From Decor To Hacks, All The Ways To Use A Pool Noodle In Winter

Don't pack those pool noodles away just because swimming season is over. Despite the name, those inexpensive, colorful, flexible lengths of foam are useful far beyond the beach and pool. Stocking up at the end of summer is a smart idea, especially since there are so many ways to use pool noodles in the winter, both as beautiful holiday decor and cozy home hacks. You just may wish you had grabbed more!

Pool noodles have been around since the early 1900s to serve as a flotation device, but modern-day DIYers have come up with many genius pool noodle hacks and DIYs that will transform your garden and home. They're typically made of polyethylene foam, which is what makes them so flexible, yet sturdy, and versatile. When it comes to winter decor, pool noodles act as a makeshift floral foam product that you can poke florals and other items into to create displays. They also serve functional purposes, like blocking cold air drafts, protecting windshield wipers from weather elements, and helping your winter boots hold their shape. Round up your pool noodles to complete your favorite projects.

Cut two pool noodles the width of a door to create the structure for a draft blocker — a brilliant pool noodle hack that will keep your home warm. An old pillowcase holds the pool noodles in place. All you need to do is slide the pool noodles into the pillowcase along opposite edges and use safety pins to secure the fabric around them. Slide it under the door with a pool noodle section on either side. To winterize sliding glass doors with a pool noodle, cut it to the length of the track, and push it in place.

Birch trees are popular decor thanks to their whitish peeling bark. Recreate that appeal indoors with pool noodles cut into log-sized sections. Covering the pool noodle with painter's tape and spackle creates a rough, bark-like texture. After the spackle dries, dab and brush beige, brown, and tan paint onto the logs until you're happy with the look. Another option is decoupaging strips of crumpled brown kraft paper onto the foam and brushing watered-down white paint on it. If you're trying to create a cabin vibe in your home, keep the birch branches out year-round.

When winter arrives, it's time to pull out your boots, whether it's your cozy, waterproof snow boots or your tall, leather fashion boots. And those boots benefit from one of several genius pool noodle hacks that you can use in your closet. Simply cut up pool noodles to the height of all of your boots, and slide the foam sections down into the boots. They'll hold the upper portion in an upright position to help the boots hold their shape. Plus, keeping floppy boots from folding over on themselves lets them dry faster.

Make DIY packing peanuts for all of the holiday gifts you're shipping with old pool noodles. Packing peanuts can be pricey, so this hack saves you money. Cut a pool noodle into narrow discs — you might be surprised how many you get from a single pool noodle. You can also cut each ring in half if you want smaller packing material. Put a layer in the bottom of the box, add your presents, and pour in more pool noodle pieces around the packages to keep them from shifting in transit.

Cold winter weather can do a number on windshield wipers, especially on vehicles like RVs that sit outside unused for weeks or months on end. Cut a pool noodle to the length of the windshield wiper, and cut a slit length-wise along one of the sides to create a simple over. To put it on the wiper, pull the slit apart, and wrap the noodle around the blade. It'll keep sun, rain, snow, and ice away from the blade to keep it from getting damaged.

If you have an in-ground pool, you know the battle you can fight against blowing leaves. The pool cover keeps leaves out of the water, but the vault is also a collecting spot for leaves. That's where a pool noodle comes in. Grab several pool noodles to cover the full length of the vault. Then, cut smaller sections of PVC pipes that you can use to connect the pool noodles, putting half through the hole in one noodle and half in the other. Then, wedge the pool noodle into the vault.

Decorate with larger-than-life candy canes using white pool noodles and red ribbon. Dollar Tree's Christmas House candy canes work well as the framework — slide one through the opening of a pool noodle, straight end first, guiding it around the curve. Cut off the excess pool noodle. Use red ribbon, tape, or fabric to create the stripes on the candy cane. Add bows, ornaments, and other accents. DIY a candy cane walkway by making straight red-and-white-striped candy sticks with a PVC pipe in the middle and a Dollar Tree solar light on top.

Continuing with the large decor theme, this DIY turns pool noodles into stunning holiday candle decor. To create the glowing effect, widen the pool noodle opening to allow a battery-powered tea light to fit snugly and sit flush with the top edge. Create a dripping effect using puffy paint or low-temperature hot glue. If you want to change the color of the candles, cover the flame part, and paint the rest. Arrange the candles on a tray, gluing them in place, and surround them with holiday filler items to cover the bases.

Help the little ones burn off the sugar high of the holidays with DIY pool noodle reindeer (think hobby horses for the holidays). Brown pool noodles are ideal, but you can also cover a red pool noodle with brown felt or fabric, leaving the end showing to turn it into Rudolph. Fold the top end of the noodle over and tie it in place to create the face of the reindeer. Then, embellish it with antlers, eyes, and other fun details — let the kids help to make this a craft and activity.

Pool noodles are the perfect size to create festive elf legs for your decor. Add stripes to the pool noodles if you want. Then, put decorative elf shoes on one end of each noodle (or make simple shoes but cutting out two pieces from felt and hot gluing or sewing them together). You can hot glue the other ends of the pool noodles together at an angle or use craft wire to hold them together. Put the legs upside down in a basket, or hide the tops with an elf hat. 

There are many options for holiday centerpiece DIYs to make your dining table more elegant on a budget, but this one is cheerful and fun. Cut a pool noodle to the length you want the centerpiece to be. Glue large ornaments around the edges of the pool noodle first. For a clean look, point the tops inward so they don't show. Then, add more ornaments on top of the others and covering the top of the pool noodle. Tuck holiday picks, evergreen stems, ribbons, and other fillers in the gaps between ornaments.

Transform windows with a pool noodle cut to the window's width. For easy hanging, cut a slit lengthwise on the noodle, and slip a tension rod inside. Then, poke piece of pine boughs, silk holiday floral stems, and decorative holiday picks into the pool noodle, covering the full length. To make it glow, weave battery-powered string lights through the florals. You can also dangle ornaments or other holiday objects from the topper using fishing line. To hang it, position the tension rod at the top of the window securely.

Feel like you're part of Candyland by spiraling pool noodles into giant lollipops. This works with any color of pool noodle, and you can add white tape to create stripes before you spiral them, if desired. You'll want to hot glue the noodle to itself as you roll, and use a giant rubber band to hold it securely while it dries. To finish the lollipop look, push a thin PVC pipe or dowel rod into the spiral, and cover the lollipop part with clear plastic. These make cute decorations to line sidewalks.

Rounding out the list (literally) is a simple DIY wreath using a pool noodle as the form. Cut the pool noodle based on how large you want the wreath. Then, curve it into a circle, align the cut ends, and use duct tape to hold it together. Now, let your creativity run wild. Some options include wrapping the wreath in ribbon, covering it in ornaments, or attaching holiday florals to it. Add finishing touches, like bows or a hanging loop, and display your wreath on a door, cabinet, or wall.