Decorating with pumpkins is a fun and stylish way to decorate your home for fall and Halloween, but that doesn't always mean you have to break out the pumpkin carving kit.
This year, while I've been researching the biggest Halloween trends for 2024, I've noticed one common thing all the best interior designers and tastemakers are doing with their pumpkins and gourds – they're keeping them whole.
Beautiful in their own right, no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas are, of course, much simpler. And you can create some really elegantly eerie displays without having to make a mess, which gets a big tick from me. Here are my favorite no-carve, actually chic ways I'm decorating with pumpkins this Halloween.
6 Creative No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas
From gourds decorated with fall leaves to pumpkin painting ideas, take a look at these stylish pumpkin displays and pick up some creative tips that steer clear of tools and knives.
While getting stuck in with a gourd and a carving knife can be great fun, it’s not always the best way to go about Halloween decorating ideas, particularly if you have young children around.
For starters, the benefit of a non-carved pumpkin is that it lasts way longer. In fact, they can live for up to a few months so you can keep your display going way past the holiday, to see you through to Christmas decorating. The other benefit of no-carve pumpkin ideas? You can use the innards in your pumpkin recipes once Halloween is over.
1. Pile up your porch
Sure, this is an obvious one but sometimes it takes a really beautiful image to inspire you. What makes this display but Shea McGee so special is the abundance of pumpkins and gourds – and the mix of colors.
'There are many different varieties of pumpkins that span colorways too, so firstly, if the traditional orange shade isn't for you then consider one of these beautiful options instead,' says H&G's Jennifer Ebert. 'And secondly, choose a pumpkin that's got its own unique qualities, it will be eye-catching enough in its entirety so you won't need to carve any designs.'
Personally, this is the approach I've taken on the small steps of my porch. I've pilled up around 12 different sizes, shapes, and species of gourds to create a colorful display that doesn't scream spooky.
2. Add decorative accessories
If I were looking to spruce up my pile of pumpkins, I'd look to add some accessories to my pumpkins that don't require much effort past adding to basket.
From the viral McGee & Co. wicker witches hats to Terrain's bat stakes, there are plenty of Halloween accessories you can grab at a great price to help you elevate your simple display of pumpkins.
To make your Halloween motifs stand out even further, pick your largest pumpkin to decorate and consider giving it a lick of white or blue paint as a backdrop to match your front door. Of course, these can also be used indoors too.
These sell-out wicker witch hats by McGee & Co went viral last year. Crafted from wicker and wire they bring a Halloween motif while remaining chic. Act quick and you could save 40%, too.
Designed to be spread across a trio of pumpkins to spell out "BOO" or staked into one similar large and in charge gourd, these iron letters are sure to add some spookiness to your display.
If whimsical wicker hats aren't your bag, these iron witch hat lanterns are a great alternative. Pop an LED candle beneath to illuminate the spotty print on the hat or hang them up from the loop.
3. Use munchkin pumpkins for indoor decor
Not all no-carve pumpkin ideas have to be for outdoor Halloween decor; they work wonderfully indoors, too. 'Sometimes the smallest of touches can create the biggest impact and having a useful piece such as our box lanterns means you can create a themed look with minimal effort,' says Suzy Humphreys, founder of Layered Lounge.
'For Halloween, I fill a few square lanterns with a mix of our nude ceramic pumpkins, vibrant orange gourds, and a few leaves from the Virgina Creeper in our garden, it’s such a gorgeous mix of color and unmistakably fall.
'I’ll dot these along the mantelpiece or use it as Halloween table decor along with more lanterns filled with pillar candles, it's so simple but really effective. Once fall is done you can swap the pumpkins for pinecone decorations, fir sprigs, and dried oranges for an instant festive flourish.'
4. Try your hand at pumpkin painting
Pumpkin carving ideas can have their limitations so if you’re looking to inject some color, texture, or pattern into your pumpkin, then consider alternative techniques that can open up a whole world – or underworld – of possibilities with pumpkin painting ideas.
Picking up a paintbrush or grabbing a pot of glue can allow you to totally transform your pumpkin, either turning it into a Halloween showstopper or a nature-embracing piece of fall decor ready for putting your pumpkins out for the big event.
If you're looking to take a subtler approach, try reimagining your orange pumpkins in a new hue that better fits your home's existing color scheme.
5. Create a vase out of your gourds
Not keen to leave the carving totally behind you? The team at Bloom & Wild suggests a casual approach with carved pumpkin vases, as seen above, to create a spellbinding centerpiece.
Whether you're working with a huge pumpkin or smaller munchkins with a few buds or sprigs of foliage, this pumpkin vase couldn't be simpler and makes a welcome departure from a spooky-faced carving. Trust me, even I've given it a go with great success.
Simply cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin, scoop out the innards, and fit a glass or small vase inside. Fill your vessel with water and arrange your stems in a darling display.
6. Go faux with pretend pumpkins
Or, you can take the even easier route and go faux. If you don't have the time and patience for carving or painting, like me, and are looking for something you can reuse again and again, faux pumpkins can be found everywhere.
Fake gourds can be displayed just like the real deal to create a Halloween porch decor display alongside candles of varying heights for a welcoming holiday exhibit.
Additionally, faux pumpkins are easier to style indoors and are great for adding a natural feel to living room fall decor. ‘Decorating with faux pumpkins can be one of the easiest ways to decorate your home for Halloween,’ says Kelly Lambert, Senior Merchant for Seasonal Décor at Grandin Road. ‘Layer faux pumpkins with your everyday décor on your mantels, shelves, tabletops, and windowsills for a fun, colorful touch.’
Available in 6 rich shades, these velvet pumpkins are not only a steal at under $12 but are so pretty I'd want to keep them out year round...
Wicker decor at Halloween is great for those who want to lean into the autumnal theme but aren't keen on going overly spooky. These rattan pumpkins will create a charming display indoors.
This set of two rustic wooden gourds are perfect for a Farmhouse-style decor. Made from unfinished paulownia wood, they are wear-resistant for years and years of holiday decorating.
What can I use to decorate a pumpkin without carving?
To add instant impact with ease, painting is the easiest way to totally transform a Halloween pumpkin. Not only can it help you emulate familiar pumpkin carving patterns like the enduring Jack O’Lantern face, but you can also use paint to overhaul your pumpkin’s color palette and create an ornament that will fit into any interior design scheme.
Alternatively, using PVA to decoupage shapes cut from tissue paper, autumn leaves or even dried flowers onto your pumpkin is a great way to incorporate texture into a design. For something less messy, look for sticky-backed vinyl to simply stick on either readymade shapes, or silhouettes of your own design.
