7 Pumpkin Decorations for Every Autumn Holiday

Image: Alex G. (cc)

Fall decorations are some of the most colorful and creative decorations of the year! With so many natural resources available in the fall, it would be a shame to not incorporate them you’re your home’s decorations. Whether you’re decorating for Thanksgiving, Halloween, or just autumn in general, here are some fun and creative ways that you can use pumpkins to spruce things up around the house!

1. Pumpkin Jack-O-Lantern

The Jack-O-Lantern is a classic Halloween decoration, so how could we not include it in our list of pumpkin decorations? An oldie-but-a-goodie, this trademark Halloween decoration will always be one of the symbolic figureheads of October 31st.

2. Pumpkin Planter Pot 

Image: Wayne Wilkinson (cc)

Another great way to decorate with pumpkins is to turn them into a festive fall planter. This is an especially nice decoration for the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving table. Hollow out the center of the pumpkin and cut off the top. You can either put a layer of soil inside the pumpkin, or simply use the pumpkin shell as a vase. Place an arrangement of seasonal grasses and flowers inside the pumpkin, and you have a beautiful flower planter that will look great either inside or outside your home!

3. Indoor Pumpkin Candleholders

To add a seasonal, elegant look to your home’s interior, purchase several small pumpkins (sometimes called Jack-Be-Littles) and hollow them out just like you would a regular Jack-O-Lantern. Instead of carving a face into the pumpkin, however, simply use an electric drill to make a number of circular holes in the rind. Make as many, or as few, holes as you want, and put a tea candle inside the mini pumpkins. Arrange the candleholders on your dining room table or you living room coffee table and your family wil love the warm glow they give off. For very small pumpkins, it’s likely best to keep the pumpkin’s top removed while the candles are lit. However, if you make larger candleholders out of medium-sized pumpkins, you can safely leave the tops on.

4. Pumpkin Potpourri

Create a decoration that will also warm your home with the smell of autumn and Thanksgiving. Hollow out the inside of a medium to large pumpkin before using a spoon or other utensil to scrape off slivers of pumpkin rind from the inside. If you choose, you can also use some of the outer pieces of the pumpkin rind to add a darker color to your potpourri.

Bake the pumpkin rind slivers on a cookie sheet in the oven at about 110°F until the pieces are completely dry. Let them cool for approximately 3 hours. Next, take an orange and cut thin slices of orange onto a cookie sheet for drying. You can cook the orange slices the same way you did the pumpkin slices, at 110°F until dry. The orange slices will also need approximately 3 hours to cool. After both cookie sheets have fully cooled, mix the pumpkin and orange slices into a potpourri bowl and add several sticks of cinnamon and as many cloves as you like. You can also add a few drops of cinnamon oil or clove oil if you like. Place several bowls of the potpourri around the house to create a warm, lasting scent for your home.  

5. Metallic Pumpkin Accents

Image: Wonderlane (cc)

A big trend in decorating this Halloween is the use of pumpkins as metallic accents for flowerbeds and pumpkin/gourde arrangements. Simply purchase a can of metallic spray paint and paint the outside of your pumpkin. Arrange your metallic pumpkin accent in your flowerbed or by your other holiday decorations and you’re done! The metallic highlights provided by these kinds of pumpkins will add that little something extra to make your Halloween decorations really pop.

6.  Glitter Pumpkin Accents

Like the metallic pumpkin accents described above, glitter pumpkin accents provide that extra touch to any autumn arrangement inside or outside your home.  To create one, simply cover the exterior of any size pumpkin with glue or adhesive spray. Before the glue or adhesive dries, apply a glitter powder of your choice. In no time at all, you have a dazzling, colorful accent for any seasonal display.

7. Lace Pumpkin Accents

Lastly, lace pumpkin accents provide a unique and elegant way to decorate for fall. Simply purchase lace fabric in any color of your choosing and tie it to a pumpkin of any size. You can get very creative with the colors and sizes of lace pumpkin arrangements, with everything from traditional black lace on orange pumpkins to green lace on painted black pumpkins. This customized approach to pumpkin decorating is great because you can make your decorations match the décor of any room in your house!

There you have it! 7 fun and creative ways to use pumpkins to decorate your home! If you have ideas for pumpkin decorations that we haven’t mentioned already, please tell us about them in the comments section!