37 Simply Spooky Pumpkin Decorating Ideas​ for 2025

When the calendar reads October 1st and spooky season is officially here, it’s time to start planning your pumpkin decorating ideas. Whether you’re looking for pumpkin decorating ideas for kids or simple pumpkin decorating ideas for a contest, it’s not always easy to find the right ideas for decorating a pumpkin.

From pumpkin painting ideas to simple pumpkin carving ideas, these pumpkin decorating ideas look fancy but are easy to make. Bake some Halloween cookies, put on a spooky movie and give your front porch a festive makeover.

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• Fun Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Kids
• Easy Pumpkin Decorating Ideas
• Cute Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Adults
• Simple Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Contest
• Pumpkin Decorating Ideas​ FAQs

Fun Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Kids

1. Animal Pumpkin 

The best pumpkin decorating ideas for kids are just as fun to make as the finished product is to look at. Animal designs are always a winner, whether you opt for a cow, a dog, a horse or any other animal your kids love. Use googly eyes, fabric, yarn and any other materials you can get your hands on to bring the design to life. 

2. Glow-in-the-Dark Pumpkins

Glow-in-the-dark paint is perfect for pumpkin decorating because it has an inherently spooky vibe. Let the kids get creative with the design (even if it comes out looking a bit like abstract art). 

3. Pom-Pom Pumpkins 

Pom-poms are fun, vibrant additions to your pumpkin that are easy for kids to stick on. According to PBS, art is crucial for child development. With this pumpkin decorating idea, they can have a blast and stimulate their brain at the same time. 

4. Pineapple Pumpkin

Who says you can’t channel summer with your pumpkin? Paint an oval-shaped pumpkin yellow and use green cardstock paper to make the fronds. Add sunglasses or a lei for the finishing touch. 

5. Sticker Face Pumpkins 

Buy a Halloween sticker kit and let the kids decorate the pumpkins with funny faces. This one is always a big hit.

6. Polka Dot Pumpkins

Polka dots might just be the easiest way to decorate a pumpkin, not to mention they’re adorable. You can either keep the pumpkins as is and cover them in multicolored polka dots or paint the entire pumpkin first. 

7. Superhero Pumpkins

Does your kid have a favorite superhero? Paint the pumpkin in their signature colors and accessorize it with a mask, cape and logo. 

8. Minion Pumpkin 

Is there anything cuter than a Minion pumpkin? Using blue and black paper and giant googly eyes, you can transform your pumpkin into one of the most adorable creatures of all time.

9. Emoji Pumpkins

Emoji pumpkins are a clever way to get kids excited about putting their screens down for a bit. Let them choose their favorite emoji and paint it onto a pumpkin for a fun, quirky idea. 

Easy Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

10. Chalkboard Pumpkin

This is one of the most unique pumpkin decorating ideas. Paint the pumpkin with chalkboard paint and let the kids go to town. The beauty is that it doesn’t have to be perfect because you can simply erase the chalk and start over again. 

11. Stencil Designs

If you’re looking for versatile pumpkin decorating ideas, grab some stencils. You can get creative with the design and the paint color, so this one is perfect to revisit year after year with minor tweaks. You can also paint the entire pumpkin one color and use a different shade for the stencils. 

12. Monogram Pumpkins 

Get a pumpkin for each member of your household and paint everyone’s initials. A pumpkin decorated like this would make the perfect background for fall family photos.

13. Classic Jack-o’-Lantern

If you’re open to carving your pumpkin, you can’t go wrong with a good old-fashioned jack-o’-lantern. They’re a classic sight on All Hallows’ Eve, with maniacal grins that cast flickering shadows down the street. Don’t feel obligated to stick with the traditional jack-o’-lantern face; you can get creative and make it look however you want. Just keep it spooky! 

14. Paper Leaf Pumpkins

Cut leaf shapes out of scrapbook paper and drape them over a pumpkin (white or fairytale pumpkins are best here). This is proof that simple pumpkin designs can look refined and sophisticated.

15. Tissue Paper Mosaic 

The best pumpkin designs make use of materials you already have lying around, like tissue paper. Tear off small squares and glue them onto the pumpkin for a mosaic-like design that will turn heads.

16. Ombré Pumpkin

Ombré pumpkins are easy pumpkin designs for all ages. Start with a lighter color on top, then gradually darken the paint as you move down the pumpkin. What’s so great about this idea is how customizable it is. You get to choose the color palette to really make the design your own. 

17. Seed Art Pumpkin

Paint pumpkin seeds in different colors and glue them onto the pumpkin, arranged in stripes or any other pattern your heart desires. This is one of the best pumpkin decorating ideas for anyone who likes an artsy, bohemian look. 

18. Floral Pumpkin

Whether you glue on faux flowers or paint them yourself, you can’t go wrong with floral pumpkin decorating ideas.

Cute Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Adults

19. Succulent Pumpkin Planters 

Hollowed-out baby pumpkins make the most adorable succulent planters. Don’t you just love it when pumpkins double as DIY fall décor?

20. Washi Tape Quilt Pumpkin

A washi tape quilt is one of the most elegant pumpkin decorating ideas for adults. Sketch out your quilt design first, then cut the washi tape into various shapes to match it. This is a pumpkin you’ll be proud to display on your front porch, and it’s surprisingly easy to do. 

21. Witch Silhouette Pumpkin

If vintage is your vibe, a witch silhouette is the way to go. Use lace for the border and a witch stencil or online template for the portrait. A white pumpkin looks especially elegant for this design.

22. Gingham Pumpkins 

Gingham pumpkins are pumpkin decorating ideas for adults that add a touch of Southern charm to your fall décor.

23. Fabric Tape Pumpkins

Looking for country-chic pumpkin decorating ideas? Simply cover them in fabric tape for décor pieces you can display inside or out.

24. Faux Galvanized Pumpkins

The best decorated pumpkins look fancier than they are. If you mix metallic paint with white paint, the finished product is reminiscent of galvanized metal. This is an easy way to level up your pumpkins this Halloween.

25. Rainbow Pour Pumpkin

Start by finding a pumpkin with deep ridges and painting it white, then fill plastic cups with different colors of tempera paint (one color per cup). One by one, pour the paint onto the stem of the pumpkin and let it drip down the sides for a lovely marbled look. 

26. Gilded Pumpkins

A gilding kit is all you need for this idea that will make your front porch the talk of the neighborhood.

Simple Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Contest

27. Button Spiders

If you need a winning pumpkin design, glue black pipe cleaners on black buttons for a spooky (but not scary) pumpkin that’s sure to impress. Take it up a notch with some red string to make the spiders look like black widows.

28. Gnome Pumpkins

Decorating a pumpkin for school has never been easier. With faux fur for the beard, plaid fleece for the hat and a beige knob for the nose, you can turn your pumpkin into the most adorable little gnome.

29. Fairy House Pumpkins

Take the kids on a nature walk to collect twigs, herbs and flowers to glue onto the pumpkins for a touch of whimsy. Carve out doors and windows and place LED lights inside to bring the fairytale to life. This is great if you need ideas for a school contest because it looks super elaborate but is quite easy to make (with an adult’s help for the carving portion).

30. Unicorn Pumpkin 

Paint your pumpkin white, cut out ears and eyes from construction paper and use pastel yarn for the mane. All that’s left to do now is make a horn out of paper and cover it in glitter for the finishing touch.

31. Wise Owl Pumpkin

Use cardstock paper to cut out eyes, a nose, wings, feathers and feet. This pumpkin decorating idea for school can also serve as a fun craft to keep kids busy.

32. Spa Day Pumpkin

Looking for a pumpkin decorating idea for a school contest that really pushes the envelope? This one is guaranteed to earn you some brownie points. Paint on a face mask, add cucumber slices and wrap a towel around the pumpkin for a creative design that’s hard to beat.

33. Mummy Pumpkin 

All you need is gauze and googly eyes for this undyingly classic pumpkin idea. Throw on some googly eyes for a bit of extra fun.

34. Ghost Family

When it comes to contest-worthy pumpkin ideas, this one is a no-brainer. Paint your pumpkins white (get them in different shapes and sizes to make it extra fun) and add the eyes and mouths with black paint or marker.

35. Hedgehog Pumpkin

Pumpkin decorating ideas for school that use Halloween candy are sure to be a hit in the contest. Candy corn is the star of the show here, as it serves as the “spikes” for the hedgehog. You can use paint or a marker to draw the face.

36. Black Cat Pumpkin

Pumpkin decorating ideas don’t get much more adorable than this. Paint the pumpkin black, then use felt or foam for the eyes, ears and nose and pipe cleaners for the whiskers.

37. Galaxy Pumpkin

Transform your pumpkin into a mini night sky with black paint as the base. Sponge on swirls of blue, purple and pink, then flick white paint for stars. Add glitter for an extra cosmic sparkle.

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas​ FAQs

How To Decorate a Pumpkin Instead of Carving?

If you’re looking for pumpkin decorating ideas for kids that don’t require carving, you have lots of fun, unique options. Acrylic and spray paint are great for all sorts of designs. You can make a decoupage pumpkin with scrapbook paper or fabric for a more elegant look. Stickers and adhesives, such as googly eyes, can be used to create animal faces, characters and other themed designs.

How Do You Get Paint to Stick to Real Pumpkin?

To ensure your pumpkin comes out looking as good as it does in your head, you’ll need to do a few things before you get started. First, thoroughly clean the pumpkin to remove dirt and debris and create a smooth working surface. Then, lightly sand the exterior so the paint sticks more easily. You can also apply acrylic primer for even better adherence. Once your pumpkin is finished, a weather-proof sealant helps protect it from the elements.

How To Win a Pumpkin Decorating Contest?

To win a pumpkin decorating contest, think outside the box. Themed designs, such as animals, characters and scenes like a fairy village, are always contenders.

It’s also important to consider the audience. Pumpkin decorating ideas for a school contest, for example, will probably be more cutesy and lighthearted than designs for a work party. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember to have fun and don’t think you have to do something overly fancy or elaborate. Simple pumpkin decorating ideas for a contest can go a long way. 

Now that you have plenty of easy decorating ideas to choose from, it’s time to gather your materials, head to the pumpkin patch and get started on your masterpiece. Keep the festive vibes going with fall nail ideas and make this spooky season one to remember. 

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