13 Other Things You Can Do with a Pumpkin

Autumn’s arrival brings with it an atmosphere of abundance. There’s plenty of family, food, and fun, a mountain of freshly fallen leaves, and more pumpkins than there are ways to use them—or so you thought. Before you go out of your gourd carving yet another traditional jack-o’-lantern, try instead to transform pumpkins into fantastical decor and functional home accents. Get inspired with 13 of our favorite fall pumpkin creations.

Most pumpkins become an empty shell of their former selves once the pulp is removed—but not this pumpkin serving bowl! Slice off the top of a pumpkin, scoop out the flesh and seeds, and fill the shells with your favorite soup (get a tempting recipe from Pizzazzerie). Your dinner guests will be tricked into a treat when they lift the lids on these unconventional tureens.

This DIY pumpkin cooler from Waiting on Martha will give your festive drinks the chills. Carve out the seeds and pulp of a pumpkin to make room for a large glass bowl filled with ice cubes, soda cans, or wine bottles. Alternatively, use the pumpkin as a punch bowl that’s sure to be the star of your next party.

What’s in a name? In the case of these pretty place card holders by Oh My! Creative, the name is celebrated by miniature pumpkins and a charming, personal touch. Make your kith and kin feel right at home with their own customized pumpkins, embellished with glittering stems. 

The birds in your neighborhood will go cuckoo for this pumpkin bird feeder. Kitchen Counter Chronicle shares the complete steps for crafting this fall treat for the birds (and squirrels too!).

Lanterns offer a simple solution for adding warmth to a cold entryway—and with the clever use of pumpkins, you don’t have to light them up. Fill a few one- to two-foot-tall metal lanterns with vivid miniature pumpkins, colorful mums or gourds in varied hues, and leftover pinecones on the lawn. Hang the lanterns on the wall or park them on the floor or on a side table to add a punch of color and personality to the porch.

“Grow” a veritable pumpkin patch in your front yard—without sewing a single pumpkin seed—with this seasonal window dressing. To recreate, mount prefabricated window boxes below the windowsills of exterior windows, fill the boxes with real or faux non-flowering plants or blooms, and then top with pumpkins! 

Pumpkins aren't just for jack-o-lanterns anymore. Try your hands at one—or more—of these festive DIYs.

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