Make Your Mailbox the Envy of Your Street with this Stunning DIY Swag!
Are you wondering how to decorate your mailbox? I will show you the steps I used to make my mailbox the prettiest mailbox on the street this fall! This is easy, and quick! I will show you how your can make mailbox decor easy! Outdoor decor is such a great way to express yourself for the seasons and holidays.
I have decorated my mailbox for all kinds of seasons and holidays and have found this is an easy way to change a plain mailbox to a holiday look in just a few easy steps!
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Build your base:
Begin with a cube of styrofoam, this one was 4.8″ x 4.8″ x 4.8″ square piece to create this fall mailbox swag.
Cut out one corner of the square and set it aside to save for a future craft. This will leave you with a “V” or “L” piece of styrofoam. There are a variety of ways to cut your styrofoam. I have tried the special styrofoam cutters, but I have found these knives to be the easiest.
Use this technique to secure pieces of wire to the styrofoam. Push a piece of stiff floral wire through the foam in two different spots about an inch apart. Then use something like this paper wrapped wire bent into the “W” shape. You need to do this to keep the wire from pulling through the styrofoam. The wire will cut through the styrofoam without that.
You are going to do that in both of the spots where the arrows have indicated. The long pieces of the wire should hang down beneath the upside down “V” of styrofoam as shown below. Make sure you use the same technique on the underside so those wires do not cut through the bottom of the foam, either.
Take this out and see if this will fit on your mailbox. You will extend the length of the wires to secure them beneath the mailbox. The wires are what will hold this on your mailbox.
Time to decorate:
I couldn’t take my mailbox indoors, so I used this small plastic container to use as a stand in for the mailbox while I styled my decoration.
You will want to cover the wires. Select a coordinated ribbon that is wide enough to cover the wires. Secure the ribbon to the styrofoam with floral pins. Don’t count on the ribbon with the pins to hold this on your mailbox, though. The ribbon is just for decoration, it is not to hold the swag on your mailbox.
Use any fall picks, floral picks and faux greenery and fall leaves you would like to make your fall mailbox swag. You can find most everything you need for this at your local dollar store. Select things with stiff stems that will push right into the styrofoam. You want to make sure they are secure and don’t slip out.
Continue to build your mailbox swag by adding fall leaves. Make sure you turn the piece around and add to all sides. This will be viewed from all sides and you don’t want any holes in your arrangement.
Here is a view from the top as I built up my swag.
Don’t hesitate to add some fun fall picks including faux pumpkins! If you don’t find pumpkins on stems, you can pierce the pumpkin with a wood stick and push the wood stick into the styrofoam to secure the pumpkins into the swag.
Sunflowers are a great nod to the fall season along with some pretty fall mums and autumn colored berries.
Once again, turn your swag around to make sure there are no exposed spots of styrofoam like this:
When you are confident the swag is full all the way around, you are ready to attach it to your mailbox!
Take your swag outside and put it on your mailbox. Using the wires, or some pipe cleaners, twist them tightly together beneath your mailbox. Use the ribbon to cover the wires. Enjoy having the prettiest mailbox on the street this fall!
What a festive way to greet your mail carrier!
Pin this:
Surprise your mailman and your neighbors with the prettiest mailbox on the street this fall with a fall decorated mailbox!
Decide on the holiday season you would like to decorate your mailbox for and gather some more ideas from these posts I have shared:
Valentine’s mailbox
Patriotic mailbox
Christmas mailbox decoration
If you just want to dress up your mailbox without making anything, or worry about this decoration being taken from your mailbox, you may want to just pick up one of these mailbox covers! You could also get a custom mailbox decal!
A lot of you asked if it is legal to decorate your mailbox. YES! It is, but don’t cover up your address or decoratie it in such a way that the mail carrier has to move the decorations to deliver your mail!
It turned out so very pretty . I love it . I bet your is the prettiest mailbox on the street . Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thank you Cindy…I am going to put it out this week and will probably switch it out for Halloween then put it back out in November!
Did you take the ribbon and try the ribbon to the bottom of your mail box? I can see the ribbon looks longer than the box so I just wondered what you did since I saw the wires also. Going to try to do 1 for the next 3 months!
I actually used wire to secure it beneath the mailbox, and then I hid the wire with ribbon.
Oh how pretty Chloe!
Thank you Jenna!
Lovely! Some years ago I had an arrangement I purchased for the mailbox that had velcro strips running under it to secure it to the box. It lasted several seasons before it fell apart.
That is a great way to adhere one to the mailbox.
This is absolutely lovely! I will have to check my stash for supplies. This arrangement could be made for any season. Thanks for the idea!
Thank you Donna, yes, I plan on making a new one for each season!
You will be the envy of the neighborhood. Love your mailbox arrangement.
Thank you Bonnie! I hope the kids leave it alone!
Chloe, that’s beautiful but there is an easier way. Those cemetery forms that you make for monuments with a block of Styrofoam in the center and wire loops on each end will work. Decorate the center piece and bend the loops around your mailbox. Long leaves will cover the loops.
Yes, you will have the prettiest mail box in Celebration. I love it.
Thanks for the idea Myrna! I will have to check out the size and see if I can make it fit!
Hi Chloe!
Your mailbox is sooooo pretty!
I am going to copy it for a regular kind of mailbox!
Thank you for sharing it.
Laurie
Thank you so much Laurie! I will be decking it out for Christmas, too!
Your neighbors must be so inspired with all of your decor. This is a great idea and I’m looking forward to all of the transformations on your mailbox. And yes, you can start on the Christmas decor anytime!
My next door neighbor did ask if I was selling the things! Thank you so much for your kind complements!
l love your mail box it really is so pretty l live in England and we don’t have mail boxes but seeing yours l really wish we did its beautiful
Thank you Lynda. It is kind of sad that they are doing away with so many mailboxes. I feel fortunate that I still have a traditional mailbox at the street!
Beautiful mailbox enhancer. How does it hold up in the weather my mailbox is at the curb,,
I li ve in Florida, but my mailbox is also at the curb . I don’t get snow, but I get plenty of wind and rain and it has been holding up fine.
Watching from Calvert City, Kentucky.
Looks lovely. But I am not sure how you actually attached it to the mailbox. Can you help?
The wires I attached to the styrofoam need to be attached to additional wire or to zip ties that are wrapped underneath your mailbox. The ribbon is just to cover the wires, just for decoration.
Love it, but I can tell you don’t live in Cut Bank, Montana.
No, you are right, I live in a planned “new Urban” community!
I live five miles out and no protection for my mailbox.
I don’t have any protection from the weather here in Florida and mine has held up just fine.
Chloe! You did an awesome job. You are a sweet inspiration too! I will try this project, it’s simply gorgeous!
Thank you so very much Elizabeth! Have you made yours? I would love to see a picture!
I am going to make one like this for my mail box it is so pretty!
loved your fall decoration for the mail box first time viewing really enjoyed
Chloe, this is so cute! I’ve decorated my mailbox for Christmas, but never fall. Our mailbox is not in front of our home. It’s across the street. They are all together so the mailman can drive by and fill them all. Still, I am going to do this. Thanks for sharing with SYC. I will be featuring you tomorrow.
hugs,
Jann
I love the Ideas on the mailbox can’t wait to try. I am from Georgia
Thank you Frances! I put mine on my mailbox today! September is here and I am ready!
Love this creative way to make the outside arrangement Can’t wait to make one with my daughter in law ! Thank you!!
Thank you Marcia! I hope she enjoys it!
Your beautiful mailbox inspired me! I started making it tonight and it is so very pretty. I can’t wait to put it on my mailbox!& I just haven’t figured out yet how to attach the wires to attach it to the mailbox. Do I just add on to the original ones that I put in like yours with the covered M? I’ll be following your blog all the time now-thank you!!
Karen
Hi Karen! Thank you for your kind words, I am so glad I inspired you! Yes, you just extend the wires with additional pieces to reach under your mailbox and secure it with those wires. Good luck and thanks for the follow!
Beautiful. Baton Rouge. LA
Thank you Chloe for the wonderful mailbox idea. It was simply beautiful. This is the first time I have watched. Will watch you again.
Deborah Frasher
Cincinnati, Ohio
Thanks so much Deborah, it is so easy and makes your mailbox stand out!
I truly enjoed this demonstration. I will definitely try it.
Thank you Vera!
I really liked your tips on how to decorate my mailbox. This would be really fun to add to my mailbox once we get one. I really want a fancy mailbox with some steel decorations that I am going to talk to a professional about.
Oh, that sounds pretty! Our HOA only allows simple black mailboxes, so I like to decorate mine for holidays.
Love this – tried it last year and it was very pretty, but with the wind and rain in fall in Chicago, it broke apart – in half – before the season was over. Going to us the decor I bought to do something different with it this year. Love a good mailbox decoration!
Mine turned out great until someone stole it☹️
Oh no!!! Isn’t it sad how some people act today.
I have a question. I saw your mailbox decoration on hometalk and was very impressed. ordered the styrofoam and cut it out as you did, but now I have a problem. I live in a townhome where there are two mailboxes side by side on a board and no opening underneath to tie on to. How can I get it to firmly stay on in the weather? I had started the decoration and then found this out. Any suggestions? I have racked my brain.
I am racking my brain, too. Do you think there is any room to put a small nail in the board on each side and attach a wire to the nail to secure the piece?
It is so pretty I have to make one thank you for the idea