Easy DIY Gold Pumpkins

Fall is my favorite season and I like to change up my home decor with the change in the weather. While my family doesn’t celebrate Halloween, I still like to buy pumpkins and place them around the house for decoration. I have yet to succeed at making pumpkin pie from scratch, so it’s easier to just paint pumpkins!

I bought several small pumpkins and gourds from my local Trader Joe’s. You can find them at pretty much any market this time of year. As the season progresses, you can usually find them cheaper because markets have an abundance of pumpkins that they want to sell quickly. I paid less about $10 for 10 pumpkins and gourds. 

I then headed to the hardware store and picked up a can of Rust-Oleum in their Specialty Metallic gold color. It cost me about $4 and I only needed one can. If you use several pumpkins or larger ones you may need more cans. Rust-Oleum comes in various colors and finishes, I just like the gold for the pumpkins. You can see where I used chalk board Rust-Oleum in this DIY post.

I went outside to paint the pumpkins. You need to be in a well ventilated area and being outside is the best place to do this. Just wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little paint on. If it’s windy the paint may blow in the opposite direction as you spray, and leave a golden sheen on your clothing. That look hasn’t worked on clothes since the 90’s, so it’s best to protect your good stuff if you aren’t going for that look. 

You will need to coat each pumpkin two or three times. Rust-Oleum is quick drying so it only takes a few minutes to do, and then you can turn them over and do the other side. Since I did about three coats on my pumpkins, I left them outside to dry for a few hours. 

I placed my finished pumpkins in a dish, and now I have a new centerpiece for my dining room table! These are really cute on a mantel, or even outside if you’re decorating your porch. 

Do you change up your home decor for the Fall season?

Ashley