Table of Contents >> Show >> Hide
- What Exactly Are Salt and Pepper Snowglobes?
- Why Salt and Pepper Snowglobes Are Holiday Table MVPs
- Anthropologie Style vs. DIY Hometalk Style
- How to Style Salt and Pepper Snowglobes on Your Table
- Practical Tips: Keeping Snowglobe Shakers Cute and Functional
- Gift Ideas Featuring Salt and Pepper Snowglobes
- Real-Life Experiences with Salt and Pepper Snowglobes
- Wrapping It Up
If you’ve ever walked into Anthropologie during the holidays, you know the feeling:
suddenly you’re convinced you need sixteen different kinds of snow globes,
three sets of whimsical salt and pepper shakers, and a new personality that hosts
casually perfect winter dinner parties. Somewhere between the twinkly displays and
the scented candles, one tiny hero has quietly stolen the show:
salt and pepper snowglobes.
These charming little pieces mash together two things we already lovefunctional tableware
and nostalgic winter scenesinto one delightfully extra accessory. Whether you’re eyeing
the ones sold at Anthropologie or trying a Hometalk-style DIY version,
salt and pepper snowglobes can turn an ordinary table into a mini holiday storybook.
What Exactly Are Salt and Pepper Snowglobes?
Think of salt and pepper snowglobes as tiny winter worlds that happen to season your food.
Instead of traditional shakers, the tops often sit above a clear dome or glass body filled
with faux snow, glitter, or miniature trees. Some versions look like classic snow globes,
while others reinterpret the idea with bottlebrush trees, tiny swans, bears, or
wintry village scenes nestled under glass.
Anthropologie has become known for whimsical holiday table decor, from
snow globe–inspired accents to stoneware salt and pepper sets with sculpted trees, animals,
and festive icons. Their collections often feature:
- Hand-painted stoneware bases with glossy glazes
- Glass domes or globe-style tops that echo traditional snow globes
- Mini figurines like evergreens, bears, or nutcrackers under glass
- Seasonal color palettes: ivory, soft green, metallic touches, or classic red and white
Over on Hometalk and other DIY communities, makers have taken the idea
and run with itturning everything from mason jar salt and pepper shakers to vintage glass
bottles into snowy little decor pieces you can actually use at dinner. The result is a
spectrum of styles, from rustic farmhouse to sleek and modern, all under the same cozy umbrella:
tiny snow scenes you can shake and then sprinkle.
Why Salt and Pepper Snowglobes Are Holiday Table MVPs
1. They Turn a Simple Meal Into an Experience
Regular salt and pepper shakers say, “Here’s your seasoning.”
Salt and pepper snowglobes say, “Please admire my tiny winter forest before you salt your potatoes.”
They’re conversation starters, especially when you place them in the center of a casual gathering:
- Guests lean in to see the miniature scene inside the globe.
- Kids ask if they’re allowed to shake them (answer: gently, and away from the gravy boat).
- Everyone secretly decides you’re the “details person” who has their life together.
Pair them with other Anthropologie-style accentsfestive napkins, a textured table runner,
and a few candle holdersand you suddenly have a tablescape that looks like it came straight
out of a holiday catalog, not a rushed Saturday errand.
2. They Bridge the Gap Between Decor and Utility
One of the biggest wins with these pieces is that they aren’t just “stuff” taking up space.
You actually use them every day during the season:
- On the dining table for family dinners and holiday parties
- On a coffee table tray with coasters and a small floral arrangement
- On a breakfast nook, cozy beside a stack of mugs and a sugar bowl
Instead of another fragile figurine you have to store in a labeled bin,
snowglobe shakers earn their keep. They do the work of standard shakers while
looking like little art pieces.
3. They Fit Multiple Aesthetics
What’s fun about the Anthropologie-inspired look is that it’s flexible. Depending on your
style, you can lean:
- Whimsical: tiny animals, bright colors, playful glitter
- Minimalist: frosted glass, monochrome trees, soft faux snow
- Rustic: mason jars, twine, bottlebrush trees, faux snow made from Epsom salt
- Vintage: repurposed salt shakers, aged-looking figurines, subtle shimmer
That versatility is one reason snowglobe crafts and salt shaker snow globes show up again
and again in DIY projects, blogs, and holiday decor roundups.
Anthropologie Style vs. DIY Hometalk Style
There are two main paths to adding salt and pepper snowglobes to your life:
buy them ready-made or create your own version.
Buying Ready-Made Snowglobe Shakers
Anthropologie’s seasonal collections often include snow-inspired salt and pepper sets,
sometimes with:
- Glass domes filled with faux snow over stoneware bases
- Holiday motifs like evergreens, bears, or cityscapes
- Matching servewareplatters, cake stands, napkinsso your table tells one cohesive story
The upside? You get polished, detailed pieces with a designer feel, and you don’t have to
wipe hot glue strings off your fingers. The downside? These specialty items can sell out
quickly and may cost more than a DIY versionespecially secondhand, where older Anthropologie
snow globe shakers sometimes resurface as collectibles.
DIY Snowglobe Salt & Pepper Shakers (Hometalk Style)
The DIY route is part craft project, part personality test. Are you the type who carefully
arranges the tiny trees with tweezers, or the type who dumps glitter in and calls it a day?
Either way, the process is pretty simple and widely shared across craft blogs and platforms
like Hometalk:
- Start with clear glass salt and pepper shakers or small jars.
- Add a miniature figurinetrees, animals, or tiny housessecured with strong glue.
- Sprinkle in faux snow, Epsom salt, or glitter to create the “snow” effect.
- Seal everything, making sure the holes for salt and pepper still function.
- Style, shake (gently), and admire your work.
The charm of a Hometalk-type DIY project is that no two pieces are identical. Maybe your
salt shaker holds a tiny white tree while your pepper shaker features a small swan. Maybe
your “snow” is actually coarse sugar used purely decoratively on a non-food piece. The point
is creativity, not perfection.
How to Style Salt and Pepper Snowglobes on Your Table
1. The Centerpiece Cluster
Instead of hiding shakers at the far end of the table, feature them. Set your
snowglobe shakers on a small wooden tray or marble board along with:
- A few tea lights or votive candles
- A bud vase with winter greenery (eucalyptus, pine, or faux stems)
- A tiny bowl for other seasonings (like flaky sea salt or red pepper flakes)
This creates a functional centerpiece: guests reach into the little winter scene any time
they need seasoning.
2. Individual Place Settings
For an intimate dinner or small holiday gathering, you can place one snowglobe shaker set
for every two seats. Set them between two plates along with:
- A folded napkin with a simple ribbon or napkin ring
- A handwritten place card tucked into the napkin
- A single ornament or sprig of greenery for color
It feels thoughtful and a bit glamorous, but it’s easy to pull off once you have the shakers.
3. Coffee Bar or Hot Cocoa Station
Salt and pepper might not be the stars here, but snowglobe shakers can stand in as
decor props near your mug station or hot cocoa bar. Place them next to jars of
marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, and cocoa mix to create a cohesive winter vignette. They
whisper “holiday” even when you’re just reheating leftovers in the microwave.
Practical Tips: Keeping Snowglobe Shakers Cute and Functional
Choose Food-Safe Materials
If your shakers are meant to be used with actual salt and pepper (not just as purely decorative),
stick with:
- Glass or food-safe plastic bodies
- Non-toxic glues and sealants that won’t flake into the shaker compartment
- Faux snow that’s completely separated from the seasoning chambers
Many store-bought versions, like those from Anthropologie, are designed with usability in mind,
so the “snow” is sealed away from where the spices live. If you’re DIY-ing, mimic that structure:
keep decorative filler in a sealed cavity, and spices in a separate, clean compartment.
Think About Refilling
Pretty is great. Refillable is better. Before you commit to a design:
- Check that you can easily remove the top to refill salt and pepper.
- Avoid glueing any moving parts you actually need to open.
- Make sure glitter or faux snow can’t drift into the seasoning section over time.
Nobody wants surprise glitter in their mashed potatoesat least, not the edible kind.
Cleaning and Storage
For ready-made snowglobe salt and pepper shakers, follow the care instructionsmost are
hand-wash only. Avoid soaking decorative sections for long periods; wipe them down with
a damp cloth instead. When the season’s over:
- Empty out any remaining salt and pepper to avoid clumping from humidity.
- Wrap the shakers in tissue paper or bubble wrap.
- Store them in a small box labeled “holiday table decor” so you can find them quickly next year.
Treat them a bit like fragile ornaments, and they’ll last for many winters.
Gift Ideas Featuring Salt and Pepper Snowglobes
These little showstoppers are also excellent giftsespecially when you build a small
bundle around them. Try:
- A set of Anthropologie-style snowglobe shakers plus a pretty tea towel
- DIY snowglobe shakers paired with homemade spice blends in labeled jars
- Snowglobe shakers in a basket with a candle, mug, and hot cocoa mix for a “cozy night in” kit
Because they’re both decorative and useful, they work for hosts, new homeowners, newlyweds,
or that one friend whose entire personality is “holiday season.”
Real-Life Experiences with Salt and Pepper Snowglobes
It’s one thing to see these beauties in a styled Anthropologie display. It’s another thing
to live with them on your own tablethrough real meals, real spills, and real people asking,
“Wait, can I shake this?”
People who’ve incorporated salt and pepper snowglobes into their decor often talk
about how much unexpected joy they add to everyday routines. A simple weeknight dinner feels
a little more intentional when it includes something charming in the middle of the table. You
don’t have to cook an elaborate meal; even takeout looks upgraded next to a pair of snowglobe
shakers sparkling under the dining room light.
DIY fans who have shared their projects on sites like Hometalk, blogs, and social media often
mention how surprisingly quick the craft is. Once you’ve gathered the suppliesglass shakers,
mini trees, faux snow, glueyou can usually put a pair together in under an hour. The more you
make, the faster you get. Some crafters even create sets to sell at local markets, using
Anthropologie’s whimsical style as inspiration but putting their own spin on it with different
figurines, color palettes, and ribbons.
A common experience: the first set is “practice,” and by the second set, you’re experimenting
with details. Maybe you use tiny deer instead of trees. Maybe you test two types of “snow”fine
glitter for one, Epsom salt for anotherand decide which looks more like the real thing on your
table. The experimental part is half the fun.
People who buy ready-made versions from Anthropologie tend to treat them like little treasures.
They come out of storage once a year and immediately signal that the holiday season has officially
started. There’s often a ritual feel to it: unpack the snowglobes, set them on the table, step
back, and admire how quickly the room feels more festive.
One particularly relatable experience many share: kids and guests are drawn to the snowglobes
immediately. Someone always picks one up, gives it a gentle shake, and laughs as the “snow”
swirls around. It’s a tiny moment, but those tiny moments are what make seasonal decor feel
worth the effort. The shakers don’t just sit there; they interact with people, even before
anyone reaches for the salt.
On the practical side, snowglobe shakers are usually surprisingly sturdy when handled with
normal care. Glass versions feel substantial, and stoneware bases add weight so they’re
not easily knocked over. Still, many owners share the same learning curve: don’t leave them
too close to the edge of the table during lively gatherings, and don’t let them become impromptu
toys during long dinners with restless little ones.
Another shared experience is the way these shakers photograph. If you’re the type to document
holiday tablescapes for Instagram or for your own memories,
salt and pepper snowglobes photograph beautifully. The clear domes catch twinkle
lights and candle flames, adding delightful reflections and bokeh in the background of your
shots. A simple overhead photo of your dinner table looks significantly more “styled” when a
pair of snowglobe shakers is sitting front and center.
Finally, there’s the emotional payoff. Whether your set came straight from Anthropologie’s
shelves or from your own glue-covered crafting session, these pieces tend to become part of
your personal holiday tradition. They’re the kind of item you can imagine passing down someday:
“These were the silly little snowglobe salt shakers we used every Christmas.” Tiny objects,
big memories.
Wrapping It Up
Salt and pepper snowglobes sit at the perfect intersection of charm and function. They bring
a bit of Anthropologie’s signature magic to your table, and thanks to DIY communities like
Hometalk, you can recreate the look on practically any budget. Whether you buy them, make them,
or mix both approaches, these little shakers deliver a lot of joy for something that technically
exists to season your soup.
In the end, that’s what good holiday decor does: it makes everyday moments feel just a little
more special. So if you’ve been tempted by those tiny snow scenes under glass, consider this
your gentle nudge. Go ahead. Let your salt and pepper live in a snow globe this year.
