Minimalist Halloween DIYs for the Design Conscious
If you want to decorate your home for Halloween, but would rather steer clear of the garish and unsightly, this could be the project for you
If you think garish decorations for Christmas and Easter only mess with your home decoration, you are not alone. Yet another potentially unsightly holiday, Halloween, is coming up, so why not make a stylish and graphic decoration that actually adds to your home – and not the other way around. By using traditional pumpkins in a fun way you can celebrate a stylish Halloween with no harm done to your style credentials.
You need
- Mini pumpkins
- Masking tape
- White lacquer spray or white high-gloss emulsion paint
- Black acrylic paint
- Washing-up brush
- Paintbrush
Step 1: Cover the stalks
Personally, I prefer to keep the pumpkin stalk natural, because it is beautiful, so I don´t want to hide it under paint. Use masking tape to cover the stalk, if you want to keep it in its original state.
Personally, I prefer to keep the pumpkin stalk natural, because it is beautiful, so I don´t want to hide it under paint. Use masking tape to cover the stalk, if you want to keep it in its original state.
Step 2: Spray the pumpkins white
Lacquer spray is not recommended for use indoors, so apply it outside or in a place with plenty of ventilation – the chemicals are unhealthy to breathe in. Always read the guidelines on the can. Spray the paint in thin layers at a distance of about 30 centimetres to avoid pooling and running paint. Let dry for about one hour between the layers, and give it 2-3 sprays depending on the covering effect you prefer.
Lacquer spray is not recommended for use indoors, so apply it outside or in a place with plenty of ventilation – the chemicals are unhealthy to breathe in. Always read the guidelines on the can. Spray the paint in thin layers at a distance of about 30 centimetres to avoid pooling and running paint. Let dry for about one hour between the layers, and give it 2-3 sprays depending on the covering effect you prefer.
Step 3: Time to start splattering the paint
I used two tools with different results, a washing-up brush (the effect shown to the left) and a softer brush (the paint on the right in the picture). Cover the washing-up brush generously in paint, hold it with the bristles towards the pumpkin and use your fingers to move them towards you and then let go. This method works for smaller colour splashings but with a longer reach.
When you use the paintbrush, you might find the paint too thick to splatter properly. Depending on the kind of paint you use, dilute if necessary. I used 3 tablespoons of water for 100 millilitres of acrylic paint. Dip the brush generously and in one distinct move, splash for a graphic pattern. Let the pumpkins dry overnight.
I used two tools with different results, a washing-up brush (the effect shown to the left) and a softer brush (the paint on the right in the picture). Cover the washing-up brush generously in paint, hold it with the bristles towards the pumpkin and use your fingers to move them towards you and then let go. This method works for smaller colour splashings but with a longer reach.
When you use the paintbrush, you might find the paint too thick to splatter properly. Depending on the kind of paint you use, dilute if necessary. I used 3 tablespoons of water for 100 millilitres of acrylic paint. Dip the brush generously and in one distinct move, splash for a graphic pattern. Let the pumpkins dry overnight.
Step 3: Remove the masking tape
When the tape is gone, the graphic pumpkins are done and with this simple design, they look great in any home!
When the tape is gone, the graphic pumpkins are done and with this simple design, they look great in any home!
How about a welcoming pumpkin at the front door or a decoration on the coffee table accompanied by autumn flowers? Another possibility is putting together a beautiful pumpkin still life on top of the chest of drawers or in the window.
The pumpkins are all you need to decorate your table for the Halloween dinner. Together with napkins in washed linen, held together with hemp string, you get a traditional Halloween theme with a modern and rustic twist.
Paint splashing is pretty smashing and one easily gets inspired to keep going. This humble shoebox was transformed with white lacquer and black acrylic paint and now takes pride of place.
A few magazines and other odd bits add to the shoebox as an arresting interior detail. Who would have guessed this is an old shoebox?
TELL US
What do you think of this graphic, minimalist decoration? Are you willing to give it a try? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments below.
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Browse more fun DIY projects
TELL US
What do you think of this graphic, minimalist decoration? Are you willing to give it a try? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more fun DIY projects