The Best Fake Snow

Artificial or fake snow is the quick fix you can use to turn your regular old home into a festive getaway. For some, it’s the only way they’ll catch a glimpse of it without booking a flight to Boston. So, if you’re in the market for a new way to dress up your home for the holidays, here are a few fake snow choices that you should check out.

Buying Guide for Fake Snow

Why should you buy fake snow?

As mentioned before, fake snow is the way you can make your home a snow-crested sight, even if the temperature doesn’t dip below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s fun for the decorator and the guests you might invite to bask in all of its staged glory. Unlike the inconsistency of natural snow, a good batch of fake snow is reusable around the home year in and year out.

What should you look for in fake snow?

• Replication: How realistic do you want your fake snow to look? Some go for the comfy and voluminous look, while others take a loose but glistening approach to replicating the crunch beneath your feet.
• Capacity: It’s also important that you buy enough fake snow for your holiday projects. You don’t want to run out of fake snow when trying to create a freshly snowed-in model village.
• Safety: Finally, it’s important to consider an option that places safety first. While it may seem silly to think fake snow could be dangerous, that’s just the reality of the situation. You should avoid options that utilize harmful chemicals that could land someone in the ER if ingested. And given that your fake snow may spend time around outlets and lights, it’s also important to buy fake snow that can withstand heat to the point of being flame-retardant.

Is fake snow safe for the environment?

Unfortunately, like other products that feature or are entirely constructed from plastic material, most types of artificial snow are bound to have an ecological impact, no matter how small. You can, however, avoid this trouble by looking into options that are thoroughly reusable or forged from materials that favor a non-hazardous construction (some kids’ options understand this design better than most). If you’re prepared to put in a little extra work, you can even piece together your fake snow recipe with organic materials found in an everyday kitchen pantry.

Our Picks for the Best Fake Snow

Pros: We often think of fake snow as being as big a hassle as the real stuff when it comes to cleaning up, but this option poses no such issue. This thick roll of fake snow is made from a tightly woven yet soft material that can cover up to 20 square feet. It’s ideal for placing under model villages and evergreen forests. It’s just 0.7 inches thick, providing your holiday knick-knacks with just enough fluff to make it look real. Plus, it’s made from eco-friendly materials, so you don’t have to worry about tainting the environment with your fake snow.

Cons: Admittedly, this isn’t the most natural-looking choice, and it doesn’t sparkle. There also isn’t a good way to clean or mend this material, either, so if stained or torn, you’re likely stuck with some dirty or tattered snow.

Bottom Line: This is a traditional choice that provides you with just enough snowy appeal but none of the associated mess. It makes a great foundation for a tabletop or mantle display.

 

Pros: Glittering and inexpensive, this pack of fake snow is the exact kind of holiday confetti that we think of when it’s time to decorate. It has the appearance of powdered snow but is crafted with a non-flammable ground plastic that grants a light and lush style to a setup. There are roughly 2 ounces of confetti in a single bag, with select bundling options available in packs of one, three, and six. This snow-like confetti is great for making ornaments or sprinkling over a holiday village.

Cons: While its value per bag is high, it’s also important to note that it won’t quite cover as much ground as some would prefer. Because of its loose plastic design, this snow can lead to messes and easily be ingested by pets and small children.

Bottom Line: For minimal decorative situations, this fake snow features plenty of frost-like realism. The flakes are thin and delicate and can be used to recreate snow or ice. However, this is not an eco-friendly option.

 

Pros: While plenty of fake snow products aren’t safe for children, this one is made for kids to explore. This STEM toy teaches kids about science while they’re having fun. This snow polymer comes in a small jar and expands. It requires just a little water mixed in for it to come alive and produce up to 2 gallons of artificial snow. As an added and realistic bonus, this fake snow generates enough chill to look and feel like real snow. It’s perfect for party activities, holiday decorating, and more!

Cons: Despite its reusable design, its overall integrity will start to diminish after repeated use. It’s also not safe for ingestion, so it’s not recommended for children under 4.

Bottom Line: If you’re seeking a faux snow pick that actually understands how to accommodate the kiddos, this product produces lots of moldable snow for tons of fun. After it’s used as an educational tool, it can then be used for fun decorations! 

 

Pros: Unlike some other fake snow blankets, this pull-apart snow blanket is flame-resistant. It’s made from thick, billowy white cotton that you can pull and shape to form snow banks, slicks, and fluffy snow around any and all of your favorite holiday decorations. You can order a 15- or 30-ounce bag to suit your needs, and the large one can cover an entire room of decorations, including a huge tree. The cotton itself is safe and hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to worry about kids and pets coming in contact with it. And because it stretches, a little goes a long way!

Cons: This bag of snow is more expensive than some other options.

Bottom Line: This fluffy faux snow can stretch and billow beyond its polyester competitors. The cotton is long-lasting and safe to use around kids and pets.

 

Pros: This two-pack of spray-on snow cans offers a tremendous opportunity to really take decorating into your own hands. With precision tips, it’s easy to aim the snow right where you’d like it to decorate wreaths, windows, or the delicate tips of a tree. In fact, the long-lasting but easy-to-clean powder sticks to most surfaces without flaking. And each can contains about 13 ounces of spray snow. It’s up to you to decide how thin or thick you want the surface to look, whether you’re going for a lightly frosted appearance or a snowed-in getaway.

Cons: Aerosol cans can be dangerous if not stored properly. They can also become clogged, so you may have to clean the nozzles with hot water between uses.

Bottom Line: This is quite possibly the simplest fake snow application you could buy. This purchase offers a total of 26 ounces of versatile use that looks great and doesn’t overstay its welcome.

 

Pros: One of the best things about this product is that you can pick whatever size suits your needs, whether you choose 20, 25, 30, 40, or 42 snowballs, and you can choose the size that fits your needs as well. The snowballs come in a resealable storage container that’s sturdy and see-through. And the snowballs are made of polypropylene material that’s soft, safe for kids of all ages, and non-toxic. Plus, they’re easy to aim, and they don’t hurt when you get hit with them (but please avoid the eyes!).

Cons: These snowballs have a tendency to pick up dirt, and they’re not easy to clean.

Bottom Line: Put down the gloves. You don’t have to freeze your hands to have a proper snowball fight anymore. These fake snowballs won’t cause injury (unless you aim for the eyes, so don’t). So even if you live in warmer climates, you can now enjoy a real snowball adventure!

Final Thoughts

If you want to sprinkle some crisp white snowflakes inside your home without the wet mess that real snow would cause, try some artificial snow! It can elevate your holiday garlands, trees, displays, wreaths, mini villages, ornaments, and mantles to bring you the snowy holiday you’ve been dreaming of.