Pool Noodle Christmas Decor: 14 Dollar Store Ideas Your Neighbors Will Swear You Bought
Pool noodle Christmas decor is the budget secret behind some of the most jaw dropping porches and mantels online right now. One grandma style video showing how to turn foam pool noodles into big holiday decorations pulled more than 87,000 reactions on Facebook, and it is easy to see why. A foam noodle costs about a dollar, bends into rings and arches, cuts with a bread knife and takes glue, ribbon and paint beautifully. Once it is wrapped in velvet or tucked under greenery, nobody can tell what is underneath. These fourteen ideas cover the front door, the porch, the mantel and even ornament storage, and every one of them looks like it came from a pricey holiday shop. Grab a few noodles before they disappear from the stores..
Pool Noodle Christmas Wreath in Burgundy Velvet
This is the project that started the pool noodle Christmas craze. Bend one foam noodle into a circle, tape the ends together, then wrap the whole ring in deep burgundy velvet ribbon so it looks plump and plush. Add a cluster of greenery and glossy red and gold ornaments on the lower half, and finish with a big velvet bow. It looks like a designer wreath that costs well over fifty dollars, but it is mostly foam and ribbon. Which color velvet would suit your front door..
You will need: One foam pool noodle, strong packing tape, about 5 yards of wide velvet ribbon, faux greenery picks, shatterproof ornaments, a hot glue gun used by an adult, a wreath hanger.
How to make it: 1. Bend the noodle into a ring and tape the ends together tightly. 2. Wrap velvet ribbon around the ring, overlapping slightly, and glue the end. 3. Have an adult glue greenery and ornaments to the lower half, then add a big bow.
A Peppermint Swirl Door Wreath
For a cheerful, kid friendly door, wrap a pool noodle ring in red and white striped ribbon until it looks like a giant peppermint candy. A white satin bow at the top keeps it crisp and clean. It reads from the street and makes every visitor smile. Start with a white noodle so any gaps between the stripes stay white. It is one of the fastest pool noodle Christmas projects, done in about half an hour. Would the kids in your house help wrap it?
You will need: A white pool noodle, packing tape, red and white striped ribbon, white satin ribbon, glue dots.
How to make it: 1. Form the noodle into a ring and tape the joint. 2. Wrap striped ribbon around it in an even spiral, securing the ends with glue dots. 3. Tie a white satin bow at the top and hang.
A Fat Mantel Garland on a Hidden Noodle
Thin store garlands can look sad on a big mantel. The trick designers use is to build volume underneath. Lay a pool noodle along the mantel and tuck greenery stems into it all along its length. The foam holds every stem in place and makes the garland look twice as full. Then add pine cones, berries and gold ornaments. Nobody will ever see the noodle. Keep the garland well above the fireplace opening and never use a working fireplace with it. How full do you like your mantel?
You will need: One or two pool noodles, faux greenery stems or a thin garland, pine cones, berry picks, shatterproof ornaments, removable hooks.
How to make it: 1. Lay the noodle along the back edge of the mantel. 2. Push greenery stems into the foam at angles until it is hidden. 3. Add pine cones, berries and ornaments, and let the ends drape down the sides.
Pool Noodle Christmas Centerpiece Ring
Wrap a pool noodle ring in white faux fur and you have the base of a cozy table centerpiece. Fill the middle with glass cylinder vases holding battery fairy lights, then tuck silver and gold ornaments and pine sprigs around them. It glows softly all evening without any open flame. The faux fur hides the foam completely and feels luxurious. This pool noodle Christmas idea also works on a coffee table or a sideboard. Where would you set yours?
You will need: A pool noodle, packing tape, a strip of white faux fur fabric, fabric glue, three glass cylinder vases, battery fairy lights, small ornaments, pine sprigs.
How to make it: 1. Make a noodle ring sized to your table and tape it closed. 2. Wrap and glue faux fur around the ring. 3. Set the vases in the center, add battery lights inside, then fill the ring with ornaments and greenery.
Faux Pillar Candles With Battery Lights
Tall pillar candles in an empty fireplace look stunning, but real flames are risky with kids, pets and greenery around. Make faux pillars from white pool noodles cut to three different heights, add drips of white glue for a wax look, and top each one with a battery LED tea light. Set them in a cold, unused fireplace or on the hearth with greenery around the base. They glow beautifully and are completely safe. Do you have an empty fireplace that needs a little glow?
You will need: White pool noodles, a serrated bread knife (adult only), white glue or white puffy paint, battery LED tea lights, a cardboard circle for each base.
How to make it: 1. Have an adult cut three noodle pieces in different heights. 2. Glue a cardboard circle to the bottom of each and add drips of white glue to the top edge. 3. Press a battery tea light into the top hole and arrange them with greenery.
A Pool Noodle Christmas Snowman for the Porch
No snow? No problem. Three white pool noodles bent into rings of different sizes stack into a cheerful snowman that stands on the porch all season. Zip tie the rings together, add a knit scarf, a hat, button eyes and twig arms, and he is ready to greet guests. Anchor him to a porch post or railing with clear fishing line so wind cannot tip him over. Kids love naming him. What will your snowman be called?
You will need: Three white pool noodles, packing tape, zip ties, a knit scarf, a small black hat, buttons, an orange foam nose, two twigs, clear fishing line.
How to make it: 1. Bend each noodle into a ring, trimming two of them for medium and small sizes, and tape the joints. 2. Stack and zip tie the rings together. 3. Add the face, scarf, hat and twig arms, then tie him to a post.
Gingerbread Trim Around the Front Door
Turn your entry into a life size gingerbread house. Brown pool noodles run up both sides of the door frame and across the top, then white wavy icing lines are piped on with white paint. Add oversized candy decorations made from paper plates and cellophane. It is a showstopper for a cookie exchange or a family party. Attach everything with removable hooks so it comes down cleanly in January. Would the kids want to live in a gingerbread house for a month?
You will need: Brown pool noodles (or paint white ones with acrylic paint), white paint pen or puffy paint, removable hooks, paper plates, cellophane, ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Paint the noodles brown if needed and add wavy white icing lines. 2. Hang them around the door frame with removable hooks. 3. Wrap paper plates in cellophane as giant candies and attach them along the trim.
Pool Noodle Christmas JOY Letters
Big porch letters are trendy and expensive to buy, but pool noodles bend into a giant J, O and Y with a little help. Run a length of stiff wire through the center hole to hold each curve, then wrap the letters in red glitter ribbon. Lean them against the wall beside potted evergreens for a photo ready porch. You could spell NOEL or your family name the same way. These pool noodle Christmas letters weigh almost nothing, so add a hook to keep them steady in the wind. What word would you spell?
You will need: Red pool noodles, heavy gauge wire, wire cutters, red glitter ribbon, glue dots, zip ties.
How to make it: 1. Thread wire through each noodle to make it hold a bend. 2. Shape the J and O, and join two pieces for the Y with zip ties. 3. Wrap each letter in glitter ribbon and lean them against the porch wall.
Toy Soldiers Standing Guard
A pair of tall toy soldiers on either side of the front door makes a home feel like a holiday storybook. Bundle several pool noodles together for each body, then wrap them in red, white and black felt or paint them. Gold ribbon trim, tinsel shoulder pads and tall black hats finish the look. They look like the big wooden soldiers sold in fancy shops for a few hundred dollars. Stand each one on a small wooden base so they do not blow over. Who would you dress your soldiers like?
You will need: About six pool noodles per soldier, duct tape, red, white and black felt or paint, gold ribbon, gold tinsel garland, a small wooden base, screws.
How to make it: 1. Tape noodles together for the legs, body and arms. 2. Cover each section in felt or paint and add gold ribbon trim and tinsel shoulders. 3. Add a tall black hat from a cut noodle and screw the legs to a wooden base.
A Knit Tree Skirt Ring
Chunky knit tree collars are a big trend, and you can make one with a pool noodle and an old sweater or a knit throw. Form a ring that fits around your tree stand, then wrap it in thick cream knit fabric and stitch or glue it closed. It hides the plain stand beautifully and gives the tree a cozy, finished base. Pile wrapped gifts around it and the whole corner looks styled. Do you have an old sweater you could use?
You will need: One or two pool noodles, packing tape, an old chunky knit sweater or throw, fabric glue or a needle and thread.
How to make it: 1. Make a ring big enough to fit around the tree stand and tape it. 2. Cut the knit fabric into a long strip and wrap it around the ring. 3. Stitch or glue the seam on the inside where it will not show.
Pool Noodle Christmas Bows on Giant Gifts
Oversized gift boxes on the porch look magical, and a giant bow makes them pop. Cut pool noodles into short pieces, bend them into loops, wrap each loop in shiny red ribbon and glue them together into a big puffy bow. Wrap empty boxes in festive paper and place them in a group by the door. These pool noodle Christmas bows are light enough to sit on top of the boxes without crushing them. How many giant gifts would fit on your porch?
You will need: Pool noodles, a bread knife (adult only), wide red ribbon, a hot glue gun used by an adult, empty boxes, wrapping paper, packing tape.
How to make it: 1. Cut noodles into pieces about 18 inches long and tape each into a loop. 2. Wrap the loops in ribbon and have an adult glue six to eight loops together in a circle. 3. Glue the bow to the top of a wrapped box.
Stair Rail Garland Spacers
A banister garland that sags and twists is a common holiday headache. Slide a pool noodle along the top of the railing first, then wrap your garland around it. The foam gives the garland something soft to grip, keeps it from slipping, and bulks it up so it looks full and expensive. It also protects painted rails from scratches. Add ornaments and ribbon, and your staircase will look like a hotel lobby. For more front door ideas, see these pool noodle DIYs for the porch. Is your staircase ready for the holidays?
You will need: Pool noodles, a bread knife (adult only), zip ties or garden ties, a garland, ornaments, ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Have an adult slit the noodle along one side and slip it over the top of the rail. 2. Wrap the garland around the noodle and secure it with ties every two feet. 3. Add ornaments and ribbon along the length.
A Cushion That Protects Your Door
Heavy wreaths can scratch a painted door every time it opens and closes. A short piece of pool noodle slit down the side and slipped over the back of the wreath hanger acts as a soft bumper. Another small piece behind the bottom of the wreath keeps it from banging. It is a tiny pool noodle Christmas trick, but it saves you from repainting the door in spring. Nobody can see it from the front. Has your wreath ever left marks on your door?
You will need: A short piece of pool noodle, a bread knife (adult only), a wreath hanger, a few glue dots.
How to make it: 1. Have an adult cut two short pieces of noodle and slit each one down the side. 2. Slip one over the part of the hanger that touches the door. 3. Glue the second piece behind the bottom of the wreath as a bumper.
Pool Noodle Christmas Ornament Storage
When the season is over, pool noodles keep working. Cut them into short rings and stand them up inside a clear storage bin, then nestle one glass ornament in each ring. The foam cushions every ornament so nothing rolls, bumps or breaks. Grandma’s fragile glass balls will be safe until next year. It costs far less than special ornament boxes. Fun fact: the pool noodle was made for swimming, not storage. How many ornaments do you need to protect?
You will need: Pool noodles, a bread knife (adult only), a clear lidded storage bin, tissue paper.
How to make it: 1. Have an adult cut noodles into rings about two inches tall. 2. Stand the rings upright in rows inside the bin. 3. Set one ornament in each ring and cover with tissue before closing the lid.
