but they are very similar to Folk Art “Look at Me Blue” for the lighter and Folk Art “Navy Blue” for the darker. I’m color matching the colors on the pumpkin to some paint I have on hand, and the Navy Blue looks spot on to the darker color. The Look at Me Blue is very close to the lighter. I may have actually mixed the Navy Blue with white to achieve the lighter color. I’m sorry I can’t be more exact. It’s been a few years since I painted those. Thanks so much for visiting the blog!
So many great ideas. I have a pumpkin addiction as well. Maybe we could go to Pumpkins Anonymous together and then go shopping for some pumpkins. Hugs to you.
That sounds like a great idea, Renae!!