How To Paint Faux Terracotta Pumpkins

One of my favorite materials and colors right now is terracotta. I just wrote a blog post about painting over painted concrete floors where I showed my new ivory and terracotta checkerboard patterned floor. So painting some random plastic mismatched plastic pumpkin Jack-o’-lanterns into faux terracotta pumpkins to match my front porch fall decor just felt right.

How to paint plastic pumpkins to look like terracotta pumpkins

Pottery Barn recently sold authentic terracotta Jack-o’-lantern pumpkins. They were pricey but sold out really fast regardless. So even if you are willing to spend a nice chunk of change on them, they aren’t available anymore. I still really wanted a group of them for my front porch so I decided to make my own.

I had these three mismatched plastic pumpkins/Jack-o’-lanterns in our attic and wanted to use them again in this year’s fall decor. I knew that I could turn them into Pottery Barn dupes with the same paint recipe I used before.

Enough venting let’s get back to the project, shall we?

Materials needed to paint the faux terracotta pumpkins

• plastic pumpkins or Jack-o’-lanterns or you can use ceramic or real pumpkins as well (check out the affordable options I linked below)
• baking soda
• terracotta colored latex paint (or craft paint, more info below)
• Kilz spray primer
• Krud Kutter and paper towels or clean cloth
• small bowl for mixing
• craft paint brush
• painter’s tarp and cardboard
• mixing spoon and container (plastic or glass will work great)

What kind of paint do you use on plastic pumpkins?

When you use a quality primer like the oil-based Kilz spray primer on a plastic pumpkin, you can basically use any paint you’d like. I however prefer acrylic craft paint since it is easy to use and clean.

For today’s project, I used the same leftover paint colors from my Christmas ornament project which is latex based and works well for the baking soda paint recipe.

This project didn’t cost me anything since I had everything on hand. You can buy color samples for cheap in small containers at most home improvement stores. Or simply use latex craft paint.

Step-by-step faux terracotta pumpkin painting instructions

Step 1: Remove any electrical cords and light bulbs (if applicable)

First, start out by removing the electrical cords from your plastic pumpkins if you have any (If you don’t have a lantern pumpkin move on to step 2). This is very easily done and doesn’t require any special electrical skills. I simply snapped the lightbulb socket out of the bottom of the pumpkin which removed everything including the cord. That’s it!

Step 2: Clean the plastic pumpkins

I like using a degreaser to clean my surfaces for any paint project. They work really well for paint prep. In this case, I used Krud Kutter and a clean cloth by simply spraying it on and wiping the plastic pumpkin with the clean cloth. (doesn’t matter if they are plastic or ceramic)

Step 3: Place the plastic pumpkins on a protected flat surface

While you are waiting for the pumpkins to dry you can set up an area for painting with a plastic tarp or a drop cloth. The spray primer can make a real mess and is very sticky, so I make sure that I have a rather large protected painting area. Also, set them up for their spray primer coat. I prefer to prop them up on cardboard boxes.

Step 4: Prime the pumpkins

I never skip the step of priming. I’m a huge fan of Kilz spray primer. The texture it gives the surface is perfect for this project and the paint adheres so much better this way. Make sure they are completely dry before priming.

Make sure to shake the can really well before spraying.

Evenly spray all the pumpkins with the spray primer and let the paint dry.

Step 5: Mix your baking soda paint colors

When the spray primer has completely dried it’s time for the baking soda paint. (If you are looking to simply paint plastic pumpkins then you can now add two layers of spray paint or acrylic paint instead of doing what I did).

The good thing is that there really are no rules for mixing this type of baking soda paint.

For my painted terracotta ornaments and vessels from a couple of years ago, I mixed the baking soda and paint evenly because I didn’t want a sloppy uneven texture. For these pumpkins though, I opted for sloppy. I didn’t mix the paint and baking soda well and it helped create the perfect uneven texture and color I was going for.

I even mixed the two different paint colors (the lighter and the darker color) unevenly with the baking soda and just brushed it on. (see the small mixing bowl in the photo below?)

Step 6: Apply two coats of the darkest color

I did apply two coats of the darker uneven baking soda paint color on the entire pumpkin (pumpkin stem included) which you can see in my video.

Step 7: Add a thin layer of a lighter mixed color

When those two coats of paint dried follow that up with the lighter color unevenly and only one coat. You don’t want to cover all of the earlier darker color. Different color variations and shading is key for this project.

In the next photo, the faux pumpkins are still wet. When they are dry, they have a dull chalky, and stone-like finish. I love the uneven, chunky, and textured finish.

The finished pumpkin doesn’t look nearly as textured as the wet one which you can see in the finished photos.

Step 8: Thinly dry-brush white paint over pumpkin

Lastly, I dry-brushed some of the white paint over the dry pumpkins. This is basically a simple whitewash. Make sure to wipe off most of the white onto a paper towel before brushing it on. You definitely don’t need a lot of white paint for this step.

Step 9: Reinstall electrical components (if applicable)

If you have electrical Jack-o’-lanterns. Add the electrical cords again. And your DIY terracotta pumpkins are done.

I’ve seen others just dusting the baking soda powder onto the paint and then slightly brushing it off but the number one reason I didn’t want to just dust it is that the pumpkins get a bit wet out on our covered porch and it would wash off. To be sure nothing happens to your terracotta pumpkins. You can finish them off with a clear matte finish by applying ultra-flat sealant. I love MINWAX Polycrylic and use it for a lot of my paint projects. I did not apply a sealant because I want to test out how they last over time without it.

Photos of finished DIY terracotta pumpkin Jack-O’-Lantern

I really haven’t been into fall decorating in the past couple of years but my simple cozy porch has gotten me motivated again this year to try to move on from summer to fall. It is always a sad time for me when summer comes to an end. I honestly hate bringing my plants inside the home when it gets too cold outside.

The porch is just so much better with all the greenery. If you are new around here, make sure you also check out my latest blog post about how I repainted our porch in this checkerboard pattern floor and my recent fall home tour for more porch and home photos.

Check out the rest of my fall home tour.

Look at my black and white Halloween porch from 2016. Can you even believe this is the same porch? Crazy what some paint and thrifted furniture can accomplish. Those were the times when my kids were little and loved this type of Halloween decor.

And the same black and white porch not decorated for Halloween. That bench isn’t even close to being as comfy as the $50 rattan sofa I found on Facebook Marketplace.

Also, check out my macrame bat tutorial.

And here is a photo of the faux terracotta ornaments on my tree that I mentioned earlier. Aren’t they pretty too?

I’m so happy with how the pumpkins turned out. I was able to reuse some mismatched decor that I was hoarding in our attic without spending any money. Even though it’s not a mindblowing new DIY and has been done before, I still love it and it makes me happy seeing them on our porch and I believe that’s what’s most important.