Pumpkin carving is out, painted pumpkins are in. These 27 DIY painted pumpkins ideas take fall décor to the next level with bold colors, chic designs, and creative flair. Perfect for anyone who loves stylish seasonal decorating
27 DIY Painted Pumpkins Ideas That Make Store-Bought Ones Look Boring in 2025
Carved pumpkins may have the history, but painted pumpkins are rewriting fall traditions with a stylish twist. Imagine sleek black-and-white designs worthy of a modern gallery, pastel shades that feel fresh and unexpected, or shimmering metallics that glow beautifully by candlelight. A little paint instantly transforms a simple pumpkin into décor that’s chic, creative, and totally unique to your home.
These 27 DIY painted pumpkins ideas aren’t just crafts—they’re works of art that double as conversation starters. Whether you’re setting the mood for Halloween, dressing up your table, or just giving your porch a playful seasonal update, these designs will prove that pumpkins are more versatile than you ever imagined.
1. Ghost & Jack-O’-Lantern Polka Dot Pumpkins
Cute, spooky, and oh-so-easy these pumpkins look like they belong at the chicest Halloween party on the block. Tiny white ghosts on an orange pumpkin and smiling jack-o’-lantern faces on a white one? Instant porch candy!
To DIY: Grab acrylic craft paint in white, black, and orange. For the ghost pumpkin, paint thumbprint-sized ovals in white, then add two black dots for eyes. For the mini jack-o’-lanterns, paint small orange ovals, then outline faces in black. Use a fine-tipped brush for details. Seal with a matte spray for a smudge-free finish. Boo-tiful!
2. Pastel Galaxy Ghost Pumpkins
The soft lavender blending into icy sky blue creates the illusion of a magical evening sky, and the fluffy little ghosts floating across look like they’re whispering secrets. Add in some delicate star splatters and you’ve got yourself a pumpkin that feels part spooky season, part cosmic fairytale.
To DIY: Spray paint your pumpkin with a gradient base (lavender fading to blue). Once dry, use a flat brush to paint white blob-like ghost shapes, then dot on black eyes and tiny pink cheeks. Add stars and dots using a splatter brush and white paint for that dreamy night-sky effect. Can you say spooky chic?
3. Lilly Pulitzer–Inspired Pumpkins
These painted beauties are bursting with tropical glam: oversized banana leaves, bright pink storefronts, fluffy hydrangeas, and citrusy pops of color. They’re the kind of pumpkins that make you want to wear resort wear while sipping pumpkin spice cocktails. Forget spooky this is chic coastal Halloween at its best.
To DIY: Paint pumpkins in bold base coats (pink, blue, cream). Then layer on tropical designs banana leaves, hydrangeas, pineapples using fine-tipped brushes and acrylic paints. Metallic gold stems are the ultimate finishing touch. These beauties belong on a beachside patio with a pumpkin spice daiquiri.
4. Bold Floral Pumpkin
If drama is your vibe, this floral pumpkin is the statement piece you’ve been waiting for. Against a moody black backdrop, oversized flowers in vibrant reds, pinks, and blues bloom like they’re glowing from the inside out. It feels part folk art, part gallery masterpiece, and absolutely perfect as a centerpiece for fall gatherings.
To DIY: Paint the entire pumpkin black, let dry, then sketch oversized blooms with chalk. Fill in petals with hot pink, red, and light blue acrylic paints. Add leafy green accents and layer brighter details on top. A final gloss varnish will give it that just-picked-from-the-art-museum shine.
5. Whimsical Pastel Pumpkins + Pom-Poms
These pumpkins look like they belong at a cottagecore Halloween tea party. With peachy ghosts, speckled splatters, and the sweetest fluffy pom-poms, they’re playful, girly, and guaranteed to make your fall décor pop. It’s basically pumpkin couture and who wouldn’t want that?
To DIY: Use peachy-pink, mint, and turquoise acrylic paints for splatters and mini-ghost doodles. Tie a strip of gauzy fabric around the stem for a shabby-chic bow. Add handmade yarn pom-poms with metallic threads to style around your display. Glittery, girly, and a little ghostly yes, please!
6. Retro Halloween Pumpkins
Talk about a throwback these retro-inspired pumpkins look like they stepped straight out of a 1950s Halloween party. With hand-painted “EEK” and “BOO” lettering, bold skulls, black bats, and atomic starbursts, they’re the perfect mix of kitsch and cool. It’s vintage Halloween décor, but make it modern.
To DIY: Paint each pumpkin a bold base color (white, orange, black, or even pink). Use stencils or freehand to paint retro designs: “EEK,” “BOO,” bats, skulls, and atomic starbursts. Acrylic paint pens work perfectly for clean lines. Arrange them in a cluster for the ultimate retro-cool vibe.
7. Black & White Owl Pumpkins
These pumpkins are where farmhouse chic meets Halloween sophistication. Painted in black and white and decorated with intricate owl faces and folk-art designs, they’re elegant, detailed, and just a little eerie. It’s the kind of décor that looks equally stunning indoors on a mantel or outside on the porch.
To DIY: Spray paint pumpkins matte black or white. Then, with fine-tip paint pens or Sharpies, draw intricate owl faces and folk-art-inspired patterns. Repeat the designs around the pumpkin for an all-over effect. Pro tip: Start with light pencil sketches, then trace over them in ink. Elegant and eerie at the same time!
8. Minimalist Color-Block Pumpkins
If modern design makes your heart skip a beat, these minimalist color-block pumpkins are for you. Instead of spooky faces, they embrace rich autumn hues deep navy, golden mustard, hunter green, terracotta, and creamy white. Styled in clusters, they look like art objects, transforming pumpkins into sleek seasonal accents.
To DIY: Paint pumpkins in solid colors using chalk paint think navy, mustard, hunter green, terracotta, and cream. Let them dry completely, then leave the stems natural or paint them gold for a luxe finish. Stack and cluster for maximum minimalist impact.
9. Cozy Cottage Ghost Pumpkins
If Halloween could hug you, it would look like these cozy cottage pumpkins. Soft white ghosts, rainbow hearts, and sweet smiley faces give them a warm and friendly vibe. They feel less haunted house and more pajama party by candlelight and we are here for it.
To DIY: Paint one pumpkin with tiny rainbow hearts (use a stencil or freehand with a detail brush). On another, swipe white paint with a flat brush for ghost shapes, then dot eyes with black. For the mini pumpkin, paint rosy cheeks and a sweet smile. The cozier the vibe, the better!
10. Galaxy Splatter Pumpkin
Forget spooky this pumpkin is celestial chic. Painted in deep cobalt blue with layers of splattered stars, it looks like you’re holding a little piece of the universe. It’s dramatic, dazzling, and the perfect pumpkin for stargazers and dreamers.
To DIY: Start with a navy or cobalt base coat. Load a toothbrush or stiff paintbrush with white, turquoise, and light blue paint, then flick to create star splatters. Add clusters for galaxies and tiny crosses for twinkling stars. Bonus: paint the stem to match in a metallic shade for extra drama. Out-of-this-world gorgeous!
11. Spooky Porch Pumpkin Trio
Each one has its own personality playful white ghosts floating on a jet-black background, rainbow-colored spiders crawling across a silvery gray web, and hand-painted orange florals climbing across a creamy white canvas. Together, they tell a whole October story in one cute little group.
To make your own, grab three pumpkins in different sizes and paint them with solid base coats: matte black, medium gray, and crisp white. On the black pumpkin, use white acrylic to paint ghost shapes (start with oval blobs, then add arms) and dot on eyes with a fine brush. For the gray pumpkin, sketch a spiderweb in thin gold lines, then paint tiny colorful spiders in orange, blue, green, and white.
12. Whimsical Halloween Characters
Instead of scary, everything is sweet grinning pumpkins, a wide-eyed black cat, a cheerful ghost, and even a little witch zooming around on her broom with a sidekick kitty. This isn’t your standard spooky scene it’s playful, stylish, and so charming you’ll want to leave them up long after Halloween.
To DIY, pick up some thin wood cutouts or foam board sheets and trace your favorite shapes: pumpkins, cats, witches, or ghosts. Use a jigsaw (for wood) or a craft knife (for foam) to cut them out. Then paint with acrylics in a warm, pastel palette peachy pinks, pumpkin orange, creamy whites, and soft blacks. Add in details with white paint pens like stars, flowers, or rosy cheeks.
13. Rainbow Abstract Pumpkin
MSay goodbye to plain pumpkins this one is a full-on color explosion! Perfect for kids (or adults who love a little messy fun), the swirls of teal, pink, yellow, purple, and blue create a pumpkin masterpiece that looks like it belongs in an art gallery of Halloween joy. No two will ever look the same, which makes them totally unique keepsakes.
Set up your workspace with craft paper or an old tablecloth to catch spills, and give each child a pumpkin, a few wide brushes, and washable acrylic paints in bright rainbow shades. Encourage overlapping brushstrokes, swirls, and even handprints to layer colors together. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle on glitter for a magical shimmer.
14. Watercolor Pumpkin Illustration
For those who want to bring fall magic indoors, this pumpkin watercolor illustration is the perfect mix of cozy and artistic. With soft washes of orange and delicate black ink outlines, the pumpkin feels almost alive, surrounded by drifting autumn leaves in golden browns and fiery reds. It’s like a warm October breeze captured on paper.
Start with watercolor paper and lightly sketch a pumpkin in pencil. Use a round brush dipped in orange watercolor, adding water to create light, transparent washes. Layer darker tones in the grooves of the pumpkin for depth, and blend while still damp for a soft look. Once dry, outline with a fine black ink pen for definition. Add floating leaves in shades of amber, sienna, and ochre, using loose strokes for a windblown effect.
15. Mini Ghost & Pumpkin Patch Pumpkins
Who says Halloween has to be scary? These pumpkins are dressed up in the friendliest designs tiny white ghosts with shy little eyes, happy orange pumpkins with big grins, and even sweet pink hearts tucked in between. They’re so cute you almost forget they’re supposed to be spooky décor!
For your own, grab small to medium pumpkins in white or orange. Paint a solid base if needed, then use a small brush to repeat simple patterns across the pumpkin: white ghosts with black eyes, tiny orange pumpkins with green stems and happy faces, or pink hearts scattered in between. To keep the look neat, paint one design at a time, letting each layer dry before adding details. Seal with Mod Podge for shine and durability.
16. Galaxy Glow Pumpkin
It’s like the Milky Way landed right on your porch! This galaxy pumpkin swirls with shades of midnight blue, electric purple, and hot pink, all flecked with tiny starlike splatters. It’s the kind of pumpkin that makes you stop and stare and maybe wish upon it.
To make your own, paint your pumpkin with a base coat of matte black. Once dry, use a sponge to dab on layers of purple, magenta, and blue acrylic paint in soft patches that mimic clouds. Blend the edges as you go for a dreamy, nebulous effect. Then, dip a stiff brush or toothbrush into white paint and flick tiny splatters across the surface for stars. Add larger dots or starbursts for planets and constellations.
17. Sunflower Pumpkin
This pumpkin is basically autumn sunshine in 3D. Painted with one giant sunflower wrapping across the surface, it transforms a plain orange gourd into a golden, cheerful statement piece that radiates cozy farmhouse vibes. Who wouldn’t want this sitting on their kitchen counter or dining room table?
To recreate, sketch out a large sunflower across one side of the pumpkin. Paint the petals in layers of yellow, blending in orange near the base for depth. Add soft green leaves along the edges. For the center, paint a dark black-brown circle, then dab in tiny touches of lighter brown for texture. Use thin brushes to add details and outlines so the flower really pops.
18. Quirky Painted Face Pumpkin
This pumpkin is basically a character of its own! With oversized eyes, lashes, lips, and colorful doodles, it looks like a funky cartoon or a whimsical portrait brought to life. It’s playful, expressive, and perfect if you love your Halloween décor with a dose of personality.
To DIY: Start with an orange pumpkin and grab black, pink, and blue paints. Use black to outline oversized eyes and lashes, fill the lips with pink, and add details like hair or accessories. For an extra pop, layer bright doodles around the face. No rules here just channel your inner Picasso.
19. Bat Silhouette Pumpkin
Moody, minimal, and oh-so-chic this bat pumpkin is like a Halloween night sky in pumpkin form. Painted a solid gray with bold black bat silhouettes swooping across, it’s simple but striking enough to steal the spotlight in any spooky display.
To DIY: Paint the pumpkin with matte gray acrylic for a “full moon” look. Once dry, stencil or freehand flying bat shapes in black all around the surface. For extra depth, overlap bat wings at different angles. Pair with candles or fairy lights for maximum drama.
20. Creepy-Cool Jack-O’-Face Pumpkin
Some pumpkins smile, but this one grins. With enormous blacked-out eyes, a triangular nose, and a sharp-toothed grin outlined in white, it has the perfect mix of creepy and playful—almost like a Tim Burton character brought to life.
To DIY: Outline two large eye sockets, a triangle nose, and a jagged grin with pencil. Fill eyes and mouth with black acrylic, then outline details with white paint for contrast. Add thin black lines for teeth to make the grin extra eerie. Set on your doorstep for that gothic-but-playful Halloween vibe.
21. Candy Corn Pumpkin
Move over, carving this candy corn pumpkin is the sweetest Halloween treat that doesn’t involve a knife. The classic trio of colors white, orange, and yellow makes your pumpkin look like a jumbo-sized version of the nostalgic candy we all love to snack on (or sneak from the trick-or-treat bowl). It’s playful, bold, and instantly recognizable.
To get the look, section your pumpkin into three bands with painter’s tape. Paint the top third white, the middle left natural orange, and the bottom yellow using acrylic craft paint. Let each layer dry fully before moving to the next so the colors stay crisp and bold. Finish with a glossy sealer if you want a shiny candy-like surface. Pop it on your porch or kitchen counter for a display that says, “Halloween, but sweeter.”
22. Bubblegum Ghost Pumpkin
Why stick to orange when you can go full Barbie pink? This pumpkin is dressed in bubblegum hues and sprinkled with floating white ghosts, giving spooky season a cheeky pop-art twist. It’s the perfect mashup of Halloween and hot pink aesthetic, and honestly? We’re obsessed.
To recreate, paint the entire pumpkin with a couple of coats of vibrant pink acrylic. Once dry, add little white ghost shapes all over using a medium brush (just think upside-down teardrops with arms). Use a fine-tipped brush or marker to dot in the eyes and mouths. For extra flair, add glitter accents or a metallic stem. This is the pumpkin that’ll make everyone at your Halloween party say, “Okay, that’s adorable.”
23. Ghost + Bat Pumpkin Collection
This moody little collection feels like a Halloween vignette straight out of a cozy haunted house. Each pumpkin tells its own story: a black pumpkin dotted with tiny white ghosts, a gray one with flying bat silhouettes, and a golden-orange pumpkin with leafy white vines. Lit candles around them set the scene for a perfectly spooky (but stylish!) display.
To make your own, pick three pumpkins and paint them in solid base coats of black, gray, and orange. On the black one, use a fine brush to paint repeating ghost shapes with little eyes. For the gray pumpkin, stencil or freehand bat silhouettes in black, letting them “fly” at different angles. On the orange pumpkin, paint delicate vines and leaves in white for contrast. Arrange them together with candles or fairy lights for an atmospheric Halloween centerpiece.
24. Pastel Cutie Pumpkin
This pumpkin is straight-up adorable. Painted in soft lilac with oversized cartoon eyes, lashes, a sweet smile, and dotted with golden freckles, it’s basically the kawaii pumpkin of your dreams. Less spooky, more “squee!” it’s the kind of décor that makes you grin every time you walk past it.
For this look, start with two to three coats of pale purple acrylic paint to cover the pumpkin completely. Once dry, paint two big white eyes with black pupils, then add extra lashes for cuteness overload. Use black paint for the smile and dot on metallic gold freckles for sparkle. Seal with Mod Podge if you want a glossy shine. Perfect for kids’ rooms, play areas, or anywhere that could use a cheerful Halloween buddy.
25. Spirited Away Pumpkin
Anime fans, this one’s for you meet the No-Face pumpkin! Inspired by Spirited Away, this design transforms a pumpkin into the iconic character with its ghostly white mask and purple markings. It’s minimal, haunting, and instantly recognizable to Studio Ghibli lovers everywhere.
To recreate, paint the front of the pumpkin white in an oval mask shape, leaving the sides black to mimic No-Face’s cloaked body. Add the facial details with purple and black acrylic: two small oval eyes, vertical purple stripes under each, and a simple black mouth. Keep the lines crisp with a fine brush. For extra accuracy, paint the stem black so it blends into the “cloak.” Place this one by a candle or lantern for a vibe that’s equal parts eerie and magical.
26. Spooky Faced Pumpkin
Cheerful, quirky, and full of personality—this painted pumpkin is the easiest way to give your fall décor a playful twist. With bold brows, wide eyes, and a bright red nose, it looks more like a cartoon character than a spooky jack-o’-lantern, and that’s exactly the charm.
To DIY: Start with a clean pumpkin and outline the face using a black marker. Add big curved brows, large eyes with swirly pupils, and a round red nose. Fill in the eyes with white paint to make them pop, then layer on any extra details with colorful markers from your set. A quick spray of sealer will lock in the design.
This project is a must-try if you want a no-carve pumpkin idea that kids can help with. It’s mess-free, expressive, and can be customized into silly, happy, or spooky faces depending on your Halloween vibe. Instant personality for your porch or party table!
27. Little Boos on Pumpkin
Pretty, playful, and just a little spooky—this pink ghost pumpkin feels like it belongs in a dreamy pastel Halloween setup. The soft blush paint instantly makes it stand out from the classic orange crowd, while the tiny floating white ghosts add the perfect mix of charm and eerie fun.
To DIY: Start by painting your pumpkin a solid pastel pink using acrylic craft paint. Once dry, use a fine brush to dab on small ghost shapes—think upside-down teardrops or wispy ovals. Add two tiny black dots for eyes, and suddenly those little “boos” come to life. Seal with a clear matte spray for a smooth finish.
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