Joanna Gaines reminds us why the best Halloween decor is understated – starting with this neutral statement piece

Think of Joanna Gaines, and thoughts of a modern farmhouse aesthetic comprising timeless neutrals are likely to follow. The Magnolia designer is synonymous with rustic-chic interiors that are as fun and welcoming as they are stylish – and, of course, her Halloween decor is no different. 

We're at the point of the calendar where it is often tricky to balance celebrating fall and maintaining a sophisticated home, but as Joanna reminds us, it is possible to dress with subtle Halloween decor that we won't want to take down after the 31st. And perhaps the chicest of these are white pumpkins. 

The Fixer Upper star recently dressed her porch using white pumpkins that she had previously collected with her son, Crew, and they're a reminder that, sometimes, when it comes to Halloween decorating, less really is more. 

Whether we're avid Halloween fans or simply want to pay homage to the beauty of fall over the coming weeks, white pumpkins are a sophisticated solution. And, of course, Joanna is not alone in feelings towards this neutral twist on the classic. 

'It can be difficult to style with traditional fall decor if you feel colors like orange and burgundy don't go nicely with your existing interior aesthetic. In this instance especially, we recommend white pumpkins,' say Maddy DeVries and Ashley Walsh from Morgan Design Studio.

'They're the perfect way to style for fall a little more subtly, and we love how effortlessly sophisticated they look.'

Interior Designers

Interior Designers

Maddy DeVries and Ashley Walsh

Maddy and Ashley are designers based in Arizona and California with projects nationwide. They founded a full-service interior design that stems from their different personal design aesthetics – encompassing a wide variety of styles resulting in versatile results.

As Maddy and Ashley explain, placing white pumpkins on our front porch, just as Joanna has done (seen below), is an effective way to subtly (yet beautifully) celebrate Halloween, but these pumpkins look equally fashionable atop our Thanksgiving table, too.

'A grouping of various-sized and shaped white pumpkins is a great way to upgrade the front of your home. They'll also pair perfectly with a textured doormat and a dried floral wreath,' they say. 'Meanwhile, if you're hosting a Halloween party or Thanksgiving dinner, you can place a mini white pumpkin on each plate for an elegant place setting or use various sizes down the length of the table for a beautiful centerpiece.'

And Interior designer Kathy Kuo agrees. 'I personally love white pumpkins as a chic way to decorate for the spooky season,' she adds. 

'White pumpkins are much more versatile than traditional orange ones, and they’re a more subtle way to give a nod to the fall season without turning your home into a full-blown haunted house. I advise picking up 5-7 of these elegant gourds in a range of sizes and placing them in groupings either throughout your home or on your front porch.'

Kathy Kuo

Interior design expert Kathy Kuo founded her eponymous home store in 2012 – and it has since gone on to be an e-commerce destination for luxury furniture and decor essentials from a variety of beloved home vendors. Kathy and her store specialize in styles like French Country, Coastal Beach, and Modern Classic while offering interior design services to their clients.

We're keen to tap into the look, but we don't necessarily have to go wholly natural. We particularly love these faux white pumpkins from Etsy (below) that are especially perfect for those fall-inspired tablescapes.