Snowman Decor Ideas: 14 Cheerful Winter Builds That Last Long After Christmas

Snowman decor ideas are the secret to a home that feels cozy all winter, not just for a few weeks in December. When the tree comes down and the house suddenly feels bare, a smiling snowman on the porch keeps the magic going right through February. That is why so many people are making their own. Recently a glowing laundry basket snowman on Facebook pulled in more than 421,000 reactions, and the comments were full of people heading straight to the store for baskets. You do not need much: a few household items, some white paint, a scarf and a little imagination. Here are 14 cheerful snowman builds for porches, mantels and front doors that look sweet, cost little and last long after Christmas..

Laundry Basket Porch Snowman That Glows

This is the snowman everyone wants right now. Two white plastic laundry baskets, stacked and tied together, become a big round snowman. Fill the inside with a strand of warm LED lights and he glows at night like a lantern. Add a black hat, a plaid scarf and a felt face, and your porch looks like a winter card. It is cheap, light and easy to store, which puts it at the top of our snowman decor ideas. Kids squeal when they see it light up for the first time. Where would your glowing snowman stand..

You will need: Two round white laundry baskets, zip ties, a strand of outdoor LED lights, black felt, an orange felt nose, a scarf and a hat.

How to make it: 1. Set the smaller basket upside down on the larger one and zip tie them together. 2. Feed the LED lights inside through the gaps. 3. Glue on the felt face, add the scarf and hat, and plug it in outdoors safely.

Snowman Decor Ideas With Glass Bowls

Two clear glass bowls from the thrift store make a snowman that sparkles on a side table. Fill them with battery fairy lights, stack the smaller bowl upside down on top, and add a felt hat and scarf. It glows softly in the evening and looks magical by a frosty window. You can even fill it with fake snow or white pom poms for a different look. It is one of the easiest snowman decor ideas for indoors. Which room needs a little glow?

You will need: Two clear glass bowls in different sizes, battery fairy lights, strong glue for glass, black felt, a small scarf and buttons.

How to make it: 1. Fill the larger bowl with the fairy lights. 2. With adult help, glue the smaller bowl upside down on top and let it set. 3. Add the felt hat, button eyes and a scarf.

Snowman Decor Ideas With Twine Balls

This one feels like a magic trick. Wrap glue soaked twine around a balloon, let it dry hard, then pop the balloon and you are left with a light, airy ball. Make two or three sizes, stack them and you have a snowman that weighs almost nothing. It is so satisfying to watch the round shape appear. Kids love the popping part. These snowman decor ideas cost only a few dollars. Ready to pop some balloons?

You will need: Round balloons, white cotton twine, white school glue, water, a bowl, felt scraps and small twigs.

How to make it: 1. Mix glue with a little water and soak the twine. 2. Wrap it around blown up balloons and let them dry for a full day. 3. Pop the balloons, pull them out, stack the balls with glue and add a felt scarf and twig arms.

Wood Post Snowman for the Front Steps

A short piece of wood post or a log round turns into a friendly snowman for the front steps. Paint it white, add coal dot eyes, a carrot nose and a sock hat, and tie on a scarf. A pair of them flanking the door looks like a welcome committee. Ask a lumber yard for post offcuts, which are often free. Once the paint is sealed, they handle snow and rain all winter. Would you make a whole family of them?

You will need: Wooden post pieces or log rounds, white outdoor paint, black and orange paint, old knit hats or socks, scarves and clear sealer.

How to make it: 1. Paint each post white and let it dry. 2. Paint on dot eyes, a smile and a carrot nose, then seal. 3. Pull a knit hat over the top and tie on a scarf.

Snowman Decor Ideas With Rice Filled Socks

Sock snowmen are a no sew favorite. Fill a white sock with rice, tie it in the middle with a rubber band to make two balls, and use the cuff of a colorful sock as a hat. Buttons make the eyes and a tiny felt triangle is the nose. They sit perfectly on shelves and window ledges. Make a whole family in an afternoon with what you already have. These are snowman decor ideas grandkids can help with. How many will you make?

You will need: White socks, uncooked rice, rubber bands, colorful socks for hats, buttons, orange felt, glue and ribbon scraps.

How to make it: 1. Fill the white sock with rice and tie the top closed. 2. Wrap a rubber band around the middle to make the head and body. 3. Add a sock cuff hat, glue on buttons and a felt nose, and tie on a ribbon scarf.

Tomato Cage Snowman

That old tomato cage in the garden shed can become a tall, glowing snowman for the front yard. Turn it upside down, wrap it in fluffy white garland and white LED lights, and top it with a hat. A wide ribbon makes a perfect scarf. It looks bright and cheerful from the street at night. After winter, unwrap it and it goes right back to holding tomatoes. Snowman decor ideas that do double duty are the best kind, right?

You will need: A metal tomato cage, white tinsel garland, outdoor LED string lights, zip ties, a black hat and a wide plaid ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Turn the cage upside down and tie the top wires together. 2. Wrap the garland and lights around it, securing with zip ties. 3. Add the hat on top and tie the ribbon scarf around the neck.

Paint Can Snowman Trio

Empty paint cans, cleaned out and painted white, make an adorable trio of snowmen for the porch steps. Paint simple dot faces, add orange noses and tie on little scarves. Put some sand or rocks inside so they do not blow over. Clean new cans also work and cost just a few dollars at the hardware store. Lined up on the steps, these snowman decor ideas look like they are waiting for visitors. Which colors would you use for their scarves?

You will need: Three clean metal paint cans, white spray or brush paint, black and orange paint, sand or rocks and fabric strips for scarves.

How to make it: 1. Clean the cans and paint them white. 2. Paint dot eyes, a smile and a carrot nose on each. 3. Fill the bottoms with sand, close the lids and tie on scarves.

Glowing Mason Jar Snowman Decor Ideas

Frosted mason jars with snowman faces glow beautifully when you drop battery fairy lights inside. Paint the jars white with a sponge for a frosty look, then add black dot eyes and an orange nose. Line them up on a windowsill or down the middle of the table. They are safe, cheap and look lovely in photos. If you want more cozy ideas, our cozy winter decor ideas will keep your home warm all season. Where would you line yours up?

You will need: Mason jars, white acrylic paint, a sponge, black and orange paint pens, battery LED fairy lights and ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Dab white paint all over the outside of the jar with a sponge. 2. Once dry, draw the snowman face. 3. Drop in the fairy lights and tie a ribbon scarf around the neck of the jar.

Old Sweater Snowmen

Old sweaters that are too worn to wear make the coziest snowmen. Cut tubes from the sleeves or body, stuff them, and tie off two or three sections for the body and head. Buttons, felt and a scrap of yarn finish the look. A cable knit pattern makes them look like they came from a cute boutique. They are soft enough for kids to cuddle too. Which old sweater is hiding in your closet?

You will need: An old light colored sweater, fiberfill stuffing, strong thread or rubber bands, buttons, orange felt and yarn.

How to make it: 1. Cut a tube from the sweater and sew or tie one end closed. 2. Stuff it and tie it in two places to make the head and body. 3. Close the top, add a sweater cuff hat, buttons and a felt nose.

Wood Slice Snowman Ornaments

Wood slices are cheap in craft packs and make sweet snowman ornaments. Paint the front white, add two dots for eyes, a little carrot nose and a dotted smile. Drill or glue on a twine loop and they are ready for the tree. They also look great on gift tags or tied to a wreath. These snowman decor ideas are perfect for a craft night with friends. How many faces can you paint in an hour?

You will need: Wood slices, white, black and orange acrylic paint, a fine brush or dotting tool, twine and craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Paint the front of each slice white and let it dry. 2. Dot on eyes and a smile and paint a small carrot nose. 3. Glue a twine loop on the back for hanging.

Snowman Face on the Front Door

Turn your whole front door into a snowman face and every visitor will smile. Use white contact paper or poster board circles for the eyes and buttons, an orange paper carrot nose and a wide plaid ribbon for a scarf. It sticks on and peels off without damaging the paint. It is a fun surprise for neighbors and delivery drivers. Kids love helping place the pieces. Would you dare to try it on your door?

You will need: White and black contact paper or poster board, orange paper, a wide plaid ribbon, removable tape and scissors.

How to make it: 1. Cut black circles for eyes and buttons and an orange carrot nose. 2. Stick them on the door with removable tape. 3. Drape the ribbon across as a scarf and add a small wreath on top.

Snowman Decor Ideas With Flower Pots

Terracotta pots stacked upside down make a sturdy snowman that stands up to wind. Paint three pots white, stack them from large to small and glue them together. Add a tiny top hat, a scarf and twig arms tucked into the sides. When spring comes, you can repaint the pots and plant flowers in them. These snowman decor ideas are cheap, sturdy and charming. How tall would you make your stack?

You will need: Three terracotta pots in graduated sizes, white outdoor paint, strong outdoor glue, black and orange paint, a mini hat, a scarf and twigs.

How to make it: 1. Paint the pots white and let them dry. 2. Stack them upside down, gluing each one to the next. 3. Paint the face on the top pot and add the hat, scarf and twig arms.

Felt Snowman Garland

A felt snowman garland is an easy hand sewing project that brings a smile to any mantel or doorway. Cut snowman shapes from white felt, add tiny scarves from red and green scraps, and string them on twine. Felt does not fray, so there is no hemming needed. Make it as long as you like and it can hang all winter. It is a relaxing project for a cold evening. Where would you hang yours?

You will need: White felt, red and green felt scraps, black and orange embroidery thread, a needle, glue and twine.

How to make it: 1. Cut out snowman shapes, two for each one. 2. Stitch on dot eyes and a nose, then glue the two layers together with a scarf in between. 3. Glue or stitch each snowman onto the twine.

Pom Pom Snowman Wreath

Fluffy white pom poms tied onto a wire ring make a wreath that looks like a snowball. Add a small snowman face in the center or tuck a little hat on top and a plaid bow at the side. You can make the pom poms with a fork and leftover yarn while watching a movie. It looks soft and cheerful on any door. Of all these snowman decor ideas, this one feels the coziest. What color door would you hang it on?

You will need: A wire wreath ring, white yarn, a pom pom maker or a fork, scissors, felt pieces for the face and a plaid ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Make about 40 white pom poms. 2. Tie each one tightly to the wire ring until it is full. 3. Add the felt snowman face in the center and tie on the plaid bow.