I love a pretty fall centerpiece, but I also want to get more than one season out of something I spent an afternoon making. So when our kitchen table needed a little fall love, I grabbed a faux pumpkin, some flowers, and a pool noodle. Yep, a pool noodle.
This DIY faux pumpkin centerpiece cost me about $25 in supplies and took roughly an hour, including a few rounds of rearranging. Floral arranging isn’t exactly my strongest skillset, so if you’re looking at this thinking, “Cute, but I wouldn’t know where to put the flowers,” you’re in good company!
Below, I’ll walk you through putting one together, plus a few pumpkin-and-flower combinations you can try to match whatever you’re hosting this fall.
What You’ll Need for Your Faux Pumpkin Centerpiece
I went with an orange pumpkin and a mix of cream, orange, and deep red flowers for a classic fall look. But pick your colors before you shop if you can—having a look in mind should save you some of the arranging and rearranging I did!
- Hollow, carvable faux pumpkin: Make sure it’s a craft pumpkin you can cut into.
- Flexible pool noodle: This will hold the flower stems inside your pumpkin.
- Faux flowers: A mix of larger blooms and smaller flowers gives you a little variety.
- Faux greenery and accent stems: Think leafy stems, fall foliage, and berry picks for filling things out.
- Craft knife and a cutting mat or protective work surface
- Wire cutters for trimming flower stems
My $25 covered the pumpkin, pool noodle, and flowers; I already had the tools. If you have faux stems tucked away from another project, pull those out before buying more!
How to Make Your Faux Pumpkin Centerpiece
1. Cut off the top of the pumpkin
Cut around the top and lift off the lid and stem. You want enough room to fit your pool noodle inside and work with the flowers, while leaving the rounded sides of the pumpkin intact.
Use a protected surface and keep your supporting hand clear of the blade. Don’t stress about making the edge picture-perfect; we’ll cover it with flowers and greenery.
2. Tuck in your pool noodle
Coil the noodle into a compact spiral and tuck it down into the bottom of the pumpkin, trimming the length if needed. Keep it below the rim so it won’t peek through your flowers.
Mine stayed put without any glue or tape. The snug fit was enough to hold it in the bottom, giving me a base to push the stems into. If you have trouble with yours though, a zip tie to keep the pool noodle coiled and a few dabs of hot glue to the bottom of the pumpkin should do it.
3. Start with the bigger blooms
Place a few of your larger flowers first, pushing the stems into the noodle. These help you figure out the overall shape before you start filling everything in.
Trim wired stems with wire cutters, but leave a little extra length to start. You can always go shorter! Vary the heights slightly and angle some blooms outward so they aren’t all standing straight up in the center.
4. Fill, turn, and rearrange
Add smaller flowers between the big blooms, then tuck greenery around the edges to hide the pumpkin’s cut rim. Finish with berry stems or other fall accents wherever you want a little extra texture.
This is where I spent most of my time. I’d add something, step back, then decide it needed to move. Give yourself permission to do the same—you don’t have to get every stem right on the first try.
ARRANGING TIPS: Turn the pumpkin as you go so you don’t accidentally make one gorgeous side and leave the back looking forgotten. And if yours is going on a dining table, take a seat to check the height. Pretty flowers are great; having to peer around them to talk to your guests is less great.
BONUS IDEA: For a little candlelight alongside your pumpkin centerpiece, make these upcycled votives with Dollar Tree candles and Oui jars. Just leave plenty of clearance between lit candles and the faux flowers.
Same DIY, Three Different Fall Looks
You can take this project in so many directions just by changing the pumpkin and flowers. Here are three combinations I’d start with:
Classic Fall Faux Pumpkin Centerpiece
An orange pumpkin with cream, rust, and deep red flowers, plus greenery and berries. This is closest to mine. Add a few mini pumpkins or gourds around the bottom and you’ve got a centerpiece ready for a cozy Fall dinner party or Thanksgiving table.
I’ve rounded up the same pumpkin I used and similar bouquet arrangements as the one I found at Home Goods for single centerpieces, along with options for creating bulk centerpieces for showers, parties, or fall weddings.
Soft Neutral Faux Pumpkin Centerpiece
A cream pumpkin with ivory flowers and muted greenery. How sweet would this be for a “Little Pumpkin” baby shower? Browse my fall baby shower themes or fall bridal shower ideas for a celebration to build around it.
Here are supplies you can use to create single faux pumpkin centerpieces, or bulk centerpieces for larger celebrations.
Moody Autumn Faux Pumpkin Centerpiece
A black pumpkin with burgundy blooms, plum accents, and deep green foliage. I’d love to try this for a Halloween craft night or dinner party. You still get the fall feel, with a little more drama.
Want to recreate this for your home or for a party? Here’s all the supplies.
Mine started as an everyday kitchen table decoration. I stored it after the season, and now I’m planning to bring it back for a dinner party this fall. Getting another occasion out of a finished DIY? I’ll happily take that.
More Fall DIYs to Explore
Still in a crafty mood? Here are a few more projects to try, whether you’re getting ready to host or just giving your home a little fall refresh:
- DIY Pumpkin Wine Decanter: Another reason to grab an extra craft pumpkin! This one disguises your boxed wine for a festive, serve-yourself drink station.
- Pool Noodle Floral Centerpiece: Put that pool noodle to work again with a different centerpiece style you can customize with your favorite fall flowers.
- Dollar Tree Doily Table Runner: Try the kraft paper version for a pretty, rustic layer underneath your new pumpkin centerpiece.
And if you love a good DIY tutorial, savvy hosting tip, or inspiration to help you plan your next celebration, subscribe below to get my monthly newsletter and updates!