Pool Noodle DIYs: 16 Cheap Ideas for Your Porch, Fall and Christmas

Pool noodle DIYs are the cheapest way to make your home look like it belongs on a holiday card. These bright foam tubes cost about a dollar each, bend into almost any shape and weigh next to nothing, which is why crafters keep buying them long after swim season ends. One Hometalk video of a woman turning dollar store pool noodles into something breathtaking has been liked and shared all over MSN, and it is easy to see why. With a little tape, fabric and ribbon, a plain tube becomes a giant candy cane, a cozy pumpkin or a glowing arch. You do not need special tools or real skill, just a free afternoon and a bit of imagination. Grab a few noodles and see how far they can go..

Pool Noodle DIYs That Light Up the Porch

Picture your porch glowing at dusk with candy cane pillars, giant striped stakes and swirly lollipops, all made from foam tubes. This look became a favorite after a Hometalk video on MSN showed a woman turning seven dollar store pool noodles into a breathtaking project. The best part is that it all costs less than a single store bought yard decoration. Mix and match the ideas in this list, then add warm string lights to pull it together. Use battery or plug-in LED lights only, never real candles near foam. Ready to dress up your front steps..

You will need: Pool noodles in red, white and green, red and white duct tape, wooden dowels, zip ties and LED string lights.

How to make it: 1. Plan your porch and count the noodles you need. 2. Make the pillar wraps and stakes from the ideas below. 3. Add LED lights last and set them on a timer.

Candy Cane Porch Pillars

This one gets the most double takes from neighbors. Slice red pool noodles lengthwise so they open like a sleeve, then spiral them around a white porch post from bottom to top. The white of the post shows through and suddenly you have a giant candy cane holding up your roof. A bit of greenery and a bow at the top makes it look finished. Ask an adult to do the cutting with a serrated bread knife. Which post on your porch would you wrap first?

You will need: Two or three red pool noodles per post, a serrated bread knife (adult use), clear packing tape or zip ties, a bow and some greenery.

How to make it: 1. Cut each noodle down one side so it opens up. 2. Wrap it around the post in a spiral, leaving white gaps. 3. Secure the ends with clear tape or zip ties and add a bow at the top.

Giant Yard Ornaments

Oversized ornaments make a yard look magical from the street, and pool noodles make them light and cheap. Bend a noodle into a ring and tape the ends, then wrap it in shiny gift wrap, tinsel or metallic tape. Top each one with a huge bow and a loop made from a paper plate painted silver. Lean them in a row along the walk or hang them from a low tree branch. Of all the pool noodle DIYs here, these survive wind and snow far better than glass ornaments. What colors would match your house?

You will need: Pool noodles, duct tape, shiny wrapping paper or metallic tape, big ribbon bows and garden stakes.

How to make it: 1. Bend a noodle into a circle and tape the ends together. 2. Cover it in shiny paper or metallic tape. 3. Add a bow and a silver cap, then stake it into the lawn.

A Friendly Porch Spider for Fall

Halloween is almost here, and this giant spider is more silly than scary. Eight black pool noodles become long jointed legs, and a black trash bag stuffed with newspaper makes the round body. Add two big googly eyes cut from paper plates and perch it above your front door. Little kids love it, and it packs flat when November comes. Keep it away from any real flames or hot porch lights. Would your spider be cute or creepy?

You will need: Eight black pool noodles, a large black trash bag, newspaper, paper plates, duct tape, zip ties and string.

How to make it: 1. Stuff the bag with newspaper and tie it closed for the body. 2. Bend each noodle into a leg shape and tape the bend. 3. Zip tie the legs to the body, add plate eyes and hang securely.

Puffy Fabric Pumpkin on a Noodle Ring

This cozy pumpkin looks like something from a pricey home store. Tape a pool noodle into a ring, then pull a big square of plaid or velvet fabric up and through the middle so it puffs out on all sides. A cinnamon stick or real stem in the center finishes the look. Make a few in different sizes for a fall porch bench, then keep them out through Thanksgiving. No sewing needed, just a few tucks and a rubber band. Which fabric would you pick?

You will need: A pool noodle, duct tape, a large square of fabric, a rubber band, a cinnamon stick or dried stem and a burlap leaf.

How to make it: 1. Cut the noodle to size and tape it into a ring. 2. Lay the ring on the fabric and pull all corners up through the center. 3. Secure with a rubber band and push the stem in.

Pool Noodle DIYs for a Candyland Walkway

Giant lollipops along a front path feel like stepping into a storybook. Coil a pool noodle into a flat spiral, hot glue the coils together with adult help, then wrap it in two colors of ribbon for that swirl look. Push a white dowel into the bottom and stake it beside the walk. Kids can help pick the colors and wrap the ribbon. For more holiday ideas using noodles, see these easy Christmas wreaths. How many lollipops would line your path?

You will need: Pool noodles, a low-temp hot glue gun (adult use), wide ribbon in two colors, white dowels and clear wrap.

How to make it: 1. Coil the noodle into a tight spiral and glue as you go. 2. Wrap ribbon in a swirl pattern and cover with clear wrap. 3. Push a dowel into the base and stake it in the ground.

A Glowing Garland Arch Over the Gate

Two pool noodles joined end to end bend into a perfect arch over a garden gate or front walk. Slide each end over a sturdy stake in the ground, then wrap the whole curve in faux pine garland and warm LED fairy lights. At night it glows like a welcome tunnel for guests. The foam is light, so it will not strain your fence, and it comes down in minutes after the season. Would you put yours at the gate or over the front door?

You will need: Two pool noodles, a short dowel to join them, duct tape, two metal garden stakes, faux garland and battery LED fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Join the noodles with a dowel and tape. 2. Slide each end over a stake on either side of the path. 3. Wrap with garland and fairy lights, then secure with zip ties.

Coiled Mini Christmas Trees

These tiny trees are so cute on a mantel or side table. Cut a green pool noodle into long thin strips, then coil them around a paper cone from the bottom up. Glue as you go and top each tree with a small gold star. Pom poms or beads make perfect little ornaments. A set of three in different heights looks great on a tray. It is one of the easiest pool noodle DIYs for a rainy day, perfect for older kids with an adult on glue duty. What would you put on top of your tree?

You will need: Green pool noodles, a craft knife (adult use), paper cones or rolled cardstock, low-temp glue, pom poms and small stars.

How to make it: 1. Have an adult slice the noodle into thin strips. 2. Glue the strips around the cone in a spiral, working upward. 3. Add pom pom ornaments and a star on top.

Pool Noodle DIYs for the Mantel: Chunky Bead Garland

Giant wooden bead garlands are everywhere, and this version costs almost nothing. Slice red, white and green pool noodles into rounds about two inches thick and thread them onto chunky twine or rope like beads. Drape it across a mantel, a staircase or the top of a mirror. You can even make one in fall colors and another for winter. Little hands can do the threading while grown-ups do the cutting. Which colors would match your living room?

You will need: Pool noodles in three colors, a serrated knife (adult use), thick twine or rope and a large blunt needle or skewer.

How to make it: 1. Have an adult cut the noodles into even rounds. 2. Push a skewer through the center to make threading easy. 3. String the rounds in a pattern and tie knots at each end.

Pool Noodle Icicles Along the Roofline

Want frosty icicles without the cold? Cut white pool noodles into long tapered points of different lengths, then hang them along the porch roof or gutter with clips. Paired with warm white LED lights, they shimmer at night like real ice. They are light enough to stay up all winter and will not drip on anyone. Vary the lengths for a natural look and leave small gaps between them. Do you prefer clear white lights or a cool blue glow?

You will need: White pool noodles, a serrated knife (adult use), gutter clips or adhesive hooks, fishing line and LED string lights.

How to make it: 1. Cut the noodles into tapered points of mixed lengths. 2. Tie fishing line through the top of each one. 3. Hang them along the roofline from clips, alternating short and long.

Backyard Ring Toss for Holiday Guests

Pool noodle DIYs are not just for decor. Bend them into rings, tape the ends and you have a bright ring toss set that kids and grown-ups will play for hours. Push three wooden stakes into the lawn at different distances and give each one a point value. It works at fall parties, family reunions and even indoors with a cone or bottle as the target. Best of all, soft foam rings will not hurt anyone or break anything. Who in your family would win?

You will need: Three pool noodles in bright colors, duct tape, three wooden stakes or cones and a marker for scores.

How to make it: 1. Bend each noodle into a ring and tape the ends. 2. Set the stakes at short, medium and long distances. 3. Take turns tossing and add up the points.

Pool Noodle Hobby Horse

This old-fashioned toy is a hit at birthday parties. A single pool noodle becomes the stick, and a simple head made from felt, a sock or foam sheets slides over the top. Add yarn for a mane and button eyes, and kids are off galloping around the yard. Because it is soft foam, nobody gets hurt in a rodeo race. It is also a lovely handmade gift for little cousins at Christmas. What would you name your pony?

You will need: One pool noodle, felt or a large sock, yarn, buttons or felt circles, ribbon and fabric glue.

How to make it: 1. Stuff a sock or felt head shape and slide it over one end of the noodle. 2. Glue on a yarn mane, ears and eyes. 3. Tie a ribbon bridle around the nose.

Pool Noodle DIYs for a Kids Play Wall

Short pieces of pool noodle make a bright, soft play wall that keeps little ones busy. Cut noodles into chunks and mount them in a grid on a board or fence so kids can spin, stack and push balls through them. Some families use them to build a ball run on the garage wall. It is a cheap way to add color to a play area, and you can change the layout anytime. Make sure an adult handles the screws and cutting. Where would you put a play wall?

You will need: Several pool noodles, a sturdy board or fence, zip ties or screws with washers (adult use), plastic balls and a saw or serrated knife (adult use).

How to make it: 1. Cut noodles into short tubes. 2. Attach them to the board in a grid or zigzag. 3. Test with balls and adjust the angles.

Boot Shapers That Keep Tall Boots Standing

Tall boots slump and crease when they flop over in a closet. Cut a pool noodle to the height of the boot shaft and slide one into each boot. They stand up straight, keep their shape and are easier to grab in the morning. Wrap the noodles in a bit of pretty fabric if you like them to look nice on a shelf. It is one of those five minute pool noodle DIYs that saves your favorite boots. How many pairs are crowding your closet floor right now?

You will need: One pool noodle per pair, a serrated knife (adult use), a measuring tape and fabric scraps (optional).

How to make it: 1. Measure the boot shaft height. 2. Cut two noodle pieces to that length. 3. Slide one into each boot and store them upright.

Floating Bath Toy Boat

Foam floats, which makes pool noodles perfect for homemade boats. Cut a few short pieces, glue them side by side to make a raft, then add a craft stick mast and a paper or fabric sail. Kids can decorate the sail and race their boats in the tub, a kiddie pool or a puddle. It is a fun project for a cold afternoon indoors. Always stay close by when children play near water. What would your little boat be called?

You will need: A pool noodle, a serrated knife (adult use), waterproof glue, craft sticks, fabric or paper and waterproof markers.

How to make it: 1. Cut three short noodle pieces and glue them into a raft. 2. Push a craft stick into the center as a mast. 3. Glue on a decorated sail and let it dry before sailing.

Stock Up for More Pool Noodle DIYs

Here is the secret crafters swear by: buy your noodles at the end of summer. Stores clear them out cheap, and dollar stores often carry them well into fall. Grab extra white, red and green for the holidays, and orange and black for fall projects. They store easily in a tall bin in the garage. Many craft groups even trade leftovers. If you are planning several pool noodle DIYs from this list, a bundle of ten noodles goes a very long way. Which project will you try first?

You will need: A shopping list, a tall storage bin and a small budget.

How to make it: 1. Check dollar stores and end-of-season sales. 2. Buy extra in the colors you use most. 3. Store them upright in a bin away from direct sun so they do not fade.