17 Fun & Creative Ways To Decorate With Pumpkins For A Stunning Fall Display

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You know it's fall when your cafe starts offering pumpkin-spiced drinks or snacks. However, plopping down this fruit on your porch steps or carving a face into it is hardly enough to create a stunning seasonal display. You need to level up your decorations to compete with your neighbors for the "prettiest house this fall" title. Luckily, there are several creative ways to go about it. The best part, though? These ideas won't burn a hole in your pocket. In fact, we have listed quite a few adorable Dollar Tree DIYs to get your home ready for fall. For instance, you can craft a utensil holder or wall art with foam pumpkins from the store.

We have also listed other ideas, like storage solutions for your candies, rustic jack-o'-lanterns, and sustainable decor. If you don't have a lot of time to spare or aren't a big fan of DIY crafts, something as simple as replacing the stem on your artificial pumpkins will elevate their look and help them seem more real. And swapping your throw pillows' covers is another way you can embrace the harvest season. Interested in learning more? Here are 18 fun ideas to decorate your house with pumpkins this fall.

Do you want to make the artificial pumpkins gracing your reading nook, fireplace mantle, or dining table look more natural? Replace their resin stems with the real deal. Just visit a pumpkin patch and forage for fallen stems on the ground. You can even ask your friends and neighbors if you can have the tops off their soon-to-be-rotten pumpkins. Once you have a few, clean them with a damp washcloth to remove all traces of the pulp. Then, throw them in the oven for about two or three hours at 200 degrees Fahrenheit to dry them out. Match each stem to your pumpkins (size and coloring play a role here) before gluing them in place.

Tired of slowing down the decomposition or trying to keep bugs away from your jack-o'-lanterns? Carve one from a Paper Mache Pumpkin and give it a rustic touch for an earthy look. You'll need a sharp craft knife, like Diyself's Exacto Model with 11 Stainless Steel Blades, to cut out the shape you'd like. Additionally, you'll need a spray paint bottle in your favorite fall color (orange, brown, and dark yellow are good options), a little antiquing wax, such as FolkArt's Home Decor one, to age your jack-o'-lanterns, and a few paper towels to buff out the wax. You can even add battery-operated LED candles inside to light up your decor.

Do you want to create the perfect stacked pumpkin fall decoration? Then, Dollar Tree's 24-inch Stacking Pumpkin set is a good candidate. However, if you aren't a big fan of their basic looks, turn them luxe with a few coats of metallic spray paint in a color that matches the rest of your decorations. Or do you want to add a little earthy depth to your stack? Get a textured finish spray paint, like Krylon's in Coarse Stone. After it's dry, stack them and cover the areas between them with dried moss, leaves, twine, and other festive stems before displaying your masterpiece.

Another cool way to display stacked pumpkins is to make them look antique and lend them a little character. Don't worry; you don't need a lot of items. To age your pumpkins, get a clear crackle paint to achieve the distressed look. Simply apply a base coat and contrasting topcoat. Then, use a product like FolkArt's Crackle Medium to create a rustic effect that allows the bottom layer of paint to peek through the topcoat. That being said, a regular school glue, like Elmer's, would work, too, if you're on a tight budget. Either way, apply thin coats for hairline fractures and a thick one for more prominent cracks.

DIYing a gorgeous wreath is one of the easiest and best ideas to decorate your front door for Thanksgiving this year. Get a Floral Garden Pumpkin-Shaped Wreath Form from your local Dollar Tree and decorate it per your preference. For instance, if you want a traditional pumpkin wreath, cover the frame with an orange cloth and the stem with twine for a simple finish. You can even experiment with different colors or patterns for a fun look. Then, use battery-operated string lights (like Brighton's 12 Pack Fairy Lights), so your wreath can look charming both day and night.

If you start trading your light throws for fluffy ones as soon as summer gives way to cooler temperatures, don't display your foam pumpkins without dressing them in cozy gear, too. All you need to do is wrap them in some fuzzy yarn in a fall-friendly color or one that matches the rest of your decor. Use leftovers from your other projects or try out budget-friendly options like Premier's Just Chenille Yarn. As for the foam stem, hide it with some twine for a charming look.

Are your walls lacking fall-specific decor? Then, DIY a beautiful 3D pumpkin wall art to jazz them up. Just run to your nearby Dollar Tree and get a Carvable Foam Pumpkin and a Crafter's Square Stretched Canvas. You'll also need a sharp craft knife to split the pumpkin in half, glue to adhere it to the canvas (you can paint it or cover it with scrapbook paper first), and some paint (skip it if you like the orange shade) to give it a glow up. You also want to grab a few artificial decor items, like leaves, berries, stems, and flowers, to decorate your pumpkin wall art.

One trick for styling a fall table that will drastically transform your space is to house your utensils in a beautiful seasonal holder. But if you don't have anything fancy handy, use a small glass and a foam pumpkin (the cheap ones from Dollar Tree work perfectly). Based on the former's diameter, carve out the latter's top with a craft knife. Then, embellish your pumpkin's mouth with Polyester Maple Leaves or Leaf LED Lights. You can poke in artificial flowers, too. After you're done, insert the glass inside and drop in your utensils. Always glue the decorations to the pumpkin before putting the glass in, or it'll be difficult to take out for cleaning.

This idea is perfect for people who either don't like elaborate DIYs or like adding subtle fall touches to their home. To mimic it, you'll need to purchase a Harvest Theme Glazed Trinket Box from your local Dollar Tree. Now, pick a small indoor plant you have lying about your house, and rehome it in the container. Don't forget to drill a drainage hole at the bottom with a ceramic drill bit or diamond-tipped hole saw bit. But if this seems like a lot of work, put an artificial fall plant in and call it a day.

Hoping to corral your unruly mini pumpkin collection? Get an 8-inch Wide Cylinder Vase from Dollar Tree or turn an old hurricane vase into beautiful fall decor. Put your pumpkins in, and you'll be good to go. However, if this idea seems too plain, grab Amaco's Rub n Buff Metallic Finish in a shade of your choosing, stick painter's tape about ½-inch from the mouth of your vase, and use a foam brush to apply a thick layer. Do the same with the bottom or create vertical stripes for a unique look.

A stylish fall decor idea you can easily swap out once winter sets in is inserting your throw pillows in a pumpkin cover. Simply measure the size you'll need and the color that would complement your sofa before buying one. Make sure you choose one in an outdoor fabric if you plan on using it for the pillow on your porch sofa. Miulee's Pumpkin Pillow Cases come in multiple colors and sizes. Another option is to buy festively shaped pillows, like YRXRUS' Fleece Pumpkin Pillows, and use them as accent pieces on your sofa. 

If you're over the socially-acceptable trick-or-treating age but still love eating special fall candy, stop hiding their basic packets in overstuffed drawers and cabinets. Instead, fashion a decorative and portable candy holder using a plastic pumpkin pail. To give it a little makeover, separate the decorative portion of a two- or three-ply napkin and stick it to your pail with a little Mod Podge. Finally, seal it with a thin coating of the adhesive and allow it to dry prior to decanting your candy packets inside.

This is an excellent idea for people who love sustainable projects and would rather use their old newspaper and plastic grocery bags than trashing them. Stuff a large bag with balled newspapers. Don't be shy, or your pumpkin will look quite sad. Instead, add as much stuffing as the bag can hold. To create the ridges, use twine, and cover it with masking tape, and use aluminum foil for the stem. When you have a solid shape, use paper-mache to cover it. Repeat it a few times and let it dry prior to spray painting it in your favorite shade.

What's fall without scented candles littering every available surface? However, if you're looking to up the ante, make your own using Pumpkin Glass Jars from Hobby Lobby. Melt VIPwax's Organic White Beeswax Pellets or remove leftover wax from your burned-down candles and liquefy it. Add in a few drops of your favorite essential oil or experiment with two or three scents for a distinct fragrance. To go the extra mile, use dye to add a little festive color to your candles. 

Looking for a fall-esque and stylish Keurig coffee pod storage solution for tidier countertops? Get a large craft pumpkin, like Lucakuins' 8-Inch Large Artificial one, and give your creative spirit free reign. Draw on the design you want (a coffee mug will be appropriate, but a menacing jack-o'-lantern will look great, too) with a pencil and neatly carve it out with a craft knife. Spray paint the carved pumpkin in a color of your choosing and add in a battery-operated LED light, such as Lihao's White Party Bulbs, through a hole in the back. Decant your K-Cups in the opening, place sugar- or tea-containing pumpkin trinket boxes nearby, and your coffee zone will be ready.

This idea is ideal for individuals who love thrifting. Your new mission is to score a tall lamp or candlesticks to put your foam pumpkins on pedestals. Whatever you choose, just make sure it's heavy enough to support your pumpkins. Brownie points if you find one with a pointy end, so you can stake your foam decor easily. In case you find a lamp with its wiring intact, remove it all before cleaning and spray painting it. Then, decorate it with string lights, maple leaves, or skeleton garland (when nearing Halloween).

Why ignore your porch lights when you're decorating your entire house in fall splendor? Set aside a few minutes to upgrade them, too. Get a sharp pair of scissors and cut off the handle of a pumpkin pail. You also want to slit it down one side and remove the bottom covering, and your low-cost pumpkin cover is ready. Spray paint it if you want, but do a good job, or the light will highlight the imperfections. Slip it over your porch lights and tape the slitted opening, so it fits the fixture snugly.