To paint this pumpkin, use stenciling tape to cover an all-over overlapping pattern on its rounded surface. Paint inside each taped area with contrasting colors, being careful not to cross over the lines. Let your paint dry, then slowly peel back the tape to reveal the fun pattern and orange lines underneath.
The 30 Best Painted Pumpkin Ideas From Our Editors
Learn how to paint a Halloween pumpkin in 30 ways using polka dots, chalk lettering, geometric stencils, and more.
Alexandra is a former digital editor for MarthaStewart.com.
Alex is the senior home editor for Martha Stewart. She has over 10 years of experience producing digital content in the home and lifestyle space, ranging from cleaning and organizing to etiquette and home design.
Updated on October 3, 2023
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Once upon a fall day at our offices, a group of editors and staffers came together and hosted a pumpkin painting party—and the result is the colorful batch of pumpkins you’ll find pictured here. Why not follow suit and do the same with your friends and family? It’s a wonderful way to welcome autumn alongside your nearest and dearest. You’ll also get the opportunity to express your creativity and put those artistic skills to good use.
Of course, you’ll need to stock your pumpkin decorating kit before you get going. Start with a set of craft paint in a rainbow of colors; a decoupage medium, adhesive tape, gilding liquid, brushes, and stencils in any mix of patterns are also helpful. Glitter, pom-poms, foam figures (like a decorative spider), printable clip art and templates, and other miscellaneous materials can be used to accent your pumpkin. All that’s left is your imaginative ingenuity.
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Rockstar Pumpkins
Create a fun cast of rock and roll pumpkin characters this year. Spray-paint your pumpkin black. After it dries, paint on the face, then use a hammer to tap studs, nails, and pins into the pumpkin flesh. Add other accents, like a nose piercing, with superglue.
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Color-Changing Thermochromic Pumpkin
This eerie pumpkin’s effects are done with a special kind of pigment application. After spray painting your pumpkin the desired color, use thermochromic pigment to add your handprint to the pumpkin. When the temperature drops, your handprint will be visible—when the temperature increases, your handprint will change to a clear powder.
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30+ Pumpkin Painting Ideas that Will Blow Your Mind
Is pumpkin carving not your thing? Pumpkin painting is the best, no-carve way to get artsy with your pumpkins. Use a combination of intricate designs and simple pumpkin painting ideas to decorate your home and front porch.
To help inspire you, I have created an extensive list of fun DIY pumpkin painting ideas that you can use this year and for years to come. Keep reading and check out some of the fabulous ideas.
How to Paint Pumpkins
Depending on the project you choose, you will need some of the supplies below.
Supplies:
- Pumpkins (either real or fake) – You can find ceramic or plastic pumpkins at craft stores and online
- Acrylic paint
- Chalk paint
- Paint brushes of varying sizes
- Acrylic paint pens
- Stencils
- Modge Podge or protective sealant
The Best Pumpkin Painting Ideas
Here are some of the most beautiful and creative painting ideas from across the the internet! From colorful and and happy to trendy and spooky, there’s a pumpkin painting idea for everyone! Take a look and get some inspiration to start painting your own pumpkins.
Desert Vibes Landscape
A beautiful way to decorate pumpkins in the fall is to paint a scenic landscape pumpkin. This creator used craft paint in warm colors with shades of dark paint to light to show off the desert oasis.
Animal Print Pumpkins
Animal prints are all the rage! Use cheetah, leopard, and zebra prints to make a modern yet festive feel for the fall. These are nice additions to the front porch or to your home decor.
Pretty Pastel Pumpkins
You don’t often see pumpkins in pretty pastel shades, so this will add a unique touch to your pumpkin designs. All you need are some brightly colored pastel paints and a good craft pumpkin or two. Paint a real pumpkin or one from the craft store and hang onto it for years.
SpongeBob Pumpkins
Everyone loves SpongeBob Squarepants! Don’t limit your halloween painting to just pumpkins. Gourds are perfect for painting too. Add these cute Halloween decorations to your collection. Trick-or-treaters will enjoy seeing them posted on your front porch. They may take some attention to detail and lots of colors, but they are well worth it.
Cute Donuts
Grab your favorite paint shades and make your little pumpkins look like delicious pumpkin donuts! You can even turn your pumpkins into cute panda pumpkins and cat pumpkins. Decorate fine details with real sprinkles and treats on the top. This is a fun way to combine fall and sugar!
Easy Pumpkin Painting Idea
This simple painting idea lets you get crafty with a paint pen. All you need are some smooth pumpkins and a white (or black pen). Add leafy designs, small dots, flowers, or paisleys. The possibilities are endless.
Metallic Pumpkins
There’s something so classy about these metallic painted pumpkins. Add paint to a real or faux pumpkin and decorate your modern-themed home. These give the space a classy look and a fun twist on fall.
Pattern Pumpkin
A super fun way to spice up your Halloween decorations is to add a print or pattern to the pumpkin. It may seem difficult but just grab a pain pen and start creating any type of lines. Continue those lines around the pumping, add dots, and a variety of squiggles and you have a masterpiece.
Image Source: @kristineslashbar
Classic Halloween Designs
Everyone loves classic Halloween decor, so you can’t go wrong by painting your pumpkins with spooky themes. Use your artistic skills to decorate the entire pumpkin to look like a cat or a spider webs full of 8-legged creatures. These are fun for kids to create as well.
Polka Dots
If you are trying to think of cute pumpkin painting ideas, these polka dots wont disappoint. Use a paintbrush and add the dots directly onto your pumpkins or use black spray paint to coat them first. Then, cover them in white dots, or vice versa! Even young kids can help to make these easy polka dot pumpkins.
Gingham and Monogrammed Pumpkins
These gingham and monogrammed pumpkins are perfect for ceramic or plastic pumpkins. Decorate them to match your home decor and save them for years to come. Don’t forget to coat them with Modge Podge or a clear coating to help them withstand storage over the years.
Monster Eye Painted Pumpkins
If you love spooky at Halloween time, you will enjoy creating your own monster eye painted pumpkin. Simply paint your pumpkins white, and then use a steady hand to decorate the irises and pupils in different colors. It’s the perfect time of year to unleash the spookiness.
Simple Pumpkin Painting Idea
Pumpkin painting doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful. This creator simply painted their pumpkins white and added pastel acrylic craft paints on top. A gold metallic paint was used for the stem.
Blue Painted Pumpkins
These blue pumpkins are extremely cute and I love the leopard and gingham prints. They are a fun modern take on the classic pumpkin. For best results, use some painter’s tape to get your lines as straight as possible on a gingham print.
Floral Pumpkins
Add some beautiful rosettes to the surface of your pumpkin and you get a nice springy look that’s great all year round! Make the flowers match your color scheme by playing with the paint colors you use.
Pretty in Pink Pumpkins
Pink is the new orange when it comes to pumpkins.. Just use a variety of pink and white acrylic paint to decorate them.
Bird Pumpkin
This painting technique turns an ordinary pumpkin into a piece of art. It’s the perfect pumpkin to have on display all year long. Use fall colors to make it more festive.
Abstract Painted Pumpkin
Create a fun abstract painting on your pumpkin using a variety of colors and paint brush sizes. It’s a super easy way to paint pumpkins of all sizes. This artist added flecks of paint as small details. You could also add glitter for added shine and dimension.
Night Sky Halloween Decor
This night sky pumpkin is the perfect piece of fall decor for any home. The dark pumpkin would make a beautiful centerpiece for a dining room table. The creator used a combination of black paint, white paint and metallics for a fun and festive vibe.
Creative Halloween Pumpkins
Decorate your mini pumpkins with a variety of Halloween and fall images. Use ghosts, spiders, bats, jack-o-lanters, and spooky sayings. Then, display them around the house, on the party table or at your front door!
Dog Pumpkin
If you have a dog or love dogs, test your hand at painting them on the front of an orange pumpkin. Draw and paint them from memory, or take a picture to refer to. These aren’t traditional designs but they sure are amazing.
Lilly Pulitzer Inspired Pumpkins
If you love Lilly Pulitzer inspired designs, here are plenty of pumpkin painting ideas for you! Decorate your pumpkins with bright flowers, flamingos, pumpkins, vines, and more to maker your pumpkins pop!
Autumn Leaves
Paint tiny fall leaves onto the surface of your pumpkin or gourds and you have adorable mini fall decorations for the whole season. Look for leaf stencils to make the painting process even easier!
Hand Painted Pumpkins with Floral Designs
Handpaint your pumpkins with a solid color background and floral design on top. Use solid flowers or a mix of colors to match your fall decor. Get creative with the petals and leaves!
Neutral Painted Pumpkins
These neutral pumpkins are a lovely way to decorate any home without adding crazy colors. Use tans, grays, and beiges to create your background. Then, add contrasting colors and designs on top!
Sugar Skull Pumpkin Design
Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead with sugar skull pumpkins. This is a great pumpkin painting project for kids. Paint the sugar skulls onto real or fake pumpkins using bright colors and cute shapes.
Nightmare Before Christmas Pumpkins
Jack Skellington and company are great additions to October fun! Create your own display of characters to set out for Halloween festivities.
M&M’s Pumpkins
Paint your sweet pumpkins to look like your favorite candy treat! These M&M creations will look adorable on your front steps this fall.
Coastal Pumpkins
Decorate your pumpkins with a seashore feel! Add seahorses, sea turtles, coral, and more. Use blues and whites to create these lovely masterpieces.
Disney Painted Pumpkins
Kids will love painting their favorite Disney characters onto pumpkins like this Mickey and Minnie duo.
Rainbow Pumpkins
If you want to decorate your entire porch, grab a ton of pumpkins and paint each one a different color. You’ll have a beautiful display of rainbow pumpkins to greet your fall guests.
Enjoy painting your pumpkins this year using some of these fun ideas!
