Turn Your Trashcans Into The Sweetest Decor For Any Season Using Pool Noodles

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After having the same trash can out for several seasons, you might want to change up the look of your space and add something new. But after buying a trash can to replace it, what do you do with the old one? You could toss it out in favor of the new receptacle. Or, there's the option to turn an old trash can into sweet (and functional) décor for any season that mimics the look of a cute café drink. You can achieve this DIY by layering rows of pool noodles to fit snugly on the top of the can.

Before diving into this pool noodle DIY hack, be sure to have all the necessary materials on hand to make sure the project is hassle-free. The trash can and pool noodles are the main stars of this DIY, but you'll also need a hot glue gun, some heavy-duty tape, measuring tape, and decorative elements, depending on the design. Most of these tools are common, so crafters may already have them on hand, making this home décor project even easier to complete.

While the hot glue gun is heating up, start by measuring the top of the trash can to determine how wide your first pool noodle row will need to be. Cut the pool noodle to size and use heavy-duty tape or hot glue to fuse the ends together. You'll need to repeat this process, making the width of the pool noodle ring smaller for each row. Use hot glue to attach the pool noodles on top of one another in size order to mimic the look of whipped cream on a drink. Measuring the first row makes sure the final piece will fit perfectly on top of the can, acting as a makeshift lid or way to hide what's inside.

If you want to take the appearance of this DIY coffee-inspired home décor upcycle to the next level, you can make your own oversized sprinkles to attach to the whipped cream lid. There are many ways to craft sprinkles, some methods using materials you might have on hand. One way to make this hilariously creative home décor idea is by cutting up pieces of colored rubber bands and hot-gluing them around the top. There's also the option of crafting each sprinkle with polymer clay, which gives you total control over how the final product looks.

One of the biggest perks to this pool noodle DIY is that it repurposes an old trash can that you can customize and change up from season to season. For example, grab some Rust-Oleum Specialty Glitter Spray Paint in festive red or green and spray the entire can to give it a shimmery finish. Add red and green sprinkles around the pool noodle whipped cream, and use a stencil to spray-paint a design on the front of the can. You can also use a vinyl sticker to add a design to the front of the can if you prefer a removable option.

Another fun way to elevate this home décor DIY is by using a green pool noodle as a straw for your drink-inspired trash can. Use hot glue to secure the green noodle to the lid. You can even cover the surface of the white pool noodles with foam sealant product to create an even more realistic-looking whipped cream and to help the straw placement blend with the topping.