Holiday Fun with Flocking: Not Just for the Tree

Adding flocking is a popular way to add extra visual appeal to a Christmas tree. Simulating the look of fresh-fallen snow, flocking can be added to both real and artificial trees. In fact, some artificial trees are pre-flocked for added convenience. If you love the festive look of a flocked Christmas tree, here are a few other ways to decorate your home with flocking.

During the holiday season, flocking or faux snow is easy to find at most department stores or online. It's generally quite easy to use, although you have to be careful to protect any surrounding surfaces that you don't wish to flock while applying it. An average sized can of flocking will be sufficient for most Christmas trees, or to decorate a variety of other surfaces. In most cases, you'll be able to buy a can of flocking for around ten dollars, making it an inexpensive decorating material. It's important to remember to read the can carefully before using the flocking material, following all safety precautions. It's a good idea to cover surrounding surfaces with a drop cloth or plastic trash bag to prevent unintentional flocking. If you prefer a more homemade approach, you can also mix up your own flocking material. Simply place some Ivory Snow soap flakes in a bowl and slowly add water while beating with a mixer, continuing until you achieve a thick frothy consistency. Then, apply it to the desired surfaces using a dry, stiff paint brush. You can also mix foam shaving cream and white glue together with a mixer until it forms stiff peaks, applying it with a brush.

Fun Decorating Tips for Flocking

There are plenty of other surfaces around the home that look great when a bit of flocking is added. If you plan to decorate with evergreen garland inside your home, spray or brush a bit of flocking onto it before hanging to make it look like it was dusted by freshly fallen snow. Place several pinecones on a drop cloth, and add flocking to give them a pretty holiday look. Wreaths also look great when a bit of flocking is applied. You can add small amounts of flocking to some of your tree ornaments, which will add a extra touch of realism to an already flocked Christmas tree. You can also spray or brush a bit of flocking or spray snow around the bottom edges of your windows, to make it look as though snow has drifted outside. Of course, always read the flocking can label instructions carefully, and only use the material on approved surfaces.

Flocking Application Tips

Although protecting the surrounding surfaces is possibly the most important tip, there are also some other techniques that can help create the perfect flocked surface. When spraying a tree, start at the top and work your way down. Garland should be laid out on a plastic tarp or trash bags to make application neat and easy. Additionally, you should always apply flocking before adding light strings to your decorations to keep them clean and neat.

Home decor specialist, Alyssa Davis, is a regular writer for Metal-Wall-Art.com, and she offers many ideas on how to design your favorite rooms with sailboats wall decor and metal decor hangings.