39 No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Written by
Stephanie White
Stephanie White is a DIY expert who has over 10 years experience teaching design, art, and do-it-yourself project.
Learn about The Spruce Crafts' Editorial Process
Stephanie White
Updated 11/19/19
diy doily no carve pumpkin

17 Apart 

Fall is all about pumpkins! Add some to your fall decor with no-carve pumpkin ideas that range from spooky or stylish to cute and playful. Because there's no cutting involved, you can use either a real pumpkin for this season​ or use a fake pumpkin that you can keep for years to come—or redecorate next year. No-carve pumpkins are a great seasonal project for all ages, and the pumpkins last much longer than when they are carved. 

  • 01 of 39

    DIY Pom Pom Pumpkins

    Pom pom pumpkins.

    Lovely Indeed 

    Who says pumpkins have to be spooky? With a little spray paint and some pom poms, you can create fun, colorful, and whimsical pumpkins for Halloween this year.

  • 02 of 39

    Fabric Pumpkin Idea

    No-carve fabric pumpkin.

    Caylin Harris

    This cute fabric pumpkin is as easy as 1, 2, 3 steps (cut, glue, lay the fabric)! Use any scrap fabric you like, and glue it to a real or faux pumpkin with Mod Podge.

  • 03 of 39

    DIY Floral Pumpkin

    Floral Pumpkin.

    The Merrythought

    Decorate your pumpkin this Halloween with a crescent moon, using fresh white flowers to create a stunning pumpkin that would look lovely as a centerpiece on your dining table or beside your front door.

  • 04 of 39

    DIY Pun-kins

    Pun-kins.

    Studio DIY

    Make your guests think a little—and laugh a lot—with some hilarious and silly DIY pun pumpkins.

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  • 05 of 39

    DIY Marbled Pumpkins

    Marbled Pumpkins.

    A Bubbly Life

    Use up some of your old nail polish colors to add a glam marble design to your pumpkins this Halloween. There's no rule that says fall has to be orange, black, and earth tones.

  • 06 of 39

    DIY Paint-Splattered Pumpkins

    Paint Splattered Pumpkins.

    Homey Oh My

    If you've ever wondered what Jackson Pollock's pumpkins would look like, this might be it.  

  • 07 of 39

    DIY Chalkboard Pumpkin

    Chalkboard Pumpkin.

    Delia Creates

    Here is a Halloween pumpkin decorating idea that's idea for have young children. Paint your pumpkin with chalkboard paint and let your child decorate the pumpkin with chalk.

  • 08 of 39

    DIY Gold-Dipped Pumpkin

    Gold-Dipped Pumpkin.

    Lovely Indeed

    This simple-to-make DIY gold-dipped pumpkin would look perfect in your home all fall as a festive home accent.

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  • 09 of 39

    DIY Custom Message Pumpkins

    Eek And Boo Pumpkins

    Lovely Indeed

    Let your pumpkins do the talking. All it takes is some basic craft paint, a paint pen, and any Halloween-inspired messages that creep into your mind.

  • 10 of 39

    DIY Glow-in-the-Dark Pumpkin

    Glow In The Dark Pumpkin.

    A Pumpkin and a Princess

    Once it gets dark on Halloween and children begin trick or treating, these DIY glow-in-the-dark pumpkins will look absolutely amazing outside your home.

  • 11 of 39

    DIY Foliage Decoupage Pumpkins

    Foliage Decoupage Pumpkins.

    Poppy Talk

    Highlight the beauty of fall this year by covering your pumpkin with fallen leaves you have found outdoors.

  • 12 of 39

    DIY Mud Cloth Pumpkins

    Mud Cloth Inspired Pumpkins.

    Homey Oh My

    Doodle a pattern onto your pumpkin, using a paint marker to create these spectacular mud-cloth-inspired pumpkins for your home this fall.

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  • 13 of 39

    DIY Gold Foil Confetti Pumpkins

    Gold Foil Pumpkins.

    Homey Oh My

    Create the perfect pumpkin for your Halloween party by painting it white and decorating it with festive gold-foil confetti.

  • 14 of 39

    DIY Brushstroke Pumpkins

    Brushstroke Pumpkins.

    The Merrythought

    Make painterly pumpkins with a stylish brushstroke pattern in contrasting colors by using two shades of acrylic paint and one medium or small paintbrush.

  • 15 of 39

    DIY Neon Dipped Pumpkins

    Neon-Dipped Pumpkins.

    A Night Owl Blog

    Play with bright neon paint when decorating your pumpkin by creating your own set of white pumpkins dipped in assorted colors of neon paint.

  • 16 of 39

    DIY Golden Ombre Pumpkin

    Golden Ombre Pumpkin.

    In Honor of Design

    Paint your own chic pumpkin with a beautiful golden ombre design this Halloween with this simple DIY.

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  • 17 of 39

    DIY Black-and-White Pumpkins

    Black And White Pumpkins.

    Oopsey Daisy Blog 

    Instead of the traditional jack-o-lantern, create your own grouping of chic black-and-white pumpkins this Halloween. 

  • 18 of 39

    DIY Cute Animal Pumpkins

    Animal Pumpkins.

    Lia Griffith

    For the animal lovers, why not make an animal-themed pumpkin this Halloween? Using templates, you can make a cat, an owl, or a fox and embellish it with felt and googly eyes.

  • 19 of 39

    DIY Pineapple Pumpkin

    Pineapple Pumpkin.

    Studio DIY

    If you long for the days of summer or simply want an off-beat Halloween pumpkin idea, this DIY pineapple pumpkin is such a cheerful and fun way to transform your pumpkin.

  • 20 of 39

    DIY Doily Pumpkins

    Doily Pumpkins.

    17 Apart

    Repurpose those paper doilies into chic decorating accessories that add beautiful, intricate designs—with no carving!

    Continue to 21 of 39 below.
  • 21 of 39

    DIY Butterfly Pumpkin

    Butterfly Pumpkin.

    My Sister's Suitcase 

    Inspired by Cinderella's dress, which is pale blue and covered in small butterflies, this whimsical pumpkin is so pretty and would be perfect to make this fall.

  • 22 of 39

    DIY Tissue Paper Pumpkin

    Tissue Paper Covered Pumpkin.

    Tell Love and Party

    Children will love decorating their own pumpkin with this simple DIY, where pieces of tissue paper in a variety of colors are stuck to a pumpkin with Mod Podge.

  • 23 of 39

    DIY Colorful Pushpin Pumpkin

    Colorful Push Pin Pumpkin.

    A Subtle Revelry

    The things you can do with office supplies... A pumpkin (painted or not) and a handful of colorful pushpins are all you need to for this festive fall creation.

  • 24 of 39

    DIY Painted and Glitter-Stem Pumpkins

    Painted And Glitter Stem Pumpkins.

    Aunt Peaches

    Gather together several pumpkins and paint each one a different color, then paint all the stems with gold glitter. 

    Continue to 25 of 39 below.
  • 25 of 39

    DIY Copper-Striped Pumpkins

    Copper Stripped Pumpkins.

    Homey Oh My

    These DIY copper-striped pumpkins are the perfect last-minute Halloween decorating idea, as they are decorated with just a few strips of copper tape to create a beautiful design in minutes.

  • 26 of 39

    DIY Pastel Painted Pumpkins

    Pastel Painted Pumpkins.

    A Bubbly Life

    These candy-colored pastel pumpkins are a sweet twist on the traditional colors of fall and Halloween.

  • 27 of 39

    DIY Chic Painted Pumpkins

    Chic Painted Pumpkins.

    Bubby and Bean

    Elevate your pumpkin style with a bit of gold spray paint and a hand-painted border for a chic design.

  • 28 of 39

    DIY Sequin Polka Dot Pumpkin

    Sequin Polka Dot Pumpkin.

    Sugar and Cloth

    Add a bit of sparkle to your Halloween decor by making a polka dot pumpkin with gold sequin dots.

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  • 29 of 39

    DIY Spiderweb Pumpkin

    Spider Web Pumpkin.

    Plaid Online

    For a modern twist on a traditional spiderweb, add an ombre design as the background to your pumpkin.

  • 30 of 39

    DIY Donut Pumpkins

    Donut Pumpkins.

    Studio DIY

    Halloween is all about scary and sweet treats, so why not decorate your pumpkin this year to look like one of your favorite sugary treats, a delicious donut.

  • 31 of 39

    DIY Colorful Confetti Pumpkins

    Colorful Confetti Pumpkins.

    Studio DIY

    If you are looking for less scary and more bling, dip a painted pumpkin in gold confetti!

  • 32 of 39

    DIY Mint and Gold Pumpkin

    Mint And Gold Pumpkin.

     Delineate Your Dwelling

    Start with mint green chalkboard paint and add accents with a gold paint marker. Simply perfect. 

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  • 33 of 39

    DIY Scalloped Paper Pumpkin

    Scalloped Paper Pumpkin.

    Sarah Hearts

    Add plenty of color and a little texture with small circles of tissue paper to give your pumpkin a scalloped design.

  • 34 of 39

    DIY Garland Pumpkin

    Garland Pumpkin.

    A Beautiful Mess

    Natural or nature-inspired garland adds the perfect fall touch to a perfectly natural pumpkin.  

  • 35 of 39

    DIY Disco Ball Pumpkin

    Disco Ball Pumpkin.

    Erika Brechtel 

    Make your own fun DIY disco ball pumpkin by gluing silver rectangular gems along the side of your pumpkin. It's sure to be a hit at your Halloween party. 

  • 36 of 39

    Glitter Monogram Pumpkin

    Glitter Monogram Pumpkin.

    Unoriginal Mom

    Personalize your Halloween pumpkin by adding your initial in gold glitter.

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  • 37 of 39

    DIY Studded Pumpkin

    Studded Pumpkin.

    Lily Shop

    Make this awesome gold-studded pumpkin by painting a pumpkin white and adding studs to create a patterned design.

  • 38 of 39

    DIY String Art Pumpkin

    String Art Pumpkin.

    Alice and Lois

    Practice the fun craft of string art by wrapping embroidery thread around nails tapped into a pumpkin.

  • 39 of 39

    DIY Wood Grain Pumpkin

    Wood Grain Pumpkin.

    Vitamini Handmade

    Create an unexpected stylized pumpkin for your home by adding a wood grain pattern onto it with craft paint in one or more colors.