Ceiling

Try this decorating cheat for the perfect Christmas tree toppers

We’ve all been there – the Christmas tree is decked out in all its weapons, only the one topped with glory. But when you go to the treetop spot you’ve chosen for the year, it’s not the guiding star you had imagined.

Over the years as an in-house journalist, I’ve designed dozens and dozens of Christmas trees—real and fake, budget and expensive (sometimes quite shocking), but the top of the tree is always problematic. For more dramatic tree toppers, these branches aren’t up to the task, which means they’ll bend over and you’ll get a somewhat shrunken Christmas tree. It’s a term I coin “topper flop,” and it’s probably the most frustrating thing that can happen when decorating your tree.

Luckily, I’ve picked up a few Christmas decorating tricks in my time, but one, in particular, is my go-to for getting the perfect, gorgeous tree top. Plus, it’s an idea that also means you can use the standard ornament for a topper as well, which is perfect if you haven’t found the perfect ornament to crown your tree yet.

Here’s what you need to know.

Hugh Metcalf

How to get a fun Christmas tree topper

My solution to floppy branches of Christmas trees spoiling your star attraction? Avoid placing your topping on the exact same tree.

Instead, insert a small hook into the ceiling, tie the ornament topping the tree with string or twine, and hang it exactly where your star should sit. The ornament will balance with the top of your tree, without sitting directly on it. I usually choose a tree that stops a very short distance from my ceiling, but even if you have 2 feet between the ceiling and the tree, a longer piece of twine can be used.

(Image credit: Luke Arthur Wells)

The key to this trick is to make sure your tree is in a perfect position before hanging your ornament, because once your hook is in place, it’s hard to reposition the top, although you might be able to adjust it a bit if you use a screw hook.

Of course, the only drawback to this idea is that if you use a screw hook, which I often use while keeping them in my toolbox, you will punch a hole in the ceiling, which you will have later to fill and repaint. However, you can use a temporary anchor to hang your top coat which should leave the paint untouched.

Either way, you’ll need to consider the weight of your ornament. For most typical Christmas tree toppers, a simple hook or stick hook will do for the job—for something heavier, you might not be able to use this trick unless you can find a ceiling joist to attach it to.

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Clear Wall Hook, $9.99, Amazon

White Wall Hooks, $3.99, Amazon

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Command Bar Hooks, $11.79, Amazon

How else can I get my topper to stay straight?

This hack isn’t the only way you can get your attention up the tree, and if only to prove how widespread the ‘topper flop’ problem really is, there are plenty of products out there dedicated to correcting this mistake.

Of course, hanging it from the ceiling is an option you can probably make with what you’ve already got in your toolbox, but here are some of the best buys to invest in if you’d rather get n out of the box. – A square solution to your Christmas tree year after year.