Get Amazingly Elegant Decor—using 9 Bright Green Pool Noodles

Alicia W
by Alicia W
6 Materials
$15
8 Hours
Easy
This post was inspired by Jen and John atEpbot.com

Pool noodles are sold everywhere now that it's summer and depending where you shop, you can purchase them for only $1. Here is a unique idea to make a decorative stone column using those inexpensive pool noodles.
Along with 9 pool noodles, you will also need an 8" concrete form, duct tape, caulk, contact cement, spray paint and two pieces of 12"x12" wood.
Begin by cutting six of your pool noodles in half lengthwise. Watch what I do in the video to see the best way to do this while keeping your cuts straight.
On your cement form, measure from one end 5" and make a mark around the entire circumference of the cement form.
On the opposite end, measure down 3" and make a mark around the circumference of the cement form.
Lay one cut pool noodle on the form, curving it around.
Draw a line along the edge of the pool noodle. This will give you a starting point when you apply the noodles to the cement form. It sounds weird, but watch the video to see how easy this trick made everything else!
Brush each cut side of the pool noodles with contact cement.
Brush the entire cement form with contact cement.
Allow both to dry at least 4 hours.
When they are dry, they will not feel sticky; however, they will stick to each other.
Using the marker line, lay your first noodle along that line on the cement form. It won't stick immediately so you have time to make adjustments.
Continue to lay the cut noodles, cut side down, side by side, spiraling around the cement form.
The noodles will be bigger than the form, so cut the noodles to fit inside your measurements.
To make the round ends, bend an uncut noodle around the bottom of the cement form. Cut the noodle ends until it fits snugly around the cement form.
When you have the correct size of the round end, duct tape the ends of the uncut noodle together.
You will need to make three round ends/rings - two using the same size noodles as you used on the column and one larger.
Place the rings onto the ends of the column. One end should have two rings and one end should have one ring.
Outline the circumference of each end ring onto the 12"x12" wooden pieces.
Apply contact cement inside the circumference marks on the wood.
Apply contact cement onto the bottom of each end ring.
Allow to dry at least 4 hours.
Place the end ring onto the wood pieces. This is your top and bottom.
Apply caulk where each piece of noodle meets the next piece of noodle.
Apply caulk where the round piece of noodle meets the wooden piece.
Apply caulk all over the entire column to seal the creases. In the video, you can really see how smoothing everything over with caulk gives you that elegant result.
Let it dry, then apply texture spray onto the column. Using a cloth, pat the texture spray so it is lying flat against the noodles (see the texture you need in the video below).
Spray entire column with primer. Once it's dry, spray the entire column with "stone" spray paint. It leaves a rough, rocky texture that looks so realistic!


That's it! See the result in the video? How elegant is that? And who would ever believe that it’s made with pool noodles?!
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 4 questions
  • Eva Isam Eva Isam on Jul 17, 2017

    Instead of using a piece of wood, could you use a round paver? Would the column support it? You could spray it to match.

  • Dorothy Schulz Dorothy Schulz on Jul 20, 2017

    I'm wondering if it will be heavy enough so as not to fall over with heavy winds?

  • Marlene Medori Marlene Medori on Jun 25, 2018

    What is a good idea to use a clear spray to seal the stone spray paint because I have had that melt when water hits it they sell it in a matte finish or glossy finish clear spray also for the lady who was afraid it was not heavy enough you could always add Stone in the center column before you put the top on I love this it looks great

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 22 comments
Next