The snow has fallen, and it’s time to get outside and experience a true winter classic—building a snowman! However, before you put on your boots, check out these tips and tricks to help you create the best-looking snowman on the block.

Choose wisely.
There’s a difference between dry, powdery snow and wet, slushy snow. When it comes to building a snowman, you want the perfect balance of both. Just the right amount of water will help keep the snow together, but too much will make it too heavy. On the contrary, dry snow won’t be able to hold its shape.

You also want to make sure that there is enough snow on the ground before you start building. Unfortunately, a light dusting won’t suffice. At least four inches of snow makes for ideal conditions.

Find the best home. 
Sure, the finished product might look best if it’s right next to your sidewalk, but the location has to be ideal for the building process. Your snowman will not hold up if the surface is on a hill. In fact, to prevent it from falling, it’s best to select the flattest location possible, preferably under a tree, so your creation is also protected from any sun and doesn’t melt too quickly.

Balance it out.
Unfortunately, an unbalanced snowman will topple over. To avoid a catastrophe, aim for a 3-2-1 snowball ratio. For example, if the lowest snowball has a diameter of three feet, the middle ball would be two feet, and the top ball would be one foot. It’s also best to keep in mind that, although building a tall snowman might seem like a good idea, the taller it is, the greater the chance of it falling over—so try to keep it lower to the ground. Another way to increase its stability is by flattening the top of each snowball before placing the next one on top.

Get creative.
While this won’t make or break your snowman, getting creative with the decorations can oftentimes be the most fun part! Unique additions like an ugly Christmas sweater, a cowboy hat, a tiara, eyes made out of pinecones, and even a bowtie can take your masterpiece up a level.