Pumpkin painting ideas 2024: 60 designs for your next Halloween craft
Carving is out, and painting is in 🎃
It's officially that time of year where our inner artists come out and we want to do all the Halloween inspired crafts (despite not having picked up a paintbrush since school). From creating DIY party decorations, to designing a frighteningly good manicure, there are so many ways to get creative at Halloween. And usually we're all about carving a pumpkin into the most intricate design possible, and then shedding a small tear when it inevitably goes wrong and you're left with a dodgy looking pumpkin. Enter: pumpkin painting. A fool-proof craft that lets you enter the Halloween spirit, without having to get the carving knife out.
Pumpkin painting isn't exactly new, but we've been seeing it pop up more and more on our TikTok FYP as everyone gears up for the 31st. Rather than spending hours getting all the guts out of the pumpkin, before then spending ages trying to carve it, with pumpkin painting all you need to do is gather your paints, brushes, water and a design of your choice (we have 60 below) and get to work.
And it's a great activity to bring your mates together for. Simply put on a spooky film in the background, make a tray of Halloween cocktails, and do a sip and paint session, the scary edition.
But before you grab your paints out from the back of cupboard here's everything to know about how to actually paint a pumpkin and our 60 favourite painting ideas.
Things you'll need to paint a pumpkin
- Pot of water
- Selection of paintbrushes in different sizes
- Craft sealer
- Selection of acrylic paints
- Newspaper or bin bags to line table so you don't get paint everywhere!
How to paint a pumpkin
Before you even pick up a paint brush, selecting your pumpkin is crucial as you want to make sure you've got one with the smoothest surface as possible, as any lumps, bumps, or markings will make it more difficult to paint on. After selecting your pumpkin take it home and clean and dry it as you want to avoid any dirt or soil getting mixed up in the paint and creating a grainy effect on the pumpkin.
We'd recommend using a sealer before you start painting, which can be found in aerosol cans or in squeezy bottles, putting this on and letting it dry. Once this is done you can begin painting. FYI, the best paint to use is acrylic paint.
In need of some inspo before you start? These are our favourite designs.
60 pumpkin painting ideas
Scream mask pumpkin
It wouldn't be Halloween without at least one Scream reference.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice pumpkin
Loved the sequel movie? Embrace your inner Jenna Ortega and paint a Beetlejuice inspired pumpkin.
Skull design pumpkin
The red and white shades really take the scary factory up a notch with this skull face design.
Witch starry night pumpkin
Low-key obsessed with the combo of the ombre effect of the night sky with the black witches and bats.
Hocus Pocus pumpkin
Whether you loved the movies, or just a fan of the colour lilac, this (in theory) is a pretty easy design to replicate.
Ghost and flowers pumpkin
Yes, a pumpkin can be both chic and scary. And this design with flowers and ghosts nails the balance to a creepy level of perfection.
Cute pumpkin face
This is beyond cute, find some straw to complete the look too.
Scary pumpkin
Ok, now back to the terrifying side of Halloween. This is a pretty easy design to paint and allows you to incorporate carving into it too.
Minions pumpkins
A LOT of yellow paint will be needed here, and it will be 100% per cent worth it.
Pumpkin fairy house
Pumpkins don't always need to be creepy and this fairy house design is beyond cute.
Harry Potter pumpkin
When it comes to the world of Harry Potter, there's literally endless pumpkin painting designs you could do. From Harry, to Hogwarts, to Platform 9 3/4 there's so much inspiration.
Skeleton pumpkin
Patience is *key* when it comes to painting this design, with all those details you don't want to miss a bone or two.
Taylor Swift Eras Tour pumpkin
Ok, we're officially sold, this is the pumpkin design we're painting this year. A segment for each Era? Genius. Just make to check your pumpkin is large enough to be divided into equal segments.
Spook Now Pumpkin
And if you have a lot of time on your hands, why not do a pumpkin per Era? Now that is pure Swiftie dedication.
Spider on Face Pumpkin
Tbh this is exactly how we'd look if there was a spider on our faces. We'd also be screaming too.
Eye pumpkin
Keep an 'eye' on your guests this Halloween. Sorry, we had to.
Pennywise Pumpkin
Consider us suitably terrified with this pumpkin painting idea. Add on a orange wig and a balloon and you'll have the scariest pumpkin on the street.
Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from TV and film, to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating quizzes, covering exciting new food releases and sharing the latest interior must-haves. In her role she’s interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of The Kardashians. After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into fashion journalism, writing for the Daily Express, before working as Features Editor at The Tab, where she spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on LinkedIn.
50+ easy and delicious Halloween cocktails
Best Halloween quiz questions for your party
Morticia Addams is the ultimate style icon
Just all of Heidi Klum's Halloween costumes
