Is It Safe To Spray Snow On a Pre-Lit Christmas Tree?

If putting up a Christmas tree with all the decorations and twinkling lights feels like an overwhelming task, a pre-lit tree can be the answer. A pre-lit Christmas tree comes right out of the package with lights on each branch and is ready to be placed in its holiday location in any room. All you need to do is plug it in.

For a festive touch, spraying snow on a pre-lit tree can give it the look of freshly fallen snow. I like to spray snow on the edges of our tree’s branches, the greens on the mantle over the fireplace and the wreath on the front door. It gives the house the feel of a winter wonderland, with all the warmth of staying cozy inside to enjoy it.

We talked to some experts for tips on how to achieve a snow-fallen look for a pre-lit tree with snow spray in a few easy steps this holiday season.

What Is Spray Snow?

Spray snow, or faux snow, is a pray mixture used to make items look like they’ve been snowed on. Mixtures for spray snow include a combination of water, solvent, resin and filler, and the product is used to distribute a light layer of white powder that resembles snow when it dries.

Spray snow is a familiar sight at holiday time for use on store windows for displays. It can also be used on trees, wreaths, garlands and home windows to give a snow-covered look.

Can I Spray Snow a Pre-Lit Christmas Tree?

Yes, you can use spray snow on a pre-lit Christmas tree. Emmy-award-winning lighting designer Christopher Landy, owner of Vibrant Design in New York City, says any spray snow on the lights of a pre-lit tree is generally safe for holiday decorating. “I would not worry about protecting lights for functioning purposes if you spray snow over the tree or lightsthey will be fineespecially LED lights, which do not get hot and are more and more the norm with lights for home decor.”

How To Use Spray Snow on a Pre-Lit Christmas Tree

“Spray snow can bring magic to a Christmas tree,” says Chadwick Boyd of Chadwick Boyd Lifestyle. “Especially now that the quality and type of materials spray snow is made of has progressed beyond an aerosol can I grew up with in the ’70s and ’80s… We have learned quite a lot from set design professionals to create magical trees worthy of our living and favorite rooms in our homes.”

Spray snow now comes in both spray can form and bags of powder-like snow material. Boyd suggests using a few common kitchen tools you probably have on hand to make the spray snow look as real as possible. “I use a colander and/or sifter to spray through to make the spray snow create the look of full-on snow, which is what most people are looking for to create a beautiful tree.”

Before you start the process of wetting the branches with a spray snow, you should cover the lights on the tree before you begin to work. “Wrap each light strand with a thin layer of plastic wrap or tissue paper, ensuring the lights are fully covered while still allowing the spray to reach the branches evenly,” Boyd says. “This will protect the lights from the snow spray while still providing a snowy appearance on the tree.”

The best way to achieve a realistic result is to use a light touch when spraying branches. “You don’t need to drench the tree with product,” Boyd says. Start at the top of the tree and spray in sections as you work your way down for the most natural look of fallen snow. “As you get further down the tree, I like to step back and identify the areas that need more snow and then go back in and spray snow those branches.”

Let the spray snow adhesive set for a few hours between applications. “Spray and repeat the process with another layer of snow,” says Boyd. “This should create the most optimal-looking snowed-on Christmas tree.”

Once the snow spray is completely dry, simply remove the wrapping from the lights.

Alternative to Spray Snow

Some other ways to give a winter sparkle to a pre-lit tree are cotton batting or strands of silver tinsel.

For the look of fluffy snow, wrap cotton batting around the branches of your tree to give the tree the effect of snow on the branches. Lightly stretch the batting to separate the cotton and secure the batting with floral wire to hold in place.

Strands of shimmering tinsel hung on branches can also give a twinkling shine to your pre-lit tree.

About the Experts

• Chadwick Boyd is a food, lifestyle and real estate expert.
• Christopher Landy is an Emmy-award-winning lighting designer and owner of Vibrant Design.

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