Painting Faux Pumpkins: 3 Easy Ways for Fall

Painting faux pumpkins is the easiest way to make old fall decor look like it came from an expensive store. Here are 3 fun ways to do it, from hand painted florals to aged terracotta. Let’s take that old decor and make it new again!

I absolutely LOVE Fall! I love the crispness in the air and the way the colors pop when the leaves start to turn. They are so vibrant and beautiful that I can’t even believe that the colors are actually real.

I love the crunching leaves under children’s feet as they play in the streets, hanging on to the golden sun as it starts to set.

I love being able to finally wear jeans and cardigans and boots.

I also love the sweet decor of Fall in preparation for Thanksgiving and coveted family time.

Recently I have shifted from decorating with the bright vibrant colors typical of Fall decor to a more neutral and sophisticated palette. I love browns and soft, muted colors now but that means that my old decor doesn’t really work for what I want now.

But what was I going to do with my old decor? I usually like to let things go that are no longer serving me and let them bless someone else’s life, but I didn’t want to get rid of my Fall decor if there was something I could do to update it.

So, I challenged myself to give my old pumpkins new life by painting faux pumpkins in a few new ways. And I love what came out of it!

Here is the short answer: You can paint faux pumpkins three easy ways. Use paint and flour for a dusty heirloom look, paint and baking soda for a Pottery Barn style terracotta finish, or craft paint to hand paint flowers on glass pumpkins. Each project uses supplies you may already own.

Painting Faux Pumpkins: 3 Fun Ways

• Faux Heirloom Pumpkins
• Pottery Barn Terracotta Pumpkin Dupe
• Hand Painted Flowers on Glass Pumpkins

1. Faux Heirloom Pumpkins

I love the soft, colored pumpkins I see at the grocery store, so I recreated them with pumpkins I already had. Mine were almost 20 years old! With a few $5 Lowe’s paint samples and plain flour from my kitchen, they went from tired to looking like they came right off the farm.

The secret to painting faux pumpkins this way: flour. Get the full faux heirloom pumpkins tutorial here.

2. Pottery Barn Terracotta Pumpkin Dupe

I wanted the terracotta pumpkins I saw at Pottery Barn, so I made my own from faux pumpkins and gourds I no longer loved. They look a little different from the originals, but I still think they look like the real deal, and they are my favorite of the three.

The secret to painting faux pumpkins like terracotta: baking soda, plus a dusting of flour. See how to make DIY terracotta pumpkins here.

3. Hand Painted Flowers on Glass Pumpkins

My tired glass pumpkins got new life with simple painted flowers. I am NOT an artist, and if you mess up, the paint wipes right off with a paper towel. It is a great way to refresh decor without changing it completely.

The secret to painting faux pumpkins with flowers: just imitate a design you love. Get the hand painted pumpkins tutorial here.

Which Way of Painting Faux Pumpkins Is Best for You?

Technique	Secret ingredient	Paint used	Best for
Faux heirloom	Flour	Lowe’s samples: Coral Island, Grassland, Quietude	Soft, dusty colors
Terracotta	Baking soda and flour	Sherwin Williams Pottery Urn	A rustic clay look
Hand painted flowers	Craft paint, no primer	Craft paint	Updating glass pumpkins

Ok, so which pumpkins are your favorite?

I love them all for different reasons. But I think my fave is the terracotta.

Shhhhh….don’t tell the others.

I hope you love these 3 fun ways to paint your faux pumpkins and this inspires you to take your unused and outdated decor and give it a little makeover to work for you NOW. Or make that new decor look like it has some character. I don’t think it’s necessary to always buy new decor and I love to take a chance and upcycle when I can.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you paint faux pumpkins?

Yes, you can paint faux pumpkins with regular paint. I used sample size wall paint, craft paint, and chip brushes on foam, plastic, and glass pumpkins.

What paint should you use on fake pumpkins?

Sample size wall paint works well for painting faux pumpkins because it is cheap and covers well. I paid about $5 per sample at Lowe’s. Regular craft paint works too, especially on glass.

How do you make painted faux pumpkins look real?

Add texture. Flour gives a dusty heirloom finish, and baking soda mixed into wet paint gives a rough terracotta look. Both make painted faux pumpkins look like real pumpkins and pottery.

How do you paint plastic pumpkins to look like terracotta?

Paint them in a warm terracotta color, sprinkle baking soda on the wet paint, then dust with flour when it is almost dry. I used Sherwin Williams Pottery Urn. See my DIY terracotta pumpkins for the full steps.

Need some more Fall Inspo? After painting faux pumpkins, check out the following posts for more creative ideas!

This spooky tree for Halloween 

This Black Crow Wreath for your front door

These 30+ Amazon Fall Finds

These pretty Fall wreaths

My fall porch ideas

These simple Thanksgiving table ideas 

Have a great week!  Until next time, stop waiting. Start creating.