54 Super-Easy Ways to Decorate Your Pumpkins for Halloween

54 Super-Easy Ways to Decorate Your Pumpkins for Halloween

Of course, carving pumpkins is a classic (and fun!) Halloween activity. But let's get real: Not only do you have to clean up all those sticky pumpkin guts after you're done carving your masterpiece, you also have to worry about keeping little fingers intact if you're carving with kids (not to mention carved pumpkins only last for a week, at best). So this year, skip all that by painting your pumpkins instead.

If you need a little inspo, we've gathered the coolest pumpkin painting ideas and they couldn't be easier to create, whether you're a toddler or a full-grown adult. And there are so many fun ways to turn a pumpkin into a canvas for art! You can paint a simple design, like a bat or a funny pumpkin face, or exercise your creativity by embellishing your painted gourds with adhesive jewels and confetti.

But before you check out our favorite funny, cute and scary no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas, a few pointers to make sure your painted pumpkin turns out perfectly. First, choose a gourd that has as smooth and flat a surface as possible. Then wash and dry your pumpkin, so it's as clean as possible. Wondering what the best paint to use on pumpkins is? We suggest non-toxic, chalky acrylic paints for a matte, non-oily finish. Finally, one last tip: Paint your pumpkins in the backyard and cover the lawn and tables with newspaper to make clean-up easy. Now get ready to have the best Halloween decorations on the block!