DIY A Beautiful Winter Window Garland Using A Simple Pool Noodle Hack

The first florist to discover that pool noodles can be used like floral foam was a true innovator. Its polyethylene foam lets you poke stems into the material and holds them in place. Their flexible forms and how easy it is to cut them makes pool noodles perfect to make beautiful floral decor, from wreaths to table centerpieces. A clever crafter from the YouTube channel Hometalk shared a DIY for a window frame-mounted evergreen garland made up of a pool noodle, some fresh tree trimmings, and cascading ball ornaments embellished to perfection. Hung and illuminated in a large living room window, the results are charming and unique.

To create the structure for this window garland, gather up one or two pool noodles, forest green paint, a brush, a rod that matches the width of your window frame, two open-ended curtain rod mounting brackets, fishing line, and a selection of real or faux evergreen boughs. Try to find or purchase greenery with pine cones attached for added effect. Decorate your greenery with a string of battery-operated LED lights, some spray snow, and a collection of ornaments. Our DIYer used 18 ball ornaments in four different shades of blue to create a cohesive look. When assembling your own, choose ornaments in colors that best match the room you're decorating. You can also paint them, add a coat of glitter, or sprinkle on some fake snow. Whether you copy this DIY to the letter or you tweak it to make your own, this unusual window garland will keep your home merry and bright throughout the festive season.

Slice your pool noodle open along its length so that it can slide over the rod. A diligent House Digest writer found that serrated knives and utility blades are the best tools to use when cutting a pool noodle. If the noodle doesn't fit tightly over the rod, secure it using a few wood screws. This will keep the heavy decorations from sliding downward.

Paint the noodle green to camouflage any bare space. Trim your greenery into smaller pieces if necessary, and insert the cut ends into the foam at an angle that has each branch lying flat against the noodle. Fill in as much of the noodle's face as possible with greenery. Attach the string of lights. For real greenery, spritzes of fake snow can hide discoloration of the needles as they dry out. Add this before hanging the garland. Mount the brackets to the window frame, and hang your creation.

If you'd like, prepare your ornaments with a coating of glitter, faux snowflakes, or another color of paint. For a more personalized result, string up ornaments you have on hand, like handmade trinkets and souvenirs from travel. To hang the ornaments from the garland, use a clear fishing line or thin thread that will blend into the background. Cut the strings at varying lengths so that ornaments dangle at a range of heights that fill the window frame with visual interest. Loop them over wire hooks that you sink securely into the foam. Turn on the string of lights, make a cup of cocoa, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.