Use dollar store supplies to create budget-friendly fall decor with these Pottery Barn lookalike farmhouse mini painted pumpkins.
Get creative and transform plain faux pumpkins with chalk paint and a faux texture technique.
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Fall is just around the corner, and what better way to usher in the cozy vibes of the season than with some charming farmhouse-style decor?
If you’re a fan of Pottery Barn’s aesthetic, but not its hefty price tag, I’ve got the perfect DIY project for you.
In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll show you how to create your own Pottery Barn-inspired mini painted pumpkins using dollar store pumpkins and chalk paint.
I will freely admit: I have Pottery Barn style, but my budget is more in line with the dollar store. So, I’m always on the hunt for fabulous Dollar Tree items that can be transformed into high-end decor, without breaking the bank.
When I saw these Pottery Barn “handcrafted faux mini pumpkins” for a whopping $19.50, I knew I had just the right color palette inspiration for my dollar store pumpkin craft.
Video Tutorial
Watch this quick video tutorial to see how this craft came together:
Farmhouse Mini Painted Pumpkins
Use dollar store supplies to create budget-friendly fall decor with these Pottery Barn lookalike farmhouse mini painted pumpkins.
Materials
- Dollar store mini pumpkins (preferably the type with a realistic brown stem)
- *Chalk paint or matte acrylic paint in various colors (green, blue, orange, and white)
- Toothpicks
- Scrap styrofoam
- Paper towels
Tools
- Paintbrushes, 1/2-inch flat for painting a base coat and a 1.5-inch for adding texture
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Instructions
- Watch the video tutorial before you begin, and let that be your visual guide for this project.
- Prep the Mini Pumpkins: Remove the plastic stems from the mini pumpkins and set aside to be used later. If your mini pumpkins have any other hardware, like clips, those can be removed and discarded. Insert a toothpick into the bottom of each mini pumpkin. Make sure the tooth pick is inserted securely to keep it from flying off when painting. It may be helpful to insert the toothpick at an angle.
- Apply a Base Coat: Choose your base color for the pumpkins: light green, light blue, light orange, and off white. Apply an even coat of paint to each mini pumpkin using a paintbrush. Set the end of the toothpick into a piece of styrofoam to let dry. Let the pumpkins dry completely before moving on to the next step.
- Apply Second and Third Coats (Optional): Depending on the coverage of your paint, you might need a second and third coat. Apply additional coats and allow the pumpkins to dry completely.
- Distress the Pumpkins: To achieve that weathered look that is characteristic of farmhouse decor, distress the pumpkins using a dry brush technique. Add a bit of contrasting paint onto a piece of folded paper towel. Gently dab a bit of this paint onto a paint 1.5-inch paint brush. Tap off excess paint onto another piece of paper towel. Focus on the bottom of the pumpkin, and work towards the top, as you carefully dab the dry brush over the surface of the pumpkin. If you end up with too much contracting paint, go back and dry brush in more of the base coat color. Let dry.
- Re-Attach the Pumpkin Stems: Add a tiny dab of hot glue to the plastic stem, and re-attach it to the pumpkin.
- Style Your Pumpkins: Now comes the fun part - styling your mini painted pumpkins! Arrange them in a basket, place them on a tiered tray, or mix them in with table centerpieces. Their versatile size makes them perfect as a quick and easy addition to your large fall decor pieces.
Notes
*I used these exact paint colors and finishes (all from DecoArt) for this project: Green pumpkins: sage shadow (chalk) and olive green (matte)
Blue pumpkins: sage (chalk) and midnight blue (acyrlic)
Orange pumpkins: canyon sunset (matte), crushed coral (matte) and parchment (matte)
White pumpkins: parchment (matte) and adirondack (chalk)
These were just paint colors I already had in my craft stash. Feel free to get creative by mixing colors to suit your taste.
With just a few simple supplies and a touch of creativity, you can achieve the Pottery Barn farmhouse look for a fraction of the cost. These DIY mini painted pumpkins are a charming addition to your fall decor and can easily be customized to match your style.
I added my painted pumpkins to a simple unfinished wood rough bowl on our living room coffee table. Such an easy way to decorate for fall!
Don’t forget to PIN these Pottery Barn Dupe Pumpkins for Later:
More Fall High-End Dupes
This craft was part of a larger compilation video where I sheared FOUR high-end knock-off decor projects. You can watch them all over on YouTube for more fall DIY inspiration: