Turn A Hula Hoop & Plastic Scraps Into Whimsical Outdoor Hanging Decor

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What's a backyard without a little bit of whimsy? Especially if you have kids, you're probably always on the lookout for cute and pretty ways to add whimsy to your backyard with tree decor, colorful flowers, and fairy lights. One way to create something fun on a budget is to use a simple hula hoop from the dollar store and some plastic scraps to create a stunning, fun, and colorful piece of decor that shifts in the wind.

The idea for this DIY, which comes from Instagram creator @thedetourdiary, is to cut long strips of colorful plastic from single-use party table cloths. Then, they attach these all around the hula hoop, and hang it horizontally with chains designed for hanging planters. It's a fantastic way to add trendy whimsical accents to your space without breaking the bank.

All you'll need for this DIY are a few affordable supplies. First, grab a plastic hoop from Dollar Tree for under $2. You can also reuse one you already have, or find a second-hand one from a local thrift store. Then, look for colorful table covers for parties. For example, use this 12 pack of six color disposable plastic tablecloths from Yidako, or look for some at your local dollar store. You can also lean into the whimsy and use some holographic ones, like these FunnyPars iridescent plastic tablecloths. Then, you'll need a hanging chain designed to hold planters with three hooks (plus a top hook to hang it). You can easily find these at a local garden store, thrift shop, or reuse an old one you have at home.

This DIY is all about the plastic strips that dangle from the hula hoop. To make these, use your favorite scissors and cut long, thin strips out of the plastic table covers. These should be around 5 inch thick, but the length depends on how high you plan to hang the hula hoop. Each strip will be folded in half, so it should be twice the length of your desired dangly tassels. So, if you plan to hang the hula hoop from a tall tree, go for strips that are nearly 6 or 7 feet long. If, however, you plan to hang the DIY lower, cut the strips to be a bit shorter to avoid them touching the ground. In total, you should have around 40 to 50 strips to work with. 

Now, it's all about attaching all of your colorful strips around the hula hoop. For this, fold each strip in half, creating a loop. Then, thread the two ends of the folded strip into the loop, around the hula hoop. Repeat this step until you've covered the circle with plastic strips. Now, hook the three chains of the planter hanger onto the hoop, each at one-third of the circle's circumference from one other, and attach to a branch, a garden pole meant for horizontal flags, or a retired bird feeder hanger. 

To make this DIY a bit more whimsical, add more fun layers into the plastic strips. You can use tinsel, like those used for these foil curtain backdrops from K.E.J. You can also reuse old jewelry, especially cheap costume necklaces that have some serious sparkle. If you're environmentally minded, you could also use fabric scraps, like old curtains or bedsheets, instead of plastic. The results will charm.