By now, Halloween 2024 is on a 10-day countdown so you'll be looking for some quick and easy Halloween decorating or activity ideas that you and the entire family will enjoy.
All the rage on TikTok right now, a pumpkin painting evening is the perfect way to spend time with your family or friends before the spooky holiday and get yourself some spooky or stylish decor at the ready.
Pumpkin carving tends to get all the fanfare around October 31, but there are a lot of advantages to painting pumpkins. For one, you don't have to clean out the inside of the pumpkin, so there's less mess. Plus, pumpkins that haven't been carved last longer, so you can enjoy the fruits of your crafting longer. Paint also offers a better chance to get creative with your Halloween decorating ideas, since the options for color and pattern are endless. Here are 9 of our favorite ideas.
9 Pumpkin Painting Ideas For Halloween 2024
'Painting pumpkins is one of the easiest and most satisfying Halloween craft ideas,' says Homes & Gardens' Print Editor, Jo Bailey. 'Whether your pumpkin is part of your Halloween porch decor, or will take a seat at your Halloween table, these ideas will help you set a vision for your squash.'
If you're wondering, when should you put your pumpkins out? 'The advice is that pumpkins kept outside can last a good couple of months,' says Rachel Bull, Homes & Gardens' Head of Gardens. 'So you really can put pumpkins out as fall starts, the decorate them for Halloween in the days running up to the celebrations. And if you haven't gone too spooky with your decor, they can stay out beyond Halloween too.'
1. Embrace Beetlejuicecore with black and white stripes
One of the biggest Halloween trends for 2024, thanks to the new Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie that came out earlier this year, is Beetlejuicecore.
If you prefer your outdoor Halloween decor to be on the restrained side, it doesn't get more chic or classic than black-and-white stripes. To get this look, paint alternating colors between the ribs of the pumpkins, and finish off with gold spray paint on the stem, and a coat of high-gloss lacquer.
Want to enjoy your hard work for years to come? Paint ceramic or foam pumpkins instead. Choose a color scheme that will match your fall planter ideas for a perfectly coordinated look.
2. Color drench them to match your decor
If you're keeping your pumpkins inside, paint them to match your decor. If it's a coastal look you're after, for example, try varying shades of blue, white and copper. If your style is more modern, paint them in a metallic shade, or go for a monochrome look with all black.
'Pumpkins make for fantastic Halloween table decor,' says Jo Bailey. 'However, they don't last much more than a week to a few days indoors. Leave them in a heated room non-stop and you'll soon be looking for ways to get rid of fruit flies. What I tend to do is leave mine on my porch, then bring them in when I'm entertaining to decorate the house.'
3. Make them creepy and crawly
A creepy crawly spider design is sure to be a big hit. You can easily achieve this by covering the entire pumpkin in white paint and detailing on a spider's web and little spiders with black paint and a fine brush (or use permanent markers for more precision!). Draw a line halfway down each ridge in the pumpkin, then connect the ridge with a series of curved lines to create a web design.
Alternatively, simply your gourd in white or gray paint and add in some iron spiders on stakes as seen above by the clever team at Terrain.
Decorate your Halloween pumpkins quickly and easily with this set of 5 iron spider stakes from Terrain. Simply insert the stakes through the pumpkin’s rind for a creepy-crawly creation.
4. Try metallic paint for a deacdent look
It doesn't get much easier than these metallic-painted pumpkins. All it takes to create this sophisticated, shimmering look is a can of spray paint (or two if you want to mix up the metallic hues).
'I love this as a way to elevate Halloween decor. It's subtle but still festive,' says H&G's Online Editor, Jennifer Ebert. 'To do it yourself, tip your pumpkin on its side, and spray paint the exposed areas. When the first side is dry, flip it over and spray the other side.'
Just be sure to spray paint outdoors, in a well-ventilated area. You can then leave them simple and shiny or add additional decor and motifs on top.
5. Try a simple Halloween phrase
Sometimes the most simple of designs are the most effective. This "BOO" Halloween pumpkin makes a statement enough without needing anything more than a quick splash of black paint, or again a permanent marker if you fancy taking the easy route. Stencils can be pre-made using paper for extra clean lines.
Try your hand at writing phrases like "Boo", "Trick or Treat", "Oh My Gourd", and "Enter If You Dare" for your front porch.
6. Stencil your way to a maximalist design
For more complicated patterns, like this vine look, or the Chinoiserie styles that have been popular on social media, grab a stencil.
Tape the stencil to your pumpkin, and use a foam brush to fill in the design with paint. Move the stencil around the pumpkin until it is patterned to your liking (just be sure the paint is dry before moving the stencil, or you'll wind up with a mess).
Amazon sells a vast range of pumpkin stencils, from contemporary and comedic to more elegant, like the ones above.
7. Create a splatter effect
Another really effect you can create with paint is a splatter effect to give your pumpkin a speckled or frosted look.
One of the easiest ways to cover a larger surface with splatter is by using two paint brushes. Load one brush with your desired color and gently tap the handle with the second brush while holding them over or pointing towards your pumpkin. This will create enough force to splatter the paint across the surface.
You can do one color, like the all-white seen above, or try multiple paints for a marbled effect.
8. Get cozy with a plaid design
Spooky doesn't always have to reign supreme. We love this look for a cozy, fall-inspired pumpkin design. To create a buffalo check pumpkin, start by using painter's tape to create a grid design and fill in the negative space in your alternate colors accordingly.
Get yourself one shade of white paint, and one shade of blue. Then, mix the two colors together to create a third shade, which you'll use as the 'overlap' areas of your check (the medium shade of blue, above).
9. Decoupage with pressed flowers
For another pumpkin decorating idea that's not exactly paint, but achieves a similar effect, try decoupage.
With some decoupage glue, plus fabric scraps, pressed flowers, stickers or decals, you can create a one-of-a-kind design. To get the shiny effect that, give your floral pumpkin a lick of clear gloss paint or spray paint to seal everything down. Amazon's basic decoupage kit will be useful to get you started.
What paint should you use on pumpkins?
The best paint for pumpkins will stay put whether they're indoors or out. 'I always choose an acrylic paint for craft projects like painting pumpkins,' says Pippa Blenkinsop, Homes & Gardens' stylist. 'It's easy to work with and it lasts.' If you're going for all-over color, though, grab the spray paint. It's quicker, and it won't leave behind brush strokes.
How do you prepare pumpkins for paint?
To ensure that your paint sticks to your pumpkin, it's important to prepare them first. To do so, give them a wipe down with a cloth and some soapy water. Scrub any stubborn dirt spots or mud with a stiff cleaning brush or an old toothbrush, then wipe them down once more, and pat to dry. Preserving a pumpkin in vinegar first is a good way to extend its life.
'Avoid supermarket pumpkins and find a local farm, the pumpkins tend to be much bigger from farms,' says pumpkin artist Jamie Jones. 'And always try and find a pumpkin with a long firm stem, a soft stem is a sign the pumpkin is starting to rot or has a fungus infection and won't last very long.'
It's equally important to clean your pumpkin prior to painting, which can be done with soapy water and a sponge. Once your pumpkin is prepped, it's time to get out the paintbrush for some of our favorite easy, no-carve pumpkin ideas.
