Must-Try Pool Noodle Decor Hacks That Are Perfect For Any Holiday
For most people, pool noodles have their time to shine in the summer months as convenient and low-cost toys that allow you to truly kick back and relax on the water, but they're quickly tossed to the side or lost in the backs of sheds once temperatures begin to drop later in the year. If you're crafty, however, you'll have learned by now that these simple flotation devices have plenty of uses year-round, whether it's for functional projects like saving your windowsills from pet damage or more decorative DIYs that can add a bit of flair around the holidays. Thanks to their unique composition, the fact that they're easy to find, and their fairly low cost — especially compared to other crafting materials — pool noodles are an unsung hero when it comes to creating your own decorations.
If you're planning to use pool noodles in an upcoming project but don't have any on hand, there's no need to worry, even if you're attempting to gather materials in a less-than-ideal season. Pool noodles are available year-round at Dollar Tree for just $1.25 each and even come in seasonally appropriate colors, like these Christmas Colored Pool Noodles. If you'd rather order online and don't want to buy in bulk, there are also options available on Amazon, though they're typically a bit more expensive than what you'd find at a discount store.
Wreath form
One of the most common uses for pool noodles in crafting is as a wreath form. When cut to size and attached to itself to create a circle, a pool noodle can serve as a perfect base for your front door display, whether you're decorating for Christmas or Independence Day. All you need is a bit of duct or packing tape to close off the end of your loop — then you can decorate as you please. Cover the form in your desired material, then use the foam base to easily stick in ornaments, pin down leaves, or add faux flowers to finish off the look.
Giant lollipops
Candies and other sweet treats have long been associated with the holidays, but if you don't fancy yourself much of a cook or candymaker, consider DIYing candy decorations instead. For this project, all you need is your pool noodle, cellophane, some glue, ribbon, a thin PVC pipe, and some duct tape. Begin by wrapping your pool noodle with tape in a spiral pattern, then start to roll it in on itself like a cinnamon roll, gluing as you go. Attach your PVC pipe to the bottom, wrap the "lollipop" in cellophane, and secure the plastic with some ribbon to finish everything off.
Legs to change with the holiday
Holiday decorations that are essentially just legs, whether from an elf, witch, or Santa Claus, are a great way to add silliness and whimsy to your holiday setup without attempting to sculpt a full-blown creature. To make them yourself, all you need is a pool noodle cut in half, some tall socks, and a pair of shoes that fit the theme — heeled boots for a witch, for example, or curled-toe slippers for an elf. Put the socks over the pool noodle, stick the shoes on the end, then conceal the other end in a basket or under another decoration.
Faux candles
If you're looking for the ambiance of candles without the potential fire hazard, consider making some out of pool noodles. Cut your pool noodles down to varying sizes, then glue them together in a bunch. Grab a hot glue gun to create the look of dripping wax along the tops and sides of each candle, then spray paint everything so the color is consistent. Add some battery-operated LED candles to the top of each faux candle, using the hole in the pool noodle to hold them, then finish decorating with seasonal bows for winter or spooky accents for a haunted mansion vibe.
Easter bunny display
If you want to spruce up your lawn for Easter, look no further than this pool noodle bunny DIY. You'll need three pool noodles, tape, ribbon, and a hot glue gun. Form your first pool noodle into a loop, then cut 1 foot of length off the second noodle and loop it the same. Attach the two loops with tape, then cover the intersection with ribbon. Cut the third noodle into four thin strips, then cut 1 foot off the material. Finally, slice two cuts into the top loop and use two of these strips to create bunny ears, securing the pieces with glue.
Pumpkins
Regardless of whether you lean into the autumnal vibes of October and November or you prefer to display spooky and scary décor, pumpkins are one of the most common inclusions in fall decorating, and, as it turns out, they're fairly simple to construct out of pool noodles. Grab some orange pool noodles and cut them into six even pieces. Cut one piece that's slightly taller, and arrange your pool noodles around this tall piece. Glue everything together, then cover the noodle top that juts out with some burlap or brown ribbon. Stick on some faux leaves and a bow, and you have a pumpkin.
Lawn sparkler
If you want to extend your patriotic decorations beyond just hanging a flag this Independence Day, try making these sparkler lawn decorations. All you need is a pool noodle, white and blue tape, a stake or broomstick, and an LED light. Decorate your pool noodle like the American flag, adding stripes down the length and a blue section with stars along the top, then drive a stake into your lawn. Put the pool noodle over the top, then place the LED light in the top of the pool noodle to finish off the look.
Voluminous garland
Garlands are a great way to add some holiday flair to your banisters, mantles, and tables, but sometimes, they fall flat. If you're looking for a way to boost them up and keep everything in one place, however, a pool noodle that's been cut in half might present a solution. Place a cut pool noodle on your surface, attaching it with zip ties if needed, then use the foam base to stick in ornaments, flowers, and other decorations. The foam will give you more control over the placement of each item, and the added thickness will make your garland look more voluminous and fluffy.
Heart centerpiece
To make a heart out of pool noodles, all you need to do is curl two of the ends towards one another, attach them with rubber bands, and secure them with skewers. This simple shape makes for a great addition or centerpiece to your Valentine's Day décor. Place the ends of the pool noodles in a box and cover the pool noodles with fake flowers for a free-standing centerpiece, attach the shape to a stake to display it in your yard, or add a ribbon to hang it on your wall or front door as a wreath.
Festive lettering
Because of their flexibility, pool noodles can act as a great base to create just about any shape you'd like, including letters. Cut, glue, and tape pieces of pool noodles together, then cover them with garland, ribbon, colored tape, or a coat of spray paint to conceal any rough edges and finish off your sign. For more difficult, curving letters, you could also fill the pool noodle with wire and shape as needed. Short words are the best choice if you're looking to cut down on the required effort, so try something like "joy" wrapped in garland for the winter holidays or "boo" covered in glow-in-the-dark paint for Halloween.
Giant candy canes
If you have the materials necessary to make letters or wrapped candies out of pool noodles, you also have what you need to make candy cane decorations. Grab a pool noodle in your desired color, then pick up some tape to contrast it — red and white are classic, but feel free to experiment with other colors. Wrap your pool noodle with tape in a spiral pattern, then thread a piece of flexible but sturdy wire through it. Bend it to shape, then drive your candy cane into the ground with a stake to display it outside.
Colored pencils
Back-to-school season might not technically be a holiday, but that transitional period between the end of summer and the beginning of fall deserves some décor, too. These giant pool noodle colored pencils are super easy to create — acting as a fun pop of color both indoors and in the yard. To do it yourself, grab some pool noodles in your colors of choice (or some paint), then add on a cone-shaped tip. This piece can either be made of paper or painted foam — just make sure you match the color of the tip to the color of your pool noodle for a realistic look.
Popsicles
During the warmer months of the year, there's nothing like cooling off from the extreme heat with a delicious frozen treat. This popsicle décor DIY might not help to lower the temperature, but it can add a touch of fun to your existing summer setup. To make it yourself, simply cut two pieces of pool noodle down to a length of 6 inches. Stick in a couple of popsicle sticks or paint stirrers, and you have a perfect-looking popsicle. Hang it alone as a fun door display, or make several and attach them to a string to hang like a garland next time you host a summer party.
Rainbow
Rainbows might require specific conditions to appear in nature, but creating one for yourself requires significantly less effort. If you want to make a rainbow display for Saint Patrick's Day or pride month, all you need are a few pool noodles, from red to purple, glue, poster board, and some cotton balls. Glue your pool noodles together in rainbow order, then cut a cloud shape out of your poster board. Cover it with cotton balls and attach it to the end of your rainbow to conceal the edges of your pool noodles and give it more of that cartoon rainbow look.