75 Creative Pumpkin Carving Ideas To Try This Halloween
Get your craft knives ready!
There are a lot of things you can do mark the beginning of fall. Take a hay ride, watch a scary movie, visit a haunted house, or even turn your own home into one. But one activity that has stood the test of time is also great for the entire family: carving pumpkins. A messy, hands-on way to get in the spooky-season spirit, pumpkin carving is all about gathering your family and/or friends together and bringing out your artistic side to make fun Halloween decorations. Whether you opt for a classic jack-o'-lantern face or take inspiration from your favorite film franchise like Harry Potter or Star Wars, carving a pumpkin is a great way to have some phone-free time with your loved ones. Plus, roasting the pumpkin seeds after you're done will leave you with a great snack for your next scary movie marathon.
To do an awesome pumpkin carving, we recommend mapping out your design first—don't just wing it. You can draw directly on the pumpkin's surface with a permanent marker or make a template out of paper to pin on and cut around. We recommend using an extra-long craft knife, such as an X-acto knife, or a serrated blade specifically made for pumpkin carving.
You also want to make the pumpkin-carving process as easy as possible to clean up. Line your table with old newspaper to contain the mess (just tape it down underneath), and set out a serrated knife and ladle to use to hollow out your pumpkin. You may find a rubber or wooden mallet, metal cookie cutters, and maybe even a power drill helpful to have at the ready, depending on your design. Have a large bowl on hand to contain the pumpkin guts. After you sort out the seeds for roasting, you can use what's left in all sorts of recipes.
No matter what Halloween look you're trying to achieve—tricky or sweet as a treat—we've got you covered. Read on for 75 of the best pumpkin carving ideas to spark your inspiration this fall.
For more Halloween fun, subscribe to our haunted house podcast Dark House on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you listen.
Witch's Brew Pumpkin
Anyone who loves a detailed design will be up for tackling this pumpkin carving idea: a witch stirring the brew in her cauldron as smoke spews out.
Toothy Grin Pumpkin
Give your pumpkin the biggest toothy grin this Halloween. Depending on what you do with the eyes, you can either make it look friendly or frightening.
Modern Cat Pumpkin
If you want something on the subtle side, consider re-creating this pumpkin featuring a bunch of mini cats by using a power drill. Get the tutorial from Handmade Charlotte.
Skull Pumpkin
A skull face is sure to creep out anyone who glances at it. Use a skull stencil to guide your carving or print an illustration of a skull and use scissors to create your own.
Ceramic-Inspired Pumpkins
Take inspiration from these ceramic displays by carving small leaves and droplets into your pumpkins in an abstract botanical pattern that feels like it flows.
Pineapple Pumpkin
Transform a pumpkin into a creepy version of a realistic pineapple. Start by carving the eyes and the face (with or without making holes), and then tap into your painting skills. Use green felt to fashion the crown.
RV Pumpkin
For a project that requires two pumpkins and squash detailing, look no further than this RV creation by Togo RV. It'll look especially cute sitting outside the front door of a trailer.
Black Spray-Painted Pumpkin
For a slight twist on the classic jack-o'-lantern carving, use black spray paint to cover the inside of your pumpkin. Let some of the paint seep outside the eyes for an extra-ominous look.
Cute Cat Pumpkin
If you're not into the whole scariness of Halloween and you consider yourself a cat lover, opt for carving a cute cat pumpkin. This one by Ladyface Blog even features little feet and ears.
Impaled Fence Pumpkins
This row of fencing featuring carved pumpkins with impaled faces will surely scare off anyone who passes your home. Use a hammer to give overripe pumpkins a smushed look or toss them on the ground—but be careful not to completely crack them!
Scared Pumpkin
Not all carved pumpkins have to be creepy or happy—they can be scared, too! This one looks like he's just seen a ghost.
Be Kind Pumpkin
Spread good vibes this season by carving sweet sayings into your pumpkin. Mention kindness, generosity, happiness, love, or well wishes to greet all trick-or-treaters with a pleasant surprise.
Mickey Mouse Pumpkin
While Studio DIY crafted this Mickey Mouse decor out of faux pumpkins, why not use the concept on real ones? The tutorial includes printable stencils to make it easy.
Thorny Pumpkin
When you have themed dishes to match, a spiky jack-o'-lantern can make a great centerpiece or party platter accent. A linoleum cutter etches the design into the pumpkin without cutting all the way through for a design that glows; hollow it out from the bottom to insert an LED tea light.
Get the tutorial at Country Living.
Baby Yoda Pumpkin
Baby Yoda has been an inspiration for everything from pet Halloween costumes to Amazon Echo Dot stands, so why not let the beloved character take the spotlight on your pumpkin?
Instagram Pumpkin
This pumpkin is definitely Instagram worthy. Carve bats around the social media app logo and stick an orange smoking canister inside for a spooky effect.
Cottage Pumpkin
While this pumpkin carving is meant to be a haunted house, you can easily play down its spooky vibes by removing the bats and adding a few flowers around the home to set a lovely, magical cottage scene.
Eyeball Pumpkin
What's creepier than a single detailed eye? Make it feel like something's always watching your front yard with this eyeball pumpkin. Bonus: Add another pumpkin next to it with very sharp-looking teeth to enhance the spookiness.
Puking Pumpkin
Make use of your pumpkin's guts this year by literally putting them on display to give off the impression your pumpkin is puking its guts out.
Zombie Pumpkin
Another creepy take: a pumpkin with an exposed brain made of a smaller, white pumpkin.
Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
Kelly Allen is the current Associate Editor at House Beautiful, where she covers design, pop culture, and travel for digital and the print magazine. She’s been with the team for nearly three years, attending industry events and covering a range of topics. When she’s not watching every new TV show and movie, she’s browsing vintage home stores, admiring hotel interiors, and wandering around New York City. She previously worked for Delish and Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
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