DIY Terracotta Pumpkin Dupe: Pottery Barn pumpkins

Follow this complete tutorial and learn how to make a DIY terra cotta pumpkin dupe. These pumpkins are the perfect decoration for fall.

If you’re looking for a unique and stylish way to decorate your home for fall but want to avoid paying the Pottery Barn price, consider making this easy DIY terra cotta pumpkin dupe. Terra cotta pumpkins are incredibly easy to make and add a touch of elegance to any fall decor display. Plus, they make great conversation starters! 

A few weeks ago, I did a live demonstration in the She Shed, and my girlfriend Amy Sadler from Amysadlerdesigns taught me some fun ways to make these pumpkins. You may also like to check out her Pottery Barn Terra Cotta Pumpkins post. We both have different takes on our methods of aging the pumpkins.

Supply list to make terracotta pumpkins

• Foam pumpkins: I like to have a variety of shapes and sizes. You can also use ceramic pumpkins.
• Craft paint: I used Deco Art Americana Acrylic paint in Spiced pumpkin, Burnt Sienna, Honey Brown, Oyster Beige, and Khaki Tan
• Small paintbrush or chip brush (one or two will do)
• White flour or baby powder
• Natural pumpkin stems
• Matte finish acrylic spray

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How to make a DIY terra cotta pumpkin dupe- Pottery Barn style

Follow this step-by-step tutorial to make your own Pottery Barn Terracotta Pumpkin dupe.

Step One: Prepare your supplies

The first thing you want to do is gather all your supplies and prepare your work area. This DIY project can get messy, so It’s best to do it outside.

Step two: Create your paint color.

I mixed up five paint colors to create the perfect terracotta paint color (see supply list).

You can do this yourself or find a color that is already mixed.

There’s just something I like about mixing up a paint recipe to create the perfect color. 

Step three: Paint the pumpkin

Once I got the color, I removed the stem from the foam pumpkin and placed a chopstick inside.

This allowed me to hold onto the stick while covering the pumpkin in a coat of paint.

This trick makes painting the entire pumpkin so much easier and neater!

When I finished, I stuck the chopstick into foam so the wet paint could dry without any streaks.

Step four: Age the pumpkins

While the painted pumpkin is still damp, use white flour or baby powder to give it an aged terra cotta look.

Sprinkle a little bit of flour onto the top of the pumpkin and use a dry brush to tap and brush the flour out. You want it to look natural, so avoid using too much flour. If you do, tap and shake the pumpkin to remove excess flour.

You can always add extra terra cotta or white paint during this step.

In addition, sand off some of the flour if you have more than you prefer.

You could even expose the original color of the white pumpkin if you like.

If you still have more flour than you prefer, you can also sand off some of the flour. You could even expose the original color of the white pumpkin if you like using this method.

Step five: Add a natural pumpkin stem

Nothing makes a faux pumpkin look better than replacing the cheap plastic stem with a real one. And that is precisely what we will do for the final step of our DIY terracotta pumpkin craft.

I love natural pumpkin stems; you can usually find them easily. Just take a walk through the pumpkin patch and search on the ground. Or look in the bins at the grocery stores, but be careful not to fall in! If you don’t have luck there or need a lot of stems, you can also buy them. If you plan ahead, you can also remove stems from real pumpkins at the end of the season and save them for the following year. 

To add a natural stem to your faux terracotta pumpkins, you must find the right stem and hot glue it onto the pumpkin.

Use large stems for larger pumpkins and smaller ones for small pumpkins. I liked to use a mixture of cute short stems and long curly stems to add variety to my pumpkins and make them look more realistic.

What do you think of my Pottery Barn pumpkin dupe? You can make your terracotta pumpkins to decorate your home with just a few inexpensive supplies and a little effort and creativity.

Styling my DIY terra cotta pumpkins

Of course, decorating with pumpkins is my favorite part. It’s so much fun taking them in the house and deciding how to style them. Styling terra cotta pumpkins for fall can create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your home.

As you can see, there are many ways to style these cute little pumpkins in your home. I placed a few on my dining room table and the rest in my wine bar. Use your creativity and play with different ways to decorate with them until you find a look you love.

Styling Tips

Here are a few styling tips to consider:

• Choose a color palette that complements the earthy tones of terra cotta. Fall colors like deep oranges, yellows, reds, and browns work well. Incorporating some muted greens and rustic whites can also add depth and contrast.
• Opt for a mix of sizes and shapes to add visual interest and a natural feel to your display.
• Incorporate different textures to create contrast. Consider using burlap, twine, rustic fabrics, or natural elements like dried leaves, pinecones, and acorns.
• Create depth by placing pumpkins at different heights. Use stacked crates, wooden slices, or even small hay bales to elevate some of the pumpkins and create a layered look.
• Arrange the pumpkins in groups of odd numbers. Odd-numbered groupings tend to be more visually appealing and balanced.
• Incorporate candles or lanterns to add a warm and cozy glow to your setup.
• Use your styled pumpkins as a centerpiece for a dining table. Add a table runner or placemats that complement the color scheme.
• Create a fall display on your front porch using a variety of small and large pumpkins.
• Combine your terra cotta pumpkins with fall wreaths or garlands. Hang them on walls, doorways, or over mantels.
• Layer your display with fall-inspired textiles like plaid blankets or cozy throws. Drape them over crates or arrange them underneath the pumpkins.
• Consider adding other handmade crafts or family heirlooms to make your display more unique and meaningful.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Be sure to subscribe to my blog for more inspiration and DIY tutorials. And don’t forget to share your creations with me on social media – I love seeing what you all come up with. Have a happy fall!

You will also enjoy these posts for more fall inspiration.