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Content Created by Tracey of Baker Street Living 
When autumn rolls around, pumpkins are everywhere. While carving pumpkins is a timeless tradition, painting them has become just as popular. Painted pumpkins last longer, create less mess, and offer endless ways to show off your creativity. Whether you’re looking for kid-friendly projects, chic home décor, or Halloween-inspired designs, here are some spooktacular pumpkin painting ideas that will inspire you.
Not a Painter? Try stencils! I have added some links to stencils to get you started.
Great Pumpkin Painting Ideas
Super hero Pumkins
Painting superhero faces on pumpkins is a fun and creative twist for comic book fans of all ages. Instead of the usual spooky designs, transform your pumpkins into your favourite heroes like Spider-Man, Batman, or Wonder Woman using bold colours and iconic symbols.
Googly Eyed Monster
Painting a pumpkin black and adding googly eyes is a quick and quirky Halloween craft that’s sure to make everyone smile. The deep black paint creates the perfect backdrop for the playful eyes, making them pop with personality.
Funny Faces
Painting funny faces on pumpkins is a playful and mess-free way to add personality and humour to your fall décor.
Movie Monsters
Painting pumpkins with your favourite movie monster faces is a fun and colourful way to give your fall décor a playful twist. Instead of scary creatures, think silly grins, wiggly eyes, and goofy teeth in bright, bold colours.
Good’n Glittery
Covering pumpkins in glitter is an easy way to add sparkle and elegance to your fall décor. Whether you coat the entire pumpkin for a bold, glamorous look or just highlight the stem and ridges for a subtle shimmer, glitter instantly transforms an ordinary pumpkin into a dazzling centerpiece.
Painted Stems and Fabric
Painting pumpkin stems and covering the pumpkins in fabric is a beautiful way to give them a cozy, handcrafted look perfect for fall. Wrap the pumpkin in your favourite fabric, think plaid flannel, velvet, burlap, or even lace, for a warm and textured finish
Glow in the Dark Paint
Painting pumpkins with glow-in-the-dark paint is a fun and eye-catching way to make your Halloween decorations shine literally! During the day, they look like regular painted pumpkins, but once the lights go out, they glow with spooky charm.
Simply Cute Unicorn
A unicorn pumpkin is a whimsical and enchanting craft that’s perfect for both kids and adults. This adorable unicorn pumpkin makes a delightful centerpiece for parties or a charming addition to your fall décor.
Mardi Gras Influence
Painting pumpkins for Mardi Gras is a festive and creative way to celebrate the season with bold colour and flair. Instead of the usual fall shades, paint your pumpkins in vibrant purple, green, and gold, the signature colours of Mardi Gras. Add glitter accents or a harlequin mask for extra sparkle and personality. Once the paint dries, drape colourful bead necklaces around the stems or glue them on in decorative patterns to make your pumpkins shine.
Creepy Crawlies
Create a spider web design and add plastic spiders to create a spooky yet stylish way to decorate for Halloween.
Mickey Inspired
Painting pumpkins like Mickey Mouse is a fun and playful way to bring a touch of Disney magic to your fall décor. Start by painting the pumpkin in Mickey’s signature black or red colours, then add big eyes, a cheerful smile, and a button nose using acrylic paints. For the finishing touch, attach round plastic or foam ears to the top of the pumpkin to complete the classic look.
Nightmare Before Christmas Pumpkins
Creating a Jack Skellington Pumpkin is a spooky and stylish way to celebrate Halloween with a nod to a beloved classic. This easy design can even be created using Sharpie markers.
Fun with Polka Dots
Painting pumpkins with bright, colourful polka dots is a cheerful and playful way to add fun to your fall décor. Start with a base coat in a solid colour like white, black, or a vibrant hue, then layer dots in an array of bold colours for a lively, eye-catching pattern. You can vary the size of the dots for extra visual interest or keep them uniform for a clean, modern look
Stacked Skeleton
Painting two pumpkins to look like a skeleton is a creative and spooky twist on traditional pumpkin decorating. Use a smaller pumpkin for the head and a larger one for the body, stacking them carefully on top of each other. This two-pumpkin skeleton is perfect for porches or Halloween displays, giving a playful yet eerie vibe without any carving.
A Batty Night Scene
Painting a dark sky and a moon on a pumpkin is a striking way to create a spooky, atmospheric Halloween decoration. Once the background is complete, glue on small plastic bats flying across the moon or scattered around the pumpkin for a dramatic, 3D effect.
Buffalo Plaid Pumpkins
Painting pumpkins in a buffalo plaid design is a stylish and cozy way to bring a rustic, autumnal feel to your décor. Perfect for farmhouse-style tables or porches.
Emoji Pumpkins
Painting pumpkins with emoji faces is a fun and modern way to bring humour and personality to your fall décor. Choose your favourite emoji, smiley faces, winks, hearts, or silly tongue and use bright acrylic paints to recreate their cheerful expressions on the pumpkins.
Fun with Marbling
Painting pumpkins with a marbled design is a creative way to give your fall décor a sophisticated and artistic touch. Using a mix of swirling colours, like white, gold, orange, and black, you can create a unique, fluid pattern that makes each pumpkin one-of-a-kind. This is a great project for Hydro-Dipping.
Squarepants on a Round Pumpkin
Painting pumpkins with SpongeBob characters is a playful and colourful way to bring a favourite cartoon to life for Halloween or fall décor. Use bright acrylic paints to recreate iconic characters like SpongeBob, Patrick, or Squidward, capturing their fun expressions and signature details.
Simple or Complex Frankie
Painting pumpkins with Frankenstein faces is a fun and classic way to bring a spooky yet playful vibe to your Halloween décor. Mimic Frankenstein’s iconic skin tone, then use black paint to add stitched scars, and bold facial features like square jawlines and angry eyes. Don’t forget the bolts!
Classic Witch
Create a classic witch face and add a hat on top for a charming way to create a whimsical Halloween decoration
Simple House Number
Stencil (or freehand) a simple, elegant house number. Perfect for any front porch!
Halloween Grinch
A Grinch face and adding a red hat is a playful way to bring holiday mischief to your décor early. Once the face is complete, top the pumpkin with a small red Santa hat to finish the look.
Everyone’s Favourite Candy
M&M’s with faces is a fun and colourful way to add a playful touch to your fall décor. Start by painting each pumpkin in bright, candy-inspired colours like red, yellow, blue, green, and orange, then add a bold white “M” on the front to mimic the classic candy logo.
Snake in the Grass
Start by painting the pumpkins in bold colours, adding stripes or spots to mimic a snake’s natural pattern. Arrange the pumpkins in a winding line to create the illusion of a slithering snake, and use a scraft foam piece as the snake’s flicking tongue.
Stencilled Lace
Painting a pumpkin using lace as a stencil is a stylish and elegant way to add intricate patterns to your fall décor. Simply drape a piece of lace over the pumpkin and secure it lightly with stencil glue, then use a sponge or brush to dab paint over the lace, allowing the delicate design to transfer onto the surface.
- Stencil Adhesive
- Lace stencil
Chalkboard Painted Pumpkins
Chalkboard paint is a fun and versatile way to customize your pumpkins. Start by coating the pumpkin with chalkboard paint, creating a smooth surface that can be written on and erased as often as you like. Once dry, use chalk or chalk markers to add seasonal messages, funny quotes, or festive drawings like leaves, pumpkins, or ghosts.
Tips for Painting Pumpkins
Are you loving these great Pumpkin painting Ideas? Here are some helpful tips for painting pumpkins, including advice on the best types of paint to use:
- Choose the Right Paint – Acrylic paints are the best choice for pumpkin painting. They adhere well, dry quickly, and come in a wide range of colours, including metallics and neons. Spray paints also work well for a smooth, even base coat.
- Prep Your Pumpkin – Wash and dry your pumpkin before painting to remove dirt and oils. This helps the paint stick better and ensures a smooth finish.
- Use a Base Coat – For bright, even colours, start with a base coat of white or another light colour, especially if you’re painting a darker or more detailed design.
- Layer Your Colours – Allow each layer of paint to dry before adding another. This prevents smudging and helps colours stay vibrant.
- Add Details Carefully – Use fine brushes, paint pens, or markers for intricate designs, like faces, patterns, or lettering.
- Seal Your Work – Finish with a clear acrylic sealer or spray varnish to protect the paint and give your pumpkin a longer-lasting, glossy finish.
- Get Creative with Accessories – Enhance your painted pumpkins with glitter, felt, beads, or small props like hats and plastic eyes for extra personality.
- Consider Chalkboard Paint – For interchangeable designs, use chalkboard paint so you can write new messages or drawings throughout the season.
- Protect Your Workspace – Use a newspaper or a drop cloth to catch paint drips and keep surfaces clean.
- Painter’s Tape for Patterns – Create stripes, chevrons, or geometric shapes by taping off sections before painting.
I hope you are inspired by these pumpkin painting ideas! You don’t have to be a painter, just willing to get creative.
This website contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you).