I love having a Christmas holiday tunnel in my front yard because it is so festive and fun! It’s a great way to get into the Christmas spirit and it really brightens up the neighborhood.
(Check out these funny decoy gift wrapping ideas if you’re in an impish holiday mood!)
It’s also a great place to take pictures with family and friends. And finally, it’s just a really cool thing to have on your property during the holiday season!
My kids and I had a blast building our own DIY Christmas light tunnel. It was a fun project, and the results were amazing!
We started by cutting the PVC tubing into 5′ lengths, using a hacksaw. We then prepped the tubing by attaching the connectors to the ends of the tubes.
We made sure to orient the connectors in the same direction, and used the ground to make sure they were all aligned correctly.
Next, we bent each piece of tubing into an arch, making sure it was flexible enough to do so. We then connected the arches together to form the tunnel. We made sure to leave plenty of clearance for people to walk through it.
(If you’re in the Christmas spirit, check out our DIY Christmas tree watering systems.)
We finished assembling the tunnel by attaching the lateral supports. We did this by connecting the 16 5′ pieces of tubing together using the connectors. We made sure that all of the connectors were aligned correctly, and that they were all facing in the same direction.
The end result was an amazing DIY Christmas light tunnel that my kids and I enjoyed immensely!
DIY Christmas Light Tunnel Archway Plans & Ideas
1. Christmas Light Tunnel
A Christmas light tunnel is a great decoration for a Christmas party. They show a great light when blinking in different sequences or a color wheel.
2. Holiday Light Tunnel Archway
Get in the holiday spirit with this festive and easy to make tunnel! This tunnel is perfect for getting your family and friends into the Christmas spirit!
3. PVC Pipe Tunnel of Light
It’s easy to put together and is a great way to get everyone excited about Christmas! The best part is that it can be made for under $50!
4. How to Make a Drive Way Arch For Christmas Lights
All you need is some PVC tubing, connectors, and some lights! So get started on your DIY Christmas tunnel today and have a lot of fun this holiday season!
5. How to Make the Christmas Lights Tunnel Display
Christmas is a time for family, friends, and fun. What better way to add some extra fun than by having your very own DIY Christmas tunnel?
These plans are simple and easy to follow, so you’ll be able to have your tunnel up in no time!
6. Lci Bude Tunnel Christmas Illumination
The best part is that you can make this tunnel any size you want, so it will fit perfectly in your yard.
Add some lights and decorations and you’ll have the most festive tunnel around!
7. DIY Christmas Musical Light Tunnel
If you’re looking for a festive addition to your yard this Christmas, look no further than a DIY musical light tunnel!
8. Christmas Light Tunnel
Making your own DIY holiday decorations is a great way to show your family and friends how much you care about them. It’s also a great way to save money, and it can be a lot of fun too.
9. Prairie Lights Grand Prairie, Texas Christmas Lights Tunnel!
Christmas is one of my favorite holidays and I love decorating for it. I love the lights, the music, the smells, and everything about it. One of my favorite things to do is drive around and enjoy all the Christmas decorations. I’m not sure why, but a Christmas holiday tunnel in my front yard just seems to make everything a little more special.
10. RGB Tunnel Set Up
Maybe it’s because it’s something that I helped create and I know that every time someone drives or walks by, they’ll get to enjoy it too. Maybe it’s because it’s a little bit different and adds some extra color and cheer to my neighborhood. Or maybe it’s just because it’s fun!
Whatever the reason, I’m really glad that I decided to add a Christmas holiday tunnel to my yard this year. It’s already become one of my favorite decorations!
How To Make a Christmas Light Tunnel Step by Step Guide
Warning: This project involves a dangerous electrical current. Do not attempt unless you have been trained to work with electricity, and take all necessary safety precautions. You could die.
Step 1: Decide where to build the tunnel.
The first step is probably the most important because otherwise, you wouldn’t know how long your tunnel should be.
It is recommended to build the tunnel below your roofline to not obscure any windows or doors on your house. When deciding where to put it, keep in mind how many lights you want to attach to the tunnel.
Step 2: Preparing the PVC pipes for decoration
After deciding where to build your tunnel, you have to cut all your PVC-Pipes in equal lengths. This depends on how long you want your tunnel and how long the spacing should be between the individual pipes.
Step 3: Decorate your PVC-Pipes
After you have cut all your PVC-Pipes, you should decorate them before taking the next step.
The simplest way to do this is to use different colors of duct tape and attach it to one side of every pipe. Make sure to use enough tape and make it tight, not to lose any light through gaps.
Step 4: Attach the LEDs to the PVC-Pipes
Attach your LEDs in a spiral shape on one side of each pipe. Ensure that every LED is attached firmly; otherwise, it might fall out when you put pressure on the tunnel.
After attaching your LEDs, it would be a good idea to wrap some electrical tape around the connection between the LED and the wire to make it more durable. Also, keep in mind that you will need many LEDs, depending on how long your tunnel should be.
For every three meters of the tunnel, you want one meter of lights attached in this way, with three LEDs per meter.
Step 5: Making the wooden stand
There are many different ways to make a stand for your light tunnel. The easiest and cheapest is probably to take two Popsicle sticks (or other flat wooden pieces you can find) and use rubber bands to attach them at one end.
Then it would be best to drill holes in the other end where you connect your PVC-Pipes.
Step 6: Connecting the pipes to the stand
Connect your pipes to your wooden stand using hot glue. To avoid light losses, it is recommended to use a similar color of glue as the color of your duct tape on your pipe so that they blend.
Also, make sure to use enough glue to strengthen the connection between the pipe and the stand.
Step 7: Connecting your power supply
Now you’re almost finished. Just connect your power supply (e.g., a computer) to your LED strip using an electrical wire connector like these. Make sure to connect everything before testing it.
The last thing you should do is cover your tunnel with a white sheet or something else that reflects light so that nobody can see the individual lights from outside.
How to make a Christmas light tunnel (FAQs)
How long will the tunnel be?
The tunnel can be around four meters long, depending on how many lights you use. However, this is only a rough estimate because the length additionally depends on how big or small your pipes are and what kind of decoration you want to attach to them.
It also depends on decorating the wooden stand and what kind of power supply you use.
How many lights do I need?
This question is a bit difficult to answer because it depends on how big your tunnel is and so on. But if you plan to build a 4-meter tunnel, you’ll probably need around 2x 5 meter LED strips.
How much does it cost?
This also depends on how big or small your tunnel is, but you could build a 4-meter long light tunnel for less than 100€. This will include the power supply and the LED strip. However, if you want to decorate your PVC-Pipes, this could be quite expensive.
How long does it take to build?
Depending on how many breaks you take while building it, it takes roughly 2-3 hours to build your tunnel. Of course, this also depends on your experience building things of the sort.
What are Popsicle sticks?
A popsicle stick or craft stick is a thin wooden stick used in Popsicle brand ice lollies.
What is a USB connector?
A USB connector, formerly known as a USB plug, is an electrical connector for engaging and disengaging a USB device such as a computer mouse or keyboard. It’s meant to be connected and disconnected repeatedly from a computer port.
What is a Christmas tree?
A Christmas tree is an evergreen coniferous tree, usually a pine or spruce. The modern Christmas tree was developed in medieval Livonia (present-day Estonia and Latvia) and early modern Germany, where Protestant Germans brought decorated trees into their homes.
Is PVC pipe strong enough to support the weight?
PVC pipe tends to be much stronger than it looks. It can support a lot of weight, depending on how big the pipes are and what you attach to them.
But in any case, make sure not to hang anything that could break off your pipe! Remember that PVC is still plastic, though, and will break easily if you bend it too much.
What is an LED strip?
LED strip consists of multiple small LED lights attached in one flexible strand. It has many uses but can be used, for example, as festive lighting or under the cabinets in the kitchen.
These lights are very popular during Christmas time because they give out plenty of light and are very efficient.
What is an electrical wire connector?
An electrical wire connector, or just simply a “connector,” is a device for joining sections of an electrical circuit together.
This starts as two different pieces which can be screwed together and then form one solid piece. The main purpose of this is to avoid overheating during electrical conductivity.
Conclusion
Building your own Christmas light tunnel is great fun, and it’s not that expensive. The most expensive parts are the decorations you want to attach, like, for example, fairy lights. You can get creative with your tunnel and make it look however you like. All the best.
Hi, my name’s Elena Coolidge. I’m a DIY enthusiast who loves building fun woodworking plans. These DIY plans are fun hobby projects for enthusiasts or even more advanced builders that want to build things like bunk beds, end tables or even a duck box!
