5 Pumpkin Carving Trends That Will Make Your Porch Stand Out This Year

This Halloween, classic jack-o-lanterns are getting an innovative upgrade. Instead of the old-school triangle eyes and jagged mouth designs, this year's top trends are all about mixing tradition with fresh tools and vibrant colors.

There's also an emphasis on creating unique, personalized carved pumpkins that tell a story. "Halloween 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most creative and colorful yet, especially when it comes to pumpkin carving," says seasonal decor stylist Rebecca Paxton. "People are using their porch pumpkin displays to showcase personal touches, selecting a few pumpkins within the bunch to add their own style or meaningful connections," she says.

If you want to take your pumpkin porch display to bold new levels this Halloween, here are the top pumpkin carving trends to try in 2025.

1. Carve Intricate Designs Using Stencils

"Gone are the days of simple triangle eyes and jagged mouths; This year, intricate designs are stealing the spotlight and thanks to a surge in high-quality carving stencils and tools, even beginners can create masterpieces," Paxton says. Think haunted mansions, creative mandala designs, and spooky silhouettes of Halloween-themed images like witches and graveyards. Pumpkin carving stencils provide an easy-to-follow template that makes detailed carving more accessible and Paxton says you should expect to see pumpkins that look more like artwork than decorations this Halloween.

2. Swap Candles for Colorful LED Lights

This Halloween, jack-o'-lanterns are getting a bright and spooky upgrade with the addition of colorful LED lights and dry ice. Instead of flickering candles, Paxton says she's expecting this year's pumpkins to glow in vivid reds, eerie purples, spooky greens, and fiery oranges thanks to battery-powered LED lights that allow you to switch between colors for a magical effect. "These lights not only enhance the carved design, but also create an otherworldly glow that adds a serious Halloween atmosphere to any doorstep or party," the stylist says. An added benefit of swapping out flickering candles for LED lights is that they don't emit as much direct heat and help preserve carved pumpkins for longer.

3. Create a 3D Effect With Layered Carvings

"This fall, it’s not just about cutting through the pumpkin, it’s about sculpting it," Paxton says. She explains that the technique uses different depths and textures to create a three-dimensional effect. Utilizing a variety of tools that allow for shading, etching, and peeling creates a layered effect and transforms pumpkins into detailed pieces of multi-dimensional art. "Paired with the right lighting, these designs practically come to life after dark," Paxton says.

4. Up the Spook Factor with Dry Ice

To enhance your carved pumpkin's colorful glow and create an impressive Halloween movie-style effect, Paxton suggests placing some dry ice inside the pumpkin. The dry ice turns into an eerie fog as it pours out of the carved pumpkin, setting a spooky ambience that's bound to impress all the trick-or-treaters. Add dry ice to your entire pumpkin display for a dramatic wow factor, or take a more subtle approach and turn one carved pumpkin into an eye-catching focal point.

5. Personalize Your Carved Pumpkins

There has been a big shift in the design world towards more personalized spaces, and the trend is influencing seasonal decor—carved pumpkins included—this fall. Paxton says people are using pumpkin displays to personalize their seasonal doorsteps with a meaningful touch. Carve your monogram, favorite sports team's logo, or your pet's silhouette onto your pumpkin for a personalized front door accent. You can freehand a stencil, purchase a ready-made one, or use one of our printable stencils to help guide your carving.