How to Add a Christmas Ornament to a Ceiling Light or Fan Pull Chain
When it comes to holiday decorating, I’m all for the kind of festive touches that make you smile in the middle of an ordinary moment. You know… like turning on a lamp and seeing a little sparkle, or walking by a window and catching the twinkle of something unexpected. And if you ask me, one of the most overlooked “tiny spots with big potential” is the pull chain on a ceiling fan or light fixture.
Today I’m sharing how to make a Christmas ornament pull chain. It is a simple, quick DIY that uses a small ornament to add a cheerful detail right where your hand already goes every day. It’s one of those projects that looks custom and charmingly nostalgic which I am going for this year.
And… even if you don’t have a ceiling fan or light fixture in your home, this project may inspire you to look around your home to find small ways to add a festive touch where you least expect it.
Before you dive into the steps, it helps to take a quick look at your existing pull chain setup. If yours has beaded chain coming out of the base of the fixture with a connector at the end where you can add more chain this is what you want.
You can add more chain to attach to that existing chain keeping the function exactly the same, you’re just adding a decorative accent.
And here’s the best part about making a project like this. It isn’t a one-and-done project. Because it’s removable, you can swap it out whenever you want. A Christmas ornament now, a pretty tassel in January, something coastal for summer, then right back to holiday sparkle next December. It’s basically seasonal styling… for your ceiling fan.
How to Add a Christmas Ornament to a Ceiling Fan or Light Pull Chain
To make my Christmas ornament pull chains for the ceiling fans in my kitchen I used the inexpensive unbreakable or shatterproof style of ball ornaments that you can buy just about anywhere Christmas decorations are sold from the dollar store to Hobby Lobby. I bought mine at Walmart.
If your fixture has both a light and fan chain, you can choose to make both chains the the same length or use two different ornaments. I used two red ornaments that had different textures that catch the light. I hung them so one was slightly shorter. It looked better to my eye.
supplies needed:
- Lightweight Ball style Christmas ornament – the unbreakable shatterproof kind
- Length of bead ball chain and connector in the metal color you desire – silver, gold, white or bronze
- Hot glue
- Metal snips, wire cutter or sharp scissors
- To make the pull chains, start by deciding whether you’re using the existing chain or creating a new one. If your fixture already has a decorative pull attached, simply remove it so you’re left with the plain beaded chain.
If not, a replacement beaded chain is easy to find at any home improvement store or online, and it comes in several finishes so you can coordinate with your fixture.
2. Once you know how long you want the chain to hang, cut it to size. This is one of those moments where it helps to stand back and eyeball it before committing, you want the ornament easy to grab without hanging so low that it becomes distracting. Use snips or wire cutters to cut the chain to length needed.
3. Next, gently twist the metal hanger cap at the top of the ornament to remove it. On the ornaments I used, a little twist was all it took before the cap popped right off. To allow the beaded chain to slide through, you’ll need to slightly enlarge the hole in the cap. The pointed tip of snips, an awl, or even the tip of a sturdy pair of scissors works well for this.
4. Thread about an inch of the chain down into the ornament cap, then secure it with hot glue. Add a little extra glue inside the cap and quickly press it back onto the top of the ornament, holding it steady until the glue sets. Once it cools, give it a gentle tug to make sure everything feels solid.
5. The final step is attaching your new ornament pull to the existing chain using a simple chain connector. This makes it easy to remove or swap out later, which is one of the best parts of this idea.
And just like that, you’ve added a small touch of Christmas magic to a spot most people overlook. Every time you turn on the light or fan, there’s a festive reminder that it’s the little details, the unexpected ones that can make a home feel special during the holidays.
To see more of my Christmas decorating ideas and more, don’t miss My Christmas Projects & Ideas Page here on my blog.
More Christmas Decorating Ideas
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This is SO CUTE!!
Thanks Emma – It’s one of those little details that can make a space look extra special. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.