13 Adorable Fall Decor DIYs You Can Make Using Toilet Paper Rolls
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Many people get that itch to decorate their homes when the seasons change. With a little inspiration from other crafters, you can infuse your home with the fall spirit without spending too much money. Embrace the upcoming season with DIY decor using an unexpected household item: toilet paper rolls. Start saving brand-new and empty toilet paper rolls, as they're an essential ingredient for these Halloween, Thanksgiving, and autumn-themed ideas.
Many of these projects are doable using this repurposed base alongside common household items. If you do need more supplies, you can easily find them at local craft and dollar stores. We'll also share some helpful tips and substitutions to make these DIYs even easier, more aesthetic, and more customized. As a bonus, you can use many of these homemade decorative items alongside low-cost yet adorable Dollar Tree DIYs that get your home ready for fall. So, learn how to make these cute, decorative crafts to adorn your home with an autumn ambiance.
Craft floral patterned pumpkins for a fall farmhouse display
If you love farmhouse decor, create homey tabletop pumpkins using a roll of toilet paper. Before beginning, unwrap a few strands of toilet paper and rewrap the edges to create a more rounded shape. Then, wrap it with Crafters Square Autumn Craft Fabric, which is the perfect size to cover the whole roll without excessive leftover fabric. Once you stick a wine cork and artificial leaves in the center, the finished craft will emulate the famous fall squash. Since it's a medium-sized decor piece, you can display it on its own or make a set if you'd like more of an impact.
Fold toilet paper rolls into papercraft-style fall leaves
If you slice a toilet paper roll vertically down the middle, it's the perfect size and shape to fold into a papercraft leaf piece. You'll need four empty rolls to make a full leaf, and you can follow the step-by-step instructions by YouTuber Day with DIY. The beige shade of toilet paper rolls works well for minimalist, neutral-toned decor, but if you want to have more colorful leaves, paint them before folding. Use a standard acrylic craft paint in seasonal colors, such as reds, oranges, and yellows. Once finished, pin them to walls, add them to bouquets or wreaths, or scatter them across tabletop displays.
Make elegant mini pumpkins out of chenille yarn
One of the most popular toilet paper hacks for fall decor involves wrapping empty rolls in yarn. Use chenille yarn in autumn-themed colors, such as the Premier Just Chenille Crimson Yarn, to make pumpkins that have a soft but elegant appeal. Don't forget to finish off the mini spheres with tiny twigs sticking out of the top. Your best bet is finding natural twigs outside. However, some retailers sell artificial twigs in bulk, such as ECOVENIK's Small Wood Sticks for Crafts. Make around eight to ten total, and assemble them in a basket or tray for your shelves, tables, or countertops.
Slice toilet paper rolls into paper marigolds for an autumn display
Fold a paper flower to match your paper leaves by slicing up multiple toilet paper rolls. It only takes one roll to make the petals. Since standard craft or kitchen scissors may be too bulky for making precise petal cuts, use a pair of scissors like the EK Tools Cutter Bee Precision Craft Scissors. You'll need more cardboard to make the stem and leaves, creating a three-dimensional chrysanthemum or marigold to embellish bouquets, walls, wreaths, and other autumn-inspired displays. If you want to make more flower decor, you can also DIY artificial chenille stem mums for a fall centerpiece.
Craft neutral-toned yarn pumpkins with a fragrant twist
Make more rustic yarn pumpkins by using a rougher material like Premier Just Yarn Greige Tweed Yarn instead of chenille. Pick several colors in neutral tones like white, beige, and browns, or use a rope-like material like Crafters Square Natural Jute Cord. Make several variations and top them off with cinnamon sticks to create an assortment of fragrant, neutral-colored pumpkins. Pile them up in a wicker basket, tuck them in any room, and this affordable fall decor idea will make your home smell as amazing as it looks.
Create Thanksgiving-themed toilet paper roll napkin rings
Accentuate your table setting this Thanksgiving using napkin rings made of toilet paper rolls. Mark a roll with a tape measure or use a cutting mat to cut it into evenly sized, narrow rings. It's easy to disguise the cardboard center by encircling it with a festive ribbon like the Estivaux Fall Pumpkin Craft Ribbons and other themed embellishments. This Thanksgiving decor toilet paper roll hack can also be used for other occasions, too. You just have to use Halloween, Christmas, or other festively-themed ribbon instead.
Transform a toilet paper roll into glossy ribbed pumpkins
If you're looking for another stunning fall centerpiece DIY, transform a toilet paper roll into a ribbed pumpkin. The roll is only the base for this project. Find a thin cardboard box from your pantry, for example, a nearly empty cereal box. Paint over it with a glossy-finish acrylic paint, and slice the box into roughly half-inch strips. The strips will make up the body of the pumpkin, and you can craft a whole set for aesthetic appeal. To add more contrast, paint the strips in different colors within the same color for a fun, monochromatic look.
Wrap toilet paper rolls in fabric to create cozy pumpkin decor
To avoid cluttering your space with too many textures and patterns, try wrapping a toilet paper roll in a flat, solid-color fabric. Instead of using an intricate design or a shimmery effect, opt for a toned-down look like Crafters Square Solid Craft Fabric. Stick to typical autumn colors, and top them off with twigs and burlap strips. These natural textures add a rustic seasonal ambiance to your living space. If you're setting up a themed display, the pumpkins will look especially cute beside other country-esque decor, such as Harvest Light-Up LED Candle Lanterns.
Add to Halloween decor with toilet paper roll mummies
With good execution, even kids' crafts can be a cute addition to spooky holiday decor. All you need is gauze, googly eyes, and one empty toilet paper roll per DIY mummy. Wrap the mummy in gauze, using hot glue to secure it, and put a pair of eyes on top. You can use these as standalone decor or string them along Ohtomber's Black Natural Cotton Craft String to make a DIY Halloween garland. If you want more dangling decor to fit the vibe, there's another cute Halloween garland you can DIY in minutes.
Fold toilet paper rolls into mini no-carve pumpkin ornaments
Start saving toilet paper rolls to assemble into miniature no-carve pumpkins. Each roll makes one pumpkin, so you may have to stock up to do this project. Paint the toilet paper roll with a base color, cut it into a taco-like shape, and tie a green ribbon around the top. Save detailed painting for after the ornament is assembled — it'll be easier to gauge where to draw it based on how the ornament is curved. Color in a Jack-o-Lantern face for a Halloween look, or paint a traditional pumpkin for more general fall decor. You can hang them on wreaths, houseplants, cabinet and drawer knobs, and more.
Hang toilet paper roll ghosts outdoors for Halloween
While most of these toilet paper projects are intended as indoor decor, there is also a fall DIY you can put outdoors. Transform empty toilet paper rolls into windblown ghosts using white tissue paper as the body. You can use Elmer's glue or a thin layer of clear Mod Podge to adhere the tissue paper to the toilet paper roll. Hang the ghosts on metal wires or string, though keep in mind that they won't hold up well in the rain. So, while these may look adorable swinging in the breeze among the trees, they'll last longer tucked under a building overhang.
Cut toilet paper rolls into a cute, mess-free Jack-O-Lantern
The perk of DIY pumpkin crafts that involve no carving is that there's no mess. Create a paper-based pumpkin by cutting up three toilet paper rolls. Be sure to assemble the strips first, tape them up, and then add the face afterward. Add Luminessence Flickering LED White Tealight Candles or Etinga's Battery-Operated String Lights inside for a glowing effect. The crafter behind the original idea also builds a fall leaf backdrop, but you can place your design with any other seasonal decor.
Make 3D fall leaf embellishments out of sliced toilet paper rolls
Add texture and depth to your decor with three-dimensional paper leaves. Use any pair of scissors to cut the toilet paper rolls into narrow strips and reshape them into an oblong shape. Paint the cardboard after it's been cut, since it would be very difficult to paint the inside of the roll beforehand. The last step is to hot glue the painted and assembled leaves to real or artificial twigs. If you have an extra toilet paper roll, you can twist a narrow strip into a DIY twig too.