Create A Warm And Inviting Fall Garland For Your Porch With This Pool Noodle DIY

When the first crisp autumn day arrives, it's fun to start thinking of all the things you want to do to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the season — whether that is taking in the stunning foliage from rivers and lakes in America, pitching your tent at the best fall camping spots in the country, or treating yourself to some delectable fall-themed campfire meals. If you really want to get into the spirit of the season without breaking the bank, you can even make your own DIY fall decorations. In fact, it is possible to make a gorgeous garland for your front porch using only two things: a pool noodle and some fake leaves or flowers.

For this trick, the first thing you need to do is acquire a few pool noodles. If you want a garland that will go over the top of your front door and then down each side, three noodles should do the trick. You can use old pool noodles that you already have or buy cheap ones online or from a big box store. The Dollar Tree even sells Halloween-themed pool noodles that come in purple, black, and orange to match your other fall decorations.

Once you have your noodles, it's time to collect your fake leaves and flowers. For this, you should buy fake bouquet-style flowers and leaves that have a thin plastic stem at the end so they can be pierced directly into the foam of the pool noodle. You may also want to purchase a few small fake pumpkins, gourds, cute ghosts, hickory nuts, pine cones, or any other fall-themed item that fits the vibe you're going for.

Now that you have the necessary components, it's time to put your DIY garland together. The first step is to hold your pool noodles up against where you want to hang your garland and then cut the noodles if they are too long. Next, attach your pool noodles securely to your house. You can do this by using command strips, hot glue, vinyl siding hooks, suction cup hooks, or simple ties. Once attached, you can go ahead and take your fake leaves and flowers and start sticking them directly into the noodles. You can arrange the flowers any way you like, but it's a good idea to try and cover as much of the noodle as possible so that it can't be seen.

For any items that don't come with a stem and can't simply be pressed into the foam noodle, try first sticking or gluing a toothpick to the bottom of the item and then stabbing it into the foam noodles. If you have loose flowers and leaves that don't have stems strong enough to stick into the pool noodle, you can attach them using sewing pins or floral pins — which are pretty inexpensive and can be purchased online or at most crafting stores.

Besides making a great garland for the front porch, this DIY decoration can also work as a beautiful indoor garland for your mantelpiece or fireplace. The noodle can even be cut lengthwise down the back side so that it easily slides onto a staircase railing, making a garland that covers the length of your banister.