Halloween is one of our favorite holidays for a lot of reasons—from the costumes and candy to the many opportunities for a DIY project. While carving jack-o-lanterns is a time-honored tradition, simple no-carve pumpkin ideas have been growing in popularity each year. Unlike carved pumpkins, which can mold or start to smell quickly, decorative no-carve pumpkins can help you stay festive all season long. One of the easiest (and prettiest) ways to decorate your pumpkins without breaking out the knives is painting them with a chalky finish paint. While you can use acrylic or spray paint, we prefer the matte coverage that a chalky finish paint provides—plus, it's super versatile and can be used to create a variety of different techniques and finishes.
Whether you’re after funky patterns, dipped lines, or abstract splatters, we have you (and your pumpkins) covered.
What You'll Need
Supplies
Pumpkins
Chalky finish paint in two colors (We used The Spruce Best Home chalky finish paint in Elevated Black and White Bead Board)
Wax paper
Drop cloth, kraft paper, or newspaper
1-inch and 3-inch paintbrushes
Gather Materials
Cover your workspace with a drop cloth or kraft paper and get your tools and supplies ready. For this project, we used a 3-inch and a 1-inch paintbrush, but you can work with what you already have on-hand. Be creative and have fun!
Prepare Pumpkins and Choose Paint
Try a Pattern Pumpkin! This project requires at least two paint colors—we opted for black and white to achieve a more modern look, but you could use whatever shades catch your eye. Select any size pumpkin you like (we recommend using a sugar pumpkin or larger version to really show off the pattern), then use a damp cloth or paper towel to wipe down the exterior, taking care to remove any dirt. Pat dry.
Paint A Base Coat
Select your base color (we went with black to allow the pattern to pop), then paint your pumpkin using your 3-inch paintbrush, covering it completely. Allow to dry for at least an hour. Once the finish appears matte and free of any wet spots, you can add a second coat for extra coverage or go straight to painting on your pattern.
Paint Your Pattern
Using your 1-inch brush and a lighter color, add short brushstrokes (about an inch long) all over the pumpkin until completely covered. Once you've mastered this design, feel free to switch it up; try patterns featuring thin dashes, stars, polka dots, or squiggles.
Style and Enjoy! Style your painted masterpiece alongside other favorite seasonal decorations on your front porch, dining table, or beside your fireplace. The bold pattern is sure to make your home stand out in all the right ways.
Looking for pumpkins to color or paint, call us. We're your go to gals!