From Plarn to Pomegranates: The Ultimate DIY Sukkah Craft Guide

Sukkot is the only Jewish holiday that says, “Hey, go build a hut in your yard and make it fabulous.” It’s where the spiritual meets the glue gun – and if your Sukkah decorations survive a rainstorm, you’ve officially made it.

But whether you’re working with preschoolers who think pom poms belong on everything (they’re not wrong), or you’re a teen or grown-up in search of Instagram-worthy Judaica, there’s a craft project for you. 

Bonus: We've sprinkled in halachic pointers so your creative chaos doesn’t accidentally invalidate your Sukkah. Because nothing says “holiday spirit” like arguing over whether a foam chain is muktzeh.

Let’s dive into five fabulous DIY Sukkah decorations that prove your Sukkah can be cozy, kosher, and completely upcycled.

Plarn Like You Mean It: Plastic Bags Reimagined

First up, meet “plarn” – that’s plastic yarn for the uninitiated. Made by slicing up lightweight grocery bags into loops and knotting them together, plarn is perfect for kids, kind-of-fun for adults, and 100% an excuse to never throw out another plastic bag.

Gather your mini-crafters (ages 3+ with supervision) and start balling up those bags. It’s satisfying, eco-friendly, and leads directly to our next craft…

Pom Pom Pandemonium: Upcycled and Unreasonably Adorable

Once you've got a hefty ball of plarn, it’s time for pom poms! Use cardboard to determine the size, wrap your plarn, tie it tight, then snip and fluff like it’s prom night.

Mix colors for maximum flair. These plastic pom poms make great garlands, gift toppers, or just general Sukkah sparkle. 

Halacha Hint: If you’re hanging these before Yom Tov, make a quick verbal tnai (condition) that says, “I might need to move these.” That way, you’re not halachically locked out of your own pom pom party during the chag.

Stained Glass... from the Recycling Bin?

Don’t throw out those pantyhose or old frames! This next project turns garbage into gorgeous. Think: faux stained glass art using plastic, glass paints (or tissue paper), and maybe a little glitter if you’re feeling brave.

Options include:

• A shimmering DIY Mizrach sign (marking the direction of prayer).
  
  

• Abstract tissue-paper Kotel art for neon lovers.
  
  

• Pomegranate-themed Judaica art made with real glass and flea market frames (just mount it securely – falling fruit is for Simchat Torah).

Halacha Hint: Planning to hang that framed art in your Sukkah? Great. Just remember the golden rule: if it’s going to be hanging under the Schach, keep it within four tefachim (roughly 12–16 inches). Anything lower might act as a new “roof” and mess with your kosher hut status.

Kid-Proof Meets Rain-Proof: Choose Your Materials Wisely

Crafting with kids? Go for acetate sheets instead of real glass. Want your project to survive October drizzle? Laminate it or switch to multi-surface acrylics instead of delicate glass paints.

Trying this in a classroom? Permanent markers on dollar-store frames make a surprisingly stunning substitute – and no one gets stabbed by sharp glass corners. Win-win.

Halacha Hint: Sukkah decorations are considered part of the mitzvah once they’re up. That means you can’t just yank them down mid-holiday for a redecorating spree – unless (say it with us) you made a tnai.

Muktzeh Mishaps & Decorating Do’s: A Halachic Interlude

Before you staple that glitter curtain or pin up a chandelier made of dried etrog slices, a few quick reminders:

• Decorations must hang within 4 tefachim of the Schach (that’s about a foot). Anything lower might invalidate your seating area.
  
  

• Functional decor (blankets to block wind, mosquito nets) may invalidate the area under them unless they’re clearly just for show.
  
  

• Foam chains, tissue garlands, and “printed Kiddush on the wall”? Totally fine – as long as they don’t become structural.
  
  

• Reading Kiddush off your mural? Halachically okay! You’re not “benefiting” from the wall – you’re fulfilling a mitzvah.
  
  

• Using old Christmas décor? If it’s lost its religious significance (like garlands or stars from a yard sale), you’re in the clear. Just don’t rehang a crucifix and call it “abstract.”

Bonus DIY: The Black Glue Kotel Masterpiece

Looking for a Sukkah decoration project with that “wow” factor? Enter: black glue Kotel art. Mix black acrylic with white glue, outline your design, and fill it in with neon watercolors. The results are graphic, bold, and surprisingly meaningful.

This one’s great for older kids and teens – and makes a killer Sukkah wall hanging or laminated placemat.

Pro Tip: If you want it to last outdoors, consider waterproofing. Because “drippy Jerusalem” isn’t quite the spiritual aesthetic you’re going for.

Final DIY Sukkah Decoration Craft Tips: Avoid the Sukkah Sabotage

• Use zip ties, not tape. Moisture = decor heartbreak.
  
  

• Laminate like your sanity depends on it.
  
  

• Keep fragile items above toddler height. (Unless you want to reenact the fall of Jericho.)
  
  

• Declare your tnai before the holiday begins. Something simple like “I might move this” will save you from halachic entanglements and awkward crawling to retrieve fallen foam.

Wrapping It All Up (Like Your Chain Garland)

In the end, Sukkah decorations are where joy, halacha, and hodgepodge collide. Whether you’re wrapping plastic bag yarn into pom poms or painting a pomegranate masterpiece, the point is to create beauty that lifts the mitzvah – not just the aesthetic.

So go bold. Decorate with heart. And if your foam chain flutters dramatically in the wind or your tissue-paper Kotel curls slightly in the morning dew? That’s just your Sukkah whispering, “Chag Sameach.”

And honestly, who can argue with that?