Fun Ways to Use Pumpkins in Your Fall Decorating

October 24, 2020

Fall decorating means the time has come for the pumpkin to take center stage. This humble gourd has come a long way from the days of the Jack-o-lantern on the front porch. Today’s fall décor features pumpkins in all different sizes and colors, in formal and casual fall arrangements. The following are just a few ways to incorporate pumpkins into your fall decorating plans.

Planters

You can easily turn an uncarved pumpkin into a succulent planter. Attach a generous amount of moss to the top of the pumpkin with a hot glue gun. Using the glue gun, add a variety of succulent cuttings to the moss—mist with water. The succulents will eventually root themselves to the moss and into the pumpkin as it becomes soft. Later, you can cut off the top of the pumpkin and plant it in a pot of soil.

Hollowed out pumpkins make wonderful containers for fall flower arrangements using live or dried flowers. Carved pumpkins will last up to 10 days inside, and may last longer in cooler outdoor temperatures.

For an outdoor planter, fill your hollowed-out pumpkin with ornamental grasses, winter plants such as kale, and black-eyed Susan to keep your patio full of color.

Tablescapes and Indoor Décor

Pumpkins can be a fun addition to dining room table centerpieces and arrangements for buffets and foyers. You can paint your pumpkin, decoupage, or add stencils to match the motif of your room. There are heirloom varieties in oranges, reds, greens, and all the colors of autumn as well as more subtle tones of grays, slate, blush, and pale whites suited for a more elegant style. Mix blue-gray pumpkins with dried hydrangea for a soft, elegant table arrangement.

Miniature pumpkins come in a variety of colors and are perfect for filling a decorative glass container. You can use larger pumpkins to fill unexpected places such as fireplaces or arrange them tumbling from corners of an entryway.

Porch Decorations

Looking for something to fill your porch urns now that your summer annuals are past their prime? Look no further. Pumpkins can be stacked and secured with dowel rods to create beautiful topiary. Consider painting your house number on the pumpkins, or add a seasonal message using antique keys or silverware to construct the letters. Pumpkins that are left intact can last from 30 to 90 days, depending on the outer skin’s temperature and condition.

Pick the Right Pumpkin

Although almost any pumpkin will work for your fall decorating needs, some pumpkins will make completing your fall project a little easier. Smooth-skinned pumpkins such as Baby Pam or Lumina are great for decoupage or painting. Pumpkins such as Fairytale, Cinderella, and Batwing have multicolored skin in tones of blues, greens, and grays, as well as dark oranges, reds, and greens. These varieties offer a great way to add an interesting color element to fall decorations.

Are you looking for the perfect fall floral centerpiece to use with your favorite pumpkins?

Contact us at (906) 273-1335 and let us design a fall arrangement for your dining room table to celebrate the season’s bounty. Or stop by and see what we currently have in the shop to get your fall floral décor started.

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