I’m excited to share this bright, summery DIY project: a faux beach ball garland that’s perfect for pool parties, summer decorations, or a playful mantel display. I debated using real mini beach balls or paper lanterns, but I settled on smoothfoam balls and a bit of paint to create lightweight, colorful faux beach balls. They’re easy to make and look great strung together—ideal if you want a cheerful, reusable decoration before the kids go back to school.
These faux beach balls are lightweight, colorful, and simple to assemble. They make great centerpieces in buckets or pails, and when turned into a garland they add instant summer charm to any space.
Supplies:
– Smoothfoam balls (available at craft stores; they take paint much better than regular styrofoam)
– Craft paint in your chosen colors (classic beach ball colors: blue, yellow, red) and a paintbrush
– Pencil for marking
– Painter’s tape (optional, for clean lines)
– String or twine
– Hot glue gun
Instructions:
1. Each smoothfoam ball usually has a small hole at the top. Use that as a central point and lightly mark a top spot with a pencil. From that point, divide the ball visually into six equal sections and mark the bottom point as well (there is often a small bottom circle to guide you).
2. To paint neat segments, tape off one section by running painter’s tape from the top mark down to the bottom. Paint that section with your first color and let it dry fully.
3. Remove the tape and repeat with the next two colors, taping and painting one section at a time. Leave a white section between each painted stripe to mimic a classic beach ball look.
4. Once all paint is dry, you can use the finished balls as tabletop decor—fill buckets or bowls for an easy centerpiece—or proceed to make the garland.
5. To assemble the garland, heat a hot glue gun and lay out your string. Apply a small dot of hot glue on the top center of each ball and press the string into the glue, holding briefly until secure. Space the balls as you like; I placed mine about 9 inches apart and used eight balls to create a nicely sized garland.
6. When all balls are attached, trim the string leaving extra length at each end for hanging or tying, and your garland is ready to display.
These garlands are lightweight and easy to reposition, making them a flexible decor option for backgrounds, mantels, porches, or party buffet tables. Adjust colors, spacing, and length to match your event or home decor. Have fun with different color schemes or sizes for a custom look.
All photos by Studio DIY
If you enjoy DIY projects, try adapting this idea with different color palettes or using larger or smaller smoothfoam balls for varied effects. Feel free to share photos of your finished garland—this project is a quick way to add summer spirit to any gathering.