Upcycle Dollar Tree Pool Noodles Into Festive Fall Decor. We'll Show You How

With fall upon us, it's time to shake off the beach-themed decor of summer and embrace the pumpkin patch. As an autumn enthusiast, I went hunting for a way to do just this. I wanted something representative of the entire season, not just Halloween. I decided on a garland but quickly discovered that the lusher the products are, the pricier they get. Pottery Barn's pomegranate and pinecone decoration sells for $129, while Michaels charges $69.99 for their maple leaf and cream pumpkin strand at full price. The answer was clear — I needed to get creative and make my own. As usual, I turned to social media for inspiration.

TikToker, @bethanyscasa shared an adorable and affordable DIY project embracing the orange and gold foliage of the fall season. She included a tension rod as the base to easily mount and remove the arrangement without damaging walls. She also used a creative pool noodle hack that elevates the look of the basic garland by adding bulk. Pool noodles are something my kids have an abundance of blowing around the backyard and likely won't use again next year. With the potential to recycle some polyethylene and save money on my new fall accent, I started planning my version of @bethanycasa's creation.

My main priority as I began this project was keeping prices low without losing quality. I started by scavenging a pool noodle from my yard and purchasing a tension rod for $3 at Dollarama. If you don't have this store in your town, Dollar General sells them for $6.50 and Dollar Tree sells the foam tubes for $1.25. While there, look for a spool of floral wire. To decorate, I used glittery autumn garland for $3 a strand at Dollarama. The harvest leaf lights from Dollar Tree for $5 are another great choice, and mini pumpkins are a must for this project. Dollar General sells packs of 13 for $1 a bag. I also bought some luxurious velvet-covered gourds and a few bundles of wire-infused fall leaves with pinecone accents. Now I needed to get organized.

I don't have a designated craft room in my home, so I cleared the dining room table and got to work. I began by plucking apart the foliage bouquets and separating accent pieces into piles of pumpkins, pinecones, and leaves. I left the glitter garlands intact. Next, I used scissors to snip the floral wire into 2-inch segments and folded each in half. You'll need almost as many of these as you have decorative accessories. Finally, I was ready to start this pool noodle DIY to create the most beautiful fall foliage display my budget allowed for.

Before starting, I wanted to ensure everything was the right size. I hoped to mount the finished project in my kitchen window and add a little joy to my dishwashing experience. I propped the tension rod between the cupboards framing the window. Next, I measured this extended length against the pool noodle and cut it to fit. I used a pair of scissors, but you could use a box cutter. The rod I chose was too wide to thread through the center of the tube, so I sliced it open lengthwise and slipped the noodle over it. Now it was time for the fun part — decorating.

I began by winding three glittery lengths of garland around the foam tube. I twisted a segment of floral wire around the beginning and end of each strand and pushed it into the foam to lock it in place. I then used the wire to secure leaves, pinecones, gourds, and foam pumpkins to fill in the gaps. I quickly learned that using glittery leaves was messy. My dining room, clothes, hands, and even my face were covered. It looked like I lost a fight with Tinkerbell. My kids loved it. It took a while, but the finished product was exactly as I pictured it and so simple to mount. This is a genius way to use a tension rod to decorate without marking up the walls, but there's some room for improvement.

Overall, this DIY was a great success. I love the look of the garland, and it's just as advertised. The building process, however, could use a few tweaks. One issue I encountered was in the color of the pool noodle I chose. Because I wanted to recycle instead of buying new, I was working with a bright blue background. If you use what's on hand like me, I recommend painting the tube orange or wrapping it in crepe paper streamers. You can get rolls of these at Dollar Tree for $1.25 each. In @bethanycasa's video, she also bought grass skirts for $1.25 at Dollar Tree and cut them to fill gaps. I'm not sure how her finished design held up, but a few of my heavier accessories were loose.

While the floral wire worked well to initially secure decorations, I recommend reinforcing the wire with hot glue. I had to go back over a few of my pieces after I'd mounted the display. It's much easier to do this as you're making it. Apart from these minor mishaps and the abundance of glitter, I would absolutely recommend this project. If you love DIY and are looking for a way to changeover your house from summer to fall, give this garland a try. Happy crafting!