23 Most Popular Pumpkin Carving Ideas on Pinterest!

With Halloween around the corner, people around the globe are getting their kitchens ready to create one of the most iconic decorations of the spooky season - the Jack-o’-lantern! 

With this in mind, kitchen retail specialists, Magnet, have analysed Pinterest data to reveal the most popular pumpkin carving designs that are inspiring the world this year. 

Whether it’s your first time carving, or you have experience in the craft, the team Magnet have also provided expert tips on how to carve the BEST pumpkin to impress your kids this Halloween!

I see you pumpkins 

- 105,668 saves 

Pinterest: KitchenFun3Sons

Pampered Pumpkins

 - 73,989 saves

Pinterest: tmegna

Headless Horseman inspired pumpkins - 72,422 saves

Pinterest: hamilton8664

Autumn owl pumpkins - 64,915 saves

Pinterest: KrisShadoan

The no-mess aesthetic pumpkins

 - 62,438 saves

Pinterest: shopthreads

Pumpkin skull 

- 47,474 saves

Pinterest: removereplace

Little pumpkin on the prairie pumpkins

 - 40,686 saves

Pinterest: 9gag

VW campervan pumpkins

 - 39,483 saves

Pinterest: bobvilahome

Disney pumpkins

 - 31,093 saves

Pinterest: themepark

The pumpkin ship

 - 30,586 saves

Pinterest: swb72

Autumnal decorative pumpkins

 - 30,176 saves

Pinterest: joepalermo

Pumpkin brain

 -29,251 saves

Pinterest: ManMadeDIY

Bats and stars pumpkins

 - 27,942 saves

Pinterest: glaminati

Pumpkin carriages 

- 27,835 saves

Pinterest: bhg

Face off pumpkins 

- 27,236 saves

Pinterest: duncanbets

Moon and star eyed pumpkins - 

25,788 saves

Pinterest: southernliving

Screaming pumpkins

 - 25,421 saves

Pinterest: surveymonkey

The famous Jack-O’-Lantern pumpkins 

- 22,163 saves

Pinterest: thisoldhouse

Black cat pumpkins 

- 20,473 saves

Pinterest: SalemsFamiliar

Painted ghost pumpkins

 -19,436 saves

Pinterest: followcharlotte

Cat face pumpkins

 - 18,018 saves

Pinterest: longcrofthotel

Flower pumpkins

 - 17,062 saves

Pinterest: glaminati

Swirly face pumpkins

 - 14,333 saves

Pinterest: goodhousemag

10 expert tips on how to carve a pumpkin like a pro this Halloween🎃

If you are feeling inspired and want to carve your own Jack-o’-lantern this Halloween, the team at Magnet have put together some top tips to help. 

Select your pumpkin carefully 

There are many shapes, sizes and colours to choose from when picking a pumpkin. It’s best to choose one with a surface that’s fresh, and with minimal bruises or soft spots. A flat base and a sturdy stem are also good key features to look out for.

Cover and prepare your surfaces and equipment before cutting 

We recommend carving your pumpkin on the kitchen counter or dining table. Wipe down and cover your surface with cardboard, newspaper or a plastic sheet before you start. Be careful when using sharp tools and always supervise children. We’d also suggest having a bowl ready to scoop the insides of your pumpkin into - as it can get messy. 

Cut from the bottom of your pumpkin, not the top 

Creating the entrance to your pumpkin from the bottom instead of the top allows for you to pull the insides out easier and creates a more streamlined look. If using a real candle, it also prevents the risk of accidental burns when lighting the flame inside as you can place your pumpkin on top of the candle instead of trying to drop a lit candle in.

Scoop out as much as you can and thin the side you are going to carve

Before carving the pattern, clean out all the seeds and strings from the pumpkin. Scrape the insides with a large spoon, ice cream scoop, or scraping tool and be sure to thin the sides you’re carving the design into. Aim to thin the wall to around 1 inch in thickness, this makes the carving easier and cleaner. 

Use a template to carve the pattern

You can create your own template by sketching a design on paper. If you are feeling less artistic, you can also print one online. Tape the stencil to the pumpkin then trace the design by poking multiple holes along the lines. When finished remove the paper and rub flour over your design. This will make your lines easier to see so that you can more easily join up the holes ready for carving. 

Don’t be scared to get creative 

Taking inspiration from designs online, such as Pinterest, can be a great way to initiate your creativity. Consider your tools and abilities when choosing a design. If you’re more advanced, try shaving parts of the pumpkin at different depths to get different, more detailed effects. If you want to save the mess and avoid sharp tools, you can even choose to paint your pumpkin instead of carving. Whatever you do, don’t worry too much about it being perfect, just have fun!

Mistakes can be salvaged 

If any pieces come off that were not meant to, don’t panic, you can use cocktail sticks to secure the runaway pieces back into place. We also advise that when you’re popping out any piece that you push from the inside to dislodge them. 

Keep your pumpkin fresh for longer

When you cut into your pumpkin it will start to rot, so we recommend leaving the carving to the last minute if you still want it looking fresh on Halloween. There are also a few ways to maximise the lifespan of your pumpkin. After carving, soak your pumpkin in cold water with a small amount of bleach. When removed, dry it well to extend its freshness. You can also spray the pumpkin daily with a water/bleach solution to rehydrate and stop mold. This should be done by an adult and children should be kept away from potentially harmful chemicals. If you’re carving with children or under 18, you should always make sure there is an adult present throughout the pumpkin carving process to supervise and make sure carving is fun but safe!

Avoid using real candles 

The heat from real flames can cook the pumpkin, drying it out and speeding up the decay process. Using battery powered candles can provide the same lighting effect without the negative impact. This way, you can also try out different colour lights!

Don’t let the pumpkin insides go to waste  

Over half of the 15 million pumpkins produced in the UK are used only for carving - with most going straight to waste after Halloween is over. However, there are plenty of ways to use your leftover pumpkin insides - from roasted pumpkin seeds to pumpkin dog treats, the internet is full of different recipes. However, do not eat any of the pumpkin if you have treated it with bleach.