Think of Halloween decor, and pumpkins are likely to follow immediately. The fall fruit has long been used by designers and celebrities alike to bring a classic autumnal aesthetic to a home, the latter of which includes Dolly Parton, no less.
While some Halloween decor can feel a little garish, pumpkins offer a more timeless way to celebrate the holiday without sacrificing your home's style. The likes of Martha Stewart and Chrissy Teigen are famous for introducing pumpkins to their porches and living spaces, but Dolly brings the look to her kitchen countertops. The result is one of the most replicable celebrity Halloween looks I've seen to date.
Dolly has simply decorated her counters and island with a series of eclectic pumpkins, varying in shapes and sizes. There's no consistency in their style, but the space still feels curated. It's a reminder that pumpkin decor can be fun and spontaneous, but still not feel overly audacious – welcome news to someone who loves to celebrate the holiday without harming the style of my home.
Shop the look
This gorgeous design looks incredibly high-end and is perfect is you want to craft a more elegant and elevated aesthetic this Halloween season.
The quintessential Halloween decoration, traditional orange pumpkins will never go out of style. Make sure yours are sustainable and will last year after year by going for hardwearing faux designs.
This stacked pumpkin lantern with cheerful ghost faces casts a warm, eerie glow that’s equally charming on porches, mantels, or countertops. Crafted from durable plastic, it blends whimsical design with weather-resistant practicality to bring a spooky spirit to any Halloween setting.
Every year, I see celebrities (starting with Dolly) decorating with pumpkins, but designers similarly love the look of this classic feature – even beyond the kitchen.
'There’s something about pumpkins that instantly makes a house feel like fall! I love mixing them up in different sizes and colors with small gourds tucked next to larger ones so the arrangements feel collected and natural rather than overly staged,' says Kara Childress, the principal and founder at Kara Childress, Inc.
Dolly's kitchen provides styling inspiration that will look just as good next Halloween, but there are yet more timeless ways to decorate around your home. Kara recommends 'a cluster on the mantel, a few scattered along a console, or lining the steps leading up to the front door.'
'You can even put a selection of petite pumpkins in a bowl in the kitchen, and mix in dried leaves, pinecones, or cinnamon sticks. It’s all about having fun with layers of color, texture, and scale,' she says.
This October, we're returning to Dolly's kitchen for effortless inspiration. If anyone can convince us that the power of pumpkins is eternal, it's her.
