10. Giant Chain Links for Haunted Houses
Whether you are setting up a backyard haunted maze or decorating a dungeon-themed room, giant, rusty chains add an instant sense of dread and decay. Buying heavy plastic chains in bulk can be costly, but you can craft yards of realistic, oversized chain links using grey pool noodles and a little bit of paint.
Slice grey pool noodles into equal-sized rings, about two to three inches wide. Cut a single slit in each ring so you can interlock them to form a chain. Use hot glue or duct tape to seal the slits shut once the links are joined. To transform the clean grey foam into ancient, weathered metal, use a dry brush technique with brown, orange, and black paint to simulate rust and grime. Hang these lightweight chains from your ceiling, drape them over fences, or wrap them around skeleton props for an authentic, industrial-gothic look that won’t weigh down your walls.