Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Try this easy no-carve pumpkin decorating idea with seasonal annuals and gourds. Create a bountiful harvest display with full-sized or mini pumpkins arranged with other harvest vegetables such as gourds, flowering kale, cabbage, Indian corn and flowers, like pansies and mums.

If you like the colorful pairing of pumpkins and fall flowers, take it one step further and use a pumpkin as a planter. Clean out the pumpkin and place a plant or vase inside. Hide the container underneath flowers or the leaves of a plant.

Ditch the tools and get your Jack-o'-lantern in the Halloween spirit without any slicing or dicing. Painted pumpkins are an easy way to create stylish pumpkin decor. Use shiny gold, white or black spray paint to make stand-out centerpieces. Or simply paint on go-to harvest sayings, or fall leaves. For an added touch, use push-pins to create any design you choose. You can also use chalkboard paint and then decorate with chalk, or write your own welcome messages for trick or treaters.

When you need quick Halloween decor or don't have time to carve a pumpkin, pick up several foam pumpkins. Foam pumpkins are easy to carve but without the mess. Hollow on the inside, they are perfect for holding LED candles.

For the true Halloween carving masters, using pumpkin carving kits allows you to sculpt limitless designs into your pumpkin with precision. These kits come with specialty knives that make it easy to cut specific shapes and designs in the pumpkin.

Preserve the haunting glow of your pumpkin this Halloween by lightly coating the inside of the pumpkin and any carved areas with petroleum jelly. The coating also helps to preserve the pumpkin so that it lasts longer.

Plastic pumpkins are usually already decorated when you purchase them. You can also spray paint these pumpkins or add stickers and other decorations to personalize them. Store in a cool, dry place and these decorations will last for years.

Young children will enjoy getting to decorate their own pumpkin with silly faces. Pick out various shapes, textures and sizes of pumpkins to decorate, or let them choose their own. Then lay out black cardboard or craft foam to cut out eyes, ears and hands—the options are endless.

You don't have to stick with traditional colors and themes when decorating pumpkins. Embellish fresh or foam pumpkins with lace and ribbons, melt crayons and drip wax over them, or arrange flowers on top of the pumpkin to create a tabletop centerpiece.

For an all-natural centerpiece, arrange succulents on a pumpkin planter. Carve the pumpkin as desired. Working from the bottom of the planter, arrange succulents in the opening, then add top soil to cover roots and hold the plants in place. Add another layer of soil to the bottom of the next opening. Arrange plants and add top soil. Continue until the pumpkin is full of soil. Arrange succulents in top opening of pumpkin to complete.