How to Build a DIY Pumpkin Arch for Your Front Porch

It’s officially fall, which means Halloween is right around the corner! I’m getting a jumpstart on my Halloween decorations this year, and I’m starting with a project I’ve never done before: a DIY pumpkin arch. Let’s walk through this spook-tastic fall porch decor together, shall we? Here we go!

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DIY Pumpkin Arch Supplies:

Hollow Jack-o’-lanterns of Your Choice (The ones I chose are linked below, as well as some other options!)
Terracotta Spray Paint
Gray Spray Paint
Black Spray Paint
Painter’s Tape (This kind is the best!)
PVC Pipe
PVC Elbow
Black Maple Leaf Garland
Black Eucalyptus Stems
Extra Long 48-Inch Zip Ties
12-Inch Zip Ties
Gas Mask for Spray Painting
Drill
LED Lights or Battery-Operated Lights

Step #1: Set up the PVC Pipe for Your DIY Pumpkin Arch

First up: building the arch! I drilled a combination of PVC pipe and elbows into the wood that frames our porch and attached it to the railing with zipties.

Step #2: Spray Paint the Pumpkins

Next, it was time to paint the pumpkins. I covered the stems with my favorite painter’s tape because I didn’t want those to get spray-painted.

I went with a combination of black, terracotta, and gray. There are so many cute color combinations out there that it was tough to choose, but I think this palette goes great with our home’s recent exterior makeover.

Side note: I highly recommend wearing this mask if you’re doing a lot of spray painting! It keeps fumes out really well and can also be used for other DIY projects.

Step #3: Drill Holes & Attach the Pumpkins

After the pumpkins were dry, I drilled two holes in the back of each one to feed the zipties through and affix them to the PVC pipe. I also drilled other holes in the backs of the pumpkins so I could thread LED lights through all of them. Because during this time of year, your outdoor Halloween decorations need to look just as good in the daylight as they do in the dark!

Step #4: Add Foliage

The DIY pumpkin arch looked a little sparse, and the PVC pipe was visible, so I added some black eucalyptus bunches and a maple leaf garland. It really pulled everything together!