All the Things to Know about Snow Spray Before You Use It to Decorate Your Window

Snow spray is one of the most magical mediums I've ever played with, and I think you'd really like it, too. It's temporary, making it a low-risk craft, while being light and texture-rich.

It's actually... magical. Artist or not, you'll like playing with it.

Learn from us, and see how you can transform your windows with designs like snowflakes, accent your seasonal decor and create wintertime scenes that'll last all season.

Before You Start Using Snow Spray

• Don’t spray near open flames or heaters. It’s flammable while airborne, even if it seems harmless.
• Wear a mask. Like spray paint, you won't want to breathe in the aerosol.
• Cold glass works better. Warm glass can make the spray clump or run. We tested ours at night (when the sun wasn't heating the glass).
• Humidity matters, too. Your sinuses may favor humidity, but snow spray does not. Brands note that moisture in the air causes it to dry slower. It'll look more like slush than frost.
• Less is more (plan to layer if you want a thick coat). Heavy layers will drip. Light layers build better depth and shadow.
• Don't tilt the can too much. Just like any aerosol, tilting it can cause sputtering, which might ruin your art.
• Just like spray paint, the nozzle can clog. Always test on a surface before using.
• If you're spraying objects (like a wreath), remember to spray from the top down. This makes the "snowfall" look natural.
• It gets a little dried out, but it doesn't fall off the window. After an extended time on the window, the "fluffiness" did fade, but the design stays put. Left undisturbed, it can stay all season.

How to Use Snow Spray to Decorate Windows

Windows are a great canvas for decorating your home for the season. Creating your spray art on the inside of the window pane prevents it from washing away. Undisturbed, it'll stay in place all season!

You'll Need

• can of snow spray (my local craft store sold it for $5, so look around)
• silicone brushes (rubber kitchen spatulas and makeup applicators are a good shortcut)
• plastic razor blades
• clean rags
• a mask (safety first)

1. Choose Your Approach

• DIY snow drifts: Many users take to creating drifts of snow along the windowsill and along the corners of their windows; done right, it does look very natural.
• Stencils: Level up from a freehand approach and create stencils. Stencils make it easy to create smaller snowflakes and shapes across a window.
• Bob Ross-level art: The tutorials that impress me most are by true artists. We'd be remiss not to point you to Snow Windows or Snow Graffiti so you can see the true potential of snow spray.

2. Shake and Spray

• Shake the aerosol can. Shaking the can before you spray is important.
• Spritz onto a rag first. This helps clear any clogs and check for blockages in the nozzle.

3. Test a Small Area

Remember: humidity and the temperature of the glass make a difference in how quickly the snow begins to set.

• Spray a small area on your window. Test to see how the spray reacts to the space.
• Snow may feel powdery and easy to manipulate immediately.
• In my case, it was initially soft. The silicone spatula wiped it up like it was whipped cream.
• I preferred to wait 10-15 minutes before working with the material. This allowed the tools to "etch" rather than "wipe."

4. Create Your Design

• Apply a light coat of spray to the window. Pretend you're drawing your finished product like it's a can of spray paint. It might be the shape of a snowflake. A candy cane. A pine tree next to a cottage. Have fun!
• The spatula, plastic razor, and a dry cloth all play a role in creating a design. Choose your instrument, and begin removing material from the surface of the glass.
• Many of the artists I learned from applied another light coat of spray after removing some of the initial coat and shaping the design. The secondary and tertiary coats of snow spray add a lot of dimension!

5. Clean Up Overspray

When you're done with the art, chances are that you'll notice lots of overspray around the area. This wipes up easily with a dry cloth.

How to Remove Snow Spray From Windows

The good thing about snow spray... is that it's not spray paint. It comes off really easily.

I found it most effective to wipe the spray with a dry cloth first. As you collect the snow, some remnants may be left behind or smeared; they buff out pretty easily.

After the surface was mostly clean, I used window cleaner to remove any smudges and fingerprints.

Using Snow Spray for Other Seasonal Decorations

This product has so many uses. We love how it delivers texture, stays fluffy, and is easy to wash clean.

Beyond windows, I used it to add a snowy mist to the faux-evergreen wreath that hangs on our front door, and accent the holiday scene displayed on our sideboard.

Unlike misting your project with white spray paint, opting for snow spray is a less permanent decision for adapting your holiday decor.

Just remember: spray downward onto objects so it looks like natural snowfall!

Does snow spray stain window sills?

:::Runs to check::: Not in our experience, but keep in mind that anything porous can discolor over time. I used snow spray along the white window frame and sill. After a few days, I found that it still wiped easily off these surfaces. There's no evidence that it was there, including any stains.

Is snow spray easy to remove from surfaces?

Yes, snow spray cleaned easily from glass, fabrics, and kitchen gadgets used during my tests. I used a dry cloth to gather most of the material, then cleaned the window with my usual cleaning solution.