25 No Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

One of my favorite things to do early each autumn is drive to one of the nearby farms and load up the truck with pumpkins and gourds of all shapes, colors, and sizes.  

Over the years, I’ve decided that I really don’t enjoy scooping out pumpkin guts and trying to carve faces with a slippery knife.  Instead, I much prefer painting pumpkins!

There are several fun and innovative ways to paint or decorate pumpkins (both real and fake).  Take a look at this collection of creative ways to jazz up your home for Fall.

No Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Pumpkins can be painted and embellished with sequins, buttons and faux fabric flowers as shown below. Personally, I love painted pumpkins as the possibilities are endless!

Striped, dig zags and polka dot painted pumpkins can add a sense of texture and character to any vignette.

Pumpkins with the Masters!  Starry Night Pumpkin Painting Tutorial at The Swell Designer

Studded White Pumpkins (made with thumbtacks) at Kelli Trontel Lifestyle

Donuts with Sprinkles Mini Pumpkins at Studio DIY

Vintage Insect Drawing Decoupaged Pumpkin at Mr. Kate

Cute as These Buttons Pumpkin at Mom 4 Real

Melted Crayon Pumpkin at The Swede Home

Midnight Lace Pumpkins at Honestly WTF

String Art Pumpkins from P.S. I Made This

DIY Glow in the Dark Pumpkins at I Love to Create

Happy Pastel Stenciled and Striped Pumpkins at Handmade Charlotte

Baker’s Twine Pumpkins at Crafts Unleashed

Superhero Pumpkins at Delicious by Dre

Washi Tape Pumpkins at Lil’ Luna

Sparkly Black Skeleton Pumpkin at ModPodge Rocks

Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Pumpkin at Casa Artalexia

Copper Herringbone Pumpkins at Lovely Indeed

Puffy Paint Pumpkins at A Beautiful Mess

Ikat Pumpkin Tutorial at The Peak of Tres Chic

Neon Patterned Pumpkins at For the Love Of

No carve pumpkin decorating ideas featuring metallic gold are perfect centerpiece ideas for a Fall tablescape.

Solid Gold Pumpkins at A Pumpkin and a Princess

Decoupage Photo Pumpkin at Sugar and Charm

Paper Flower Pumpkin at Baby Lovin’ Mama

Painted Pattern Pumpkins at Alisa Burke

Chalk Painted Pumpkins at Perfectly Imperfect

Whether you are decorating a pumpkin for halloween or setting a sophisticated tablescape for a special dinner, no carve pumpkins can be a much cleaner and quicker alternative to the traditional, carved pumpkin method. If you use a faux pumpkin and store it property, it can be reused year after year. Be sure to check out our Fall decorating page for more decorating inspiration.