10 painting pumpkins ideas diy: Fun, Easy Ways to Slay Your Fall Decor with the Kids

Alright fam, pumpkin season is here! We’re definitely not letting it slip by without getting our craft on with hot glue .

Painting pumpkins with craft paint and a paint brush is our new go-to for easy, zero-mess fun that still feels super festive—no knives, no stress, just paint and pure creative chaos.

Whether we’ve got energetic kids bouncing off the walls or just want something cute for the front porch, these DIY ideas are all about making memories together. Maybe we’ll even show off our “masterpieces” on Instagram.

Let’s grab our paintbrushes and spray paint to make some pumpkin magic!

1) Classic Polka Dot Pumpkins – Because who doesn’t love a cute spot party?

Let’s grab those pumpkins and give them a little polka dot glow-up with some vertical stripes ! We just need some acrylic paint in different colors , a circle sponge, or even a q-tip.

Dab on dots in our favorite colors—go wild or keep it simple. Polka dot pumpkins are super fast to make and seriously adorable.

For extra inspo, check out this easy polka dot pumpkin tutorial. These little poppin’ pumpkins bring instant cheer to our decorating game!

2) Galaxy Painted Pumpkins – Space vibes for your porch, totally out of this world!

Let’s turn pumpkins into a whole galaxy with us! Grab some black paint, then start sponging on blues, purples, and pinks.

We can totally go wild with the colors—because honestly, the messier, the better. After that dries, we just flick some white paint on for stars.

We’ve seen people use old toothbrushes for this part, which is kind of genius and super fun. For more tips, check out this step-by-step galaxy pumpkin guide.

3) Glitter Ombre Pumpkins – Sparkle up your fall with some serious bling.

Okay, who doesn’t want their pumpkins or jack o lantern to look like disco balls? We grab our favorite glitters and layer them for that shiny ombre effect that totally screams “fall but make it fabulous,” even before carving.

All we need is some glue, a brush, and a bunch of different acrylic paint and glitter shades. We go from dark to light, just like in this DIY ombre glitter pumpkin idea.

Let’s be honest, the mess is half the fun!

4) Chalkboard Paint Pumpkins – Write and rewrite your spooky messages, zero commitment!

Let’s be real—sometimes we change our minds, like, a lot with chalk paint . Chalkboard paint pumpkins are our new BFF.

We can let the kids doodle today, then wipe it all off for a fresh countdown to Halloween tomorrow! All you need is some chalkboard paint and chalk or chalk markers to draw a funny nose!

Get the how-to and some cute inspo from these awesome chalkboard pumpkin ideas.

5) Floral & Leaf Pattern Pumpkins – Bring in those garden vibes without the dirt.

Let’s pretend we have a green thumb for a minute—without any real plants to water! We just grab some paint and go wild with flowers, vines, or cute leaves on our pumpkins.

For extra easy floral magic, we can also use pressed or dried flowers and glue them on our pumpkins instead of painting. It’s artsy, it’s fresh, and nobody has to pull weeds.

6) Spider Web Design – Get creepy-cute with some easy web painting skills.

We don’t all have perfect painting skills, but we can totally master a cute spider web! Grab some black or white paint and freehand those lines.

If we mess up? No big deal. That’s just extra spooky, right?

We can even level up by gluing on a little plastic spider or sticking on a googly eye for some silly fun. Check out this easy spiderweb pumpkin craft for inspiration.

7) Metallic Gold & Silver Pumpkins – Bling it on with some posh holiday glam.

Let’s grab our fanciest paints—gold and silver—and spray paint to give those pumpkins the ultimate glow up! We’re talking shiny, glam, and oh-so-extra.

It’s super easy if you follow a tutorial . Just brush on a few coats, and don’t forget the second coat for a bold, sparkling finish that literally shines.

Feeling wild? Throw on some glitter for extra sparkle, just like the kind in these metallic pumpkin ideas. Group them on your table and watch everyone’s eyes light up!

8) Nail Polish Marble Effect – Quick, classy, and totally addictive to make.

Nail polish isn’t just for our toes. It’s a secret weapon for marbling pumpkins, too!

We can grab a bunch of wild polish colors, drip them into water, and swirl them around. Give your pumpkin a dunk, and boom—magical marble vibes!

This is such an easy way to make small pumpkins look super fancy. If we want to dive deep, check out the simple steps at Color Made Happy.

9) Striped Rainbow Pumpkins – Channel your inner unicorn with bold, happy stripes.

It’s time to let our unicorn sparkle shine! We take our pumpkins, pick out our brightest paints, and just go wild with thick, colorful stripes.

Seriously, there’s no way to mess this up. Grab every shade you love and make those stripes pop.

For some extra magic, check out more inspo for rainbow painted mini pumpkins—because we all deserve a little color party.

10) Cute Monster Faces – Perfect for the kids who want to mix fun with Halloween fright.

Painting monster faces on pumpkins is top-tier fun! We get to let our wildest color combos loose—think green, purple, or even bright blue monsters.

The messier the better, honestly. We love how easy it is for kids to do.

Just grab some paint, let them go wild with wiggly eyes or silly fangs, and boom—spooky-cute pumpkins for days. If you need cuteness inspo, check out these simple monster faces that make us smile every time.

Getting Started With Pumpkin Painting

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of having fun with pumpkin painting. We’re talking about which tools are actually helpful and how to spot that perfect pumpkin that’s begging for a cute pattern makeover.

What You’ll Need: Supplies Breakdown

First, let’s talk paint and drawing . Acrylic paint and a paint brush are our best friends for pumpkin projects—it dries fast, covers well, and the colors practically bounce off those orange beauties.

We love using both foam brushes for backgrounds and thin paintbrushes for tiny details or stripes.

Don’t forget something for the table. We always grab an old sheet, poster board, or newspapers because, let’s be real, kids + paint = mess.

Having a paper towel roll close by? Life changing.

Here’s our go-to supply checklist for a stress-free pumpkin painting idea setup:

Supply	Why We Use It
Acrylic Paint	Dries quick, no flakes
Foam Brushes	Fast coverage
Fine Brushes	Sweet details
Water Cup	Clean those brushes!
Paper Towels	Disaster backup
Table Cover	Zero regrets later
Old Clothes/Apron	Because paint happens

We sometimes add stickers, mod podge stencils, or gourds glitter if we feel extra. But honestly, you just need the simple stuff to have a blast, which is a fun idea too .

Choosing The Right Pumpkin: Size And Shape Drama

We’re team “Every Pumpkin Has Potential,” but some are easier to paint than others. If you’re shopping with little kids, grab a pumpkin with a smooth surface and no deep ridges.

Those babies are so much easier for tiny hands and paintbrushes to handle.

We like medium-sized pumpkins for painting because they aren’t heavy, but they’re still big enough for fun designs.

Round or oval shapes work best, but a flat spot can be a secret bonus for making faces or scenes pop.

Don’t get tricked by extra dirty pumpkins at the patch. Dirt and waxy skins make paint stick weird, especially after carving .

We usually give our pumpkins a quick wash and dry before we start. If the stem’s loose, leave it behind.

We want one we can pick up without drama! For more tips on prepping your pumpkin, check out this handy step-by-step tutorial for starters.

Pumpkin Painting Tips For Parents And Kids

Let’s be real: painting pumpkins with kids can go sideways fast if we’re not ready. Luckily, with a few smart tricks, we can create keep the mess under control and turn ‘oops’ moments into fun memories instead of stress.

Mess-Proofing Your Space (It’s Possible!)

We love a good craft session, but the aftermath? Not so much.

Before we dip a single brush in paint, let’s set up our area to keep chaos at bay. Grab an old cardboard tablecloth, some newspapers, or even a cheap plastic shower curtain—lay it out and boom! Perfect for a large pumpkin setup. Instant protective layer for your floors and tables.

Have wipes or wet paper towels ready for sticky hands and splatters. Using aprons, old shirts, or even dad’s XXL tee on the kids keeps their clothes free from battle scars.

Want to be extra fancy? Set each kid up with their own paint tray or plate to limit color spills and squabbles over supplies.

Pro Tip: Choose washable paints for extra inspiration so we don’t freak out if there’s a mini paint explosion! For more ideas, there are a ton of mess-free pumpkin decorating tips we swear by.

Easy Ways To Fix Painting Mistakes

The magic of DIY is that mess-ups are honestly part of the fun. If a blob lands in the wrong spot or your ghost face looks more like a smudge, don’t panic—we got this.

If the paint’s still wet, grab a damp cloth or a cotton swab and dab it quickly. Didn’t quite fix it? Just let it dry and paint over it with a fresh color!

Try turning drips into polka dots or even silly faces if the mistake sticks around. You can always slap on some stickers, glitter glue, or googly eyes to cover up those little oopsies.

Honestly, it’s best to just roll with the silliness—add some black circles, no pumpkin turns out perfect, and that’s what makes them awesome.

Want more ideas? Check out these easy pumpkin painting ideas for kids or try some creative ways to keep things stress-free and fun!