Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, & Gourds in Fall Decor

Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor will show you how to bring the season’s warmth and charm into your home. These natural elements, with their varied shapes, colors, and textures, create an inviting atmosphere that captures the essence of autumn.

Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, & Squash in Fall Decor

If you’re looking for more fall decor ideas, How to Preserved Decorative Gourds to Last Longer and The Best Fall Decor Ideas will help you celebrate this amazing season.

Whether you prefer a rustic farmhouse look or a more polished, modern aesthetic, pumpkins, gourds, and squash can be arranged in countless ways to enhance your space.

Start by selecting a variety of sizes and colors to create visual interest. Pumpkins come in traditional orange, but there are also white, blue, and green varieties that can add a sophisticated twist to your decor.

For a simple yet effective seasonal touch, you can display mini pumpkins and gourds in bowls or scattered along mantels and shelves. Consider placing larger squash and pumpkins on your porch or entryway for a rustic, cozy feel. Finish the look with hay bales and autumnal wreaths of dried leaves and berries.

Whether indoors or outdoors, these natural items add texture and warm, effortlessly transitioning your home into the fall season.

Plus, once the season passes, they can easily be composted, making them an eco-friendly choice for seasonal decorating.

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1. Fall Table Runner

Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor - Overhead Photo of a Fall Table Runner and Placesetting — Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor

Using pumpkins, gourds, and squash as a table runner or centerpiece is a stunning way to bring the beauty of fall to your dining space.

A table runner made from an arrangement of these natural elements instantly adds warmth and rustic charm to any meal. Start by choosing an assortment of pumpkins, gourds and squash of different sizes and colors.

Lay them along the center of your dining table, directly on the surface, or on top of a neutral fabric runner to create a layered effect.

Mixing textures, like smooth pumpkins, bumpy gourds, and rough-skinned squash, adds depth and visual interest.

Add seasonal accents like autumn leaves, dried corn husks, pinecones, or sprigs of evergreen or eucalyptus to elevate the look.

For an extra coziness, tuck small candles or string lights among the vegetables, casting a warm glow over the dinner party. You can personalize the place setting by placing smaller gourds or mini pumpkins at each place setting, perhaps with guests’ names written on them.

Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds in Fall Decor - Photo of Fall Table Setting — Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds in Fall Decor – Fall Table Setting

This simple yet elegant approach creates memorable fall tablescape, perfect for casual family dinners and festive gatherings.

Other things you can add are greenery and berries, leaves and candle pillars for a beautiful table.

2. Pumpkin Vase

Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor - Photo of Pumpkin Vase with Autumn Flowers — Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor – Pumpkin Vase with Autumn Flowers

Using pumpkins as vases for flowers and plants is a creative and charming way to elevate your fall decor. The natural texture and vibrant colors of pumpkins make them the perfect seasonal centerpiece.

Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds for Fall - Photo of Pumpkin Vase with Autumn Flowers and Plaid Scarf — Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds for Fall – Pumpkin Vase with Autumn Flowers

Simply hollow out the pumpkin, remove the seeds, and place a water-filled container inside to hold fresh flowers. You can directly plant autumnal arrangements like mums, marigolds, or succulents inside the pumpkin’s cavity.

Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor – Pumpkin Vase with Pastel Flowers

Pumpkin vases add a touch of rustic elegance to any table, mantel, or front porch.

Ideas on Using Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds in Fall Decor - Pumpkin Vase with Succulents — Ideas on Using Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds in Fall Decor – Pumpkin Vase with Succulents

Planting succulents in pumpkins is a charming way to bring a touch of greenery into your fall decor. I found these two pumpkins in a nursery.

3. Lantern

Ideas on Using Gourds, Squash, and Pumpkins in Fall Decor - Pumpkin Lantern — Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds in Fall Decor – Pumpkin Lantern

Use decorative cutouts and create a one-of-a-kind lantern to light the path to your door. Pumpkin lanterns make a cozy glow that embodies the spirit of the fall season.

4. Fall Window Boxes

Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor - Photo of a Fall Window Box — Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor – Fall Window Box

Use your window boxes as a way to add fall color to the exterior of your home.

Fall window boxes are an excellent way to add seasonal charm to the exterior of your home. As the temperatures cool and the leaves change, swapping summer blooms for fall-inspired plants can instantly create an inviting look.

You can use mums, ornamental kale, and pansies as a base for your window boxes. They thrive in cooler weather. You can also add trailing ivy or other plants to add interest to your window box and nestle mini pumpkins, gourds, and squash in between the flowers and greenery.

Decorating your window boxes for fall is a simple but impactful way to bring the beauty of autumn to your home, offering a seasonal greeting to anyone who passes by.

5. Rustic Pumpkin Wheelbarrow

How to Use Gourds, Squash, and Pumpkins in Fall Decor - Rustic Pumpkin Wheelbarrow — How to Use Gourds, Pumpkins, and Squash in Fall Decor – Rustic Pumpkin Wheelbarrow

Wheelbarrows are such a handy tool. Why not put it to work in the fall by making it part of your decorating scheme?

Using a wheelbarrow filled with pumpkins, gourds, and squash as outdoor fall decor is a wonderful way to embrace the harvest season and add rustic charm to your yard or porch.

Simply arrange an assortment of pumpkins in various sizes and colors, along with decorative gourds and squashes, spilling out of the wheelbarrow for a bountiful, cornucopia-like effect.

For added flair, you can incorporate string lights or lanterns around the wheelbarrow for an inviting glow as the evenings grow darker.

6. Fall Wreath

Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor - Photo of a Fall Wreath with Mini Pumpkins — Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor – Fall Wreath with Mini Pumpkins

Greet your friends and family with a harvest-inspired wreath with gourds and mini-pumpkins. It will make you smile every time you enter your front door.

Incorporating fall wreaths into your decor is an effortless way to bring the beauty of autumn to your home, both inside and out. Whether hung on your front door to greet guests or used as part of an indoor display, a fall wreath adds instant charm.

Fall wreaths aren’t just limited to just doors. Consider hanging them above your fireplace mantel, in windows, or even on a blank wall to create a beautiful focal point in your living space.

7. Autumn Place Settings

Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor - Photo of Fall Place Setting with Mini White Pumpkins — Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor – Fall Place Setting with Mini White Pumpkins

Adding a mini pumpkin or gourd to your family’s place settings is an easy way to bring the fall season to your evening meal. These natural elements bring texture and warmth to the table, creating a cozy, welcoming atmosphere for guests.

Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor - Overhead Photo of Fall Place Setting with Mini White Pumpkins and Sage — Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash in Fall Decor – Autumn Place Setting with Mini White Pumpkins and Sage

You can place a small pumpkin or gourd on each plate or nestle them between plates and silverware for a sweet autumnal accent. To personalize your settings further, consider writing guests’ names on the pumpkins or tying small tags to the stems, doubling as a unique place card.

8. Fall Candle Holder

Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash - Photo of a Fall Candle Holder — Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash – Fall Candle Holder

A terra-cotta saucer brimming with gourds, squash, and apples, with a thick candle in the center, is a perfect way to showcase the harvest season in your fall decor.

The natural, rustic feel of the terra cotta adds warmth and depth to the arrangement, while the mix of colorful produce embodies the rich feel of autumn.

A candle at the heart of the display creates a soft, inviting glow, making the arrangement not only decorative but functional for cozy fall evenings.

9. Autumn Planters

Easy Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds in Autumn Decor - Photo of Rustic Planters with Pumpkins — Easy Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds in Autumn Decor – Rustic Planters with Pumpkins

Adding gourds, squash, and pumpkins to your fall planters is a wonderful way to infuse your outdoor decor with the season’s essence. Mixing these natural elements with autumnal flowers like mums, ornamental grasses, or decorative kale creates a vibrant textured display.

The vibrant orange pumpkins, pale green gourds, and yellow squash brings an autumn vibe to your porch or garden.

10. Menu Board

Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds in Autumn Decor - Photo of a Pumpkin Used as a Menu Board — Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds in Autumn Decor – Pumpkin Menu Board

Using a pumpkin as a creative canvas to write a menu adds a fun and festive touch to fall gatherings. The smooth surface of the pumpkin makes for an ideal backdrop to list courses or drinks.

A pumpkin menu instantly elevates your table or buffet setting, giving guests a charming preview of the meal to come.

11. Soup Bowls

Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds in Autumn Decor - Photo of a Pumpkin Used as a Soup Bowl — Ways to Use Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds in Autumn Decor – Pumpkin Soup Bowl

A creamy fall soup in a hollowed-out pumpkin adds a seasonal touch to any fall gathering. The pumpkin’s vibrant color creates an eye-catching presentation, perfect for hosting family or friends during a cozy fall dinner.

This unique serving dish pairs well with autumn-inspired soups like roasted squash, creamy pumpkin, or hearty stews. Sprinkle a few pumpkin seeds on top of the soup for an added touch of the wow factor!

12. Work of Art

Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash - Photo of Painted Pumpkins — Simple Ways to Use Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash – Painted Pumpkins

When you look at how beautiful pumpkins, squash, and gourds are, you realize that they are genuinely artistic wonders that deserve to be in the spotlight.

Using a pumpkin as a canvas for art offers a creative twist on traditional fall decor, allowing you to express your style while embracing the season.

Instead of carving, painting a pumpkin allows you to play with colors, patterns, and designs, whether you opt for bold geometric shapes, whimsical florals, or delicate hand-painted scenes. You can experiment with metallic paints for a modern, elegant look or use earthy tones to keep the design more rustic and natural.

We’ve reached the end of Fall Decorating with Gourds, Squash, and Pumpkins. I hope you enjoyed it!

Let me know in the comments below how you use pumpkins, squash and gourds to decorate your home.

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