52 Unexpected and Amazing Ways to Decorate Pumpkins

By Kristina Grosspietsch | Updated Dec 7, 2017 1:18 PM

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It’s happening again, people! The parade of pumpkin pies, pancakes, and spiced lattes has begun, proclaiming loudly that fall is here, and Halloween, with its triangle-eyed, orange faces, is right around the corner.

For your autumnal decor to really stand out, the classic jack o’ lantern just doesn’t cut it anymore. That’s why we’ve collected the most creative examples of carved, painted, etched, pierced, glued and electrified pumpkins to raise the bar for your own pumpkin fest.

So whether you’re a novice carver or an expert DIY-er, you’ll find some inspirational ways to jack up your lantern and pump up your pumpkin to make your neighbors scream… or at least say, “Wow!”

1. Decoupage Pumpkin

Pumpkin Decoupage

Photo: pocketfulofdreams.co.uk

 

2. Porcupine Pumpkin

Pumpkin Porcupine

Photo: marthastewart.com

 

3. Clock Pumpkin (It really works!)

Pumpkin Clock

Photo: builtbykids.com

4. Gold Thumbtack Pumpkin

Pumpkin Thumbtack

Photo: madiganmade.com

 

5. Steampunk Pumpkin

Pumpkin Steampunk

Photo: lostetter.wordpress.com/

 

6. Ombre Pumpkin

Pumpkin Ombre

Photo: http://fun.kyti.me/

 

7. Pumpkin Bowl

Pumpkin Bowl

Photo: quick-dish.tablespoon.com

 

8. Dry Ice Pumpkin

Pumpkin Dry Ice

Photo: chemistry.about.com

 

9. Pumpkin Vase

Pumpkin Vase

Photo: kojo-designs.com

 

10. Cheeseburger Pumpkin

Pumpkin Cheeseburger

Photo: milkteaandpolkadots.blogspot.com/

 

11. Mini Vampire Pumpkins

Pumpkin Mini Vampire

Photo: marthastewart.com

Related: 25 Bewitching Ways to Decorate a Pumpkin

 

12. Instagram Pumpkin

Pumpkin Instragram

Photo: swelldesigner.blogspot.com/

 

13. Polyhedral Pumpkins

Pumpkin Polyhedral

Photo: mathcraft.wonderhowto.com

 

14. Embroidered Pumpkins

Pumpkin Embroidered

Photo: greeneyed.com

 

15. Cannibal Pumpkin

Pumpkin Cannival

themetapicture.com

 

16. Crayon-Dripped Pumpkins

Pumpkin Crayon

Photo: jennymayandswede.blogspot.com

 

17. Death Star Pumpkin

Pumpkin Death Star

Photo: fantasypumpkins.com

 

18. Chalkboard Pumpkin

Pumpkin Chalkboard

Photo: zakkalife.blogspot.com

 

19. Lace Patterned Pumpkin

Pumpkin Lace Pattern

Photo: marthastewart.com

 

20. Glitter Pumpkin

Pumpkin Glitter

Photo: swelldesigner.blogspot.com

 

21. Cookie Cutter Pumpkins

Pumpkin Cookie Cutters

Photo: southernliving.com

 

22. Volkswagen Microbus Pumpkin

Pumpkin VW

Photo: thefancy.com

 

23. “Liberace” Pumpkins

Pumpkin Liberace

Photo: auntpeaches.com

 

24. Detailed Design Pumpkin

Pumpkin Detail

Photo: http://thebluebrick.ca/

 

25. Stocking Pumpkins

Pumpkin Stocking

Photo: http://blog.makezine.com/

 

26. Pumpkin Diaramas

Pumpkin Diarama

Photo: ohsolovelyvintage.blogspot.com

 

Pumpkin Jail

Photo: kitcheninferno.blogspot.com

 

27. Argyle Pumpkins

Pumpkin Argyle

Photo: www.that-is-all.com/

 

28. Celtic Pumpkins

Pumpkin Celtic

Photo: picasaweb.google.com/106122037578918150251

 

29. Pumpkin Teeth

Pumpkin Front Teeth

Photo: thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com

 

30. Gold Leaf Pumpkins

Pumpkin Gold Leaf

Photo: stripesandsequins.com

 

31. Epsom Salt Pumpkin

Pumpkin Salt

Photo: davisdaybyday.blogspot.com

 

32. Pumpkin Messages

Pumpkin Message

Photo: http://blog.dofaso.com

 

33. Color-Block Pumpkins

Pumpkin Colorblock

Photo: happymundane.com

 

34. Priceless-Work-of-Art Pumpkin

Pumpkin Van Gogh

Photo: intricateart.com

 

35. “Orange” Pumpkins

Pumpkin Orange

Photo: momtastic.com

 

36. Glazed Pumpkins

Pumpkin Glazed

Photo: centsationalgirl.com

 

37. Mardi Gras Pumpkin

Pumpkin Mardi Gras

Photo: swelldesigner.blogspot.com

 

38. Stem Nose Pumpkin

Pumpkin On Side

Photo: fun-gallery.com

 

39. Pumpkin Votive

Pumpkin Votive

Photo: flickr.com/pommes_frites

 

40. Pumpkin Portraits

Pumpkin Portraits Jack Sparrow

Photo: rolandbv.blogspot.com

 

Pumpkin Portrait Yoda

Photo: fun-gallery.com

 

Pumpkin Portrait Jack Nicholson

Photo: dailybits.com

 

41. Pumpkin Bird Feeder

Pumpkin Bird Feeder

Photo: themotherhuddle.com

 

42. Pumpkin Caterpillar

Pumpkin Caterpillar

Photo: bhg.com

 

43. Chevron Pumpkin

Pumpkin Chevron

Photo: birchandbird.com

 

44. Googly-Eyed Pumpkins

Pumpkin Googly Eyed

Photo: marthastewart.com

 

45. Polka Dot Pumpkin

Pumpkin Polka Dot

Photo: ohmyowls.com

 

46. Dip-Dyed Pumpkins

Pumpkin Dip Dyed

Photo: apartmentherapy.com

 

47. Ribbon-Wrapped Pumpkins

Pumpkin Robbon

Photo: inspiredwhims.com

 

48. Pumpkin Carousels

Pumpkin Carousel

Photo: thespottedfox.com

 

49. Leaf Print Pumpkin

Pumpkin Leaf Print

Photo: bhg.com

 

50. Pumpkin Cheshire Cat

Pumpkin Cheshire Cat

Photo: flickr.com/charleym143

 

51. Pumpkin Keg

Pumpkin Keg

Photo: celebrations.com

Related: 8 Other Things You Can Do With a Pumpkin

 

And for the lazy pumpkin decorator…

52. Harry Potter Pumpkin

Pumpkin Harry Potter

Photo: thedragonsfairytail.blogspot.com

 

For more pumpkin-centric DIY, consider:

Pumpkin Carving 101
How To: Preserve Your Jack o’ Lantern
6 Pumpkin Carving Tools to Put the ‘Jack’ in Your Lantern

 

Also check out this video on warding off Halloween pranksters: