The tree topper is the full stop at the end of your Christmas decorating. It is the highest thing on the tree, the first thing guests look at, and somehow the last thing most of us think about — so we grab the same dusty star from the attic and call it done. But the topper is also the easiest way to make a tree feel styled rather than just decorated.
The secret the best-looking trees share is not budget — it is cohesion. A topper that speaks the same language as the rest of your decor, whether that is Scandi-minimal, farmhouse-rustic, or full festive glamour, is what makes the whole tree click into place. This list is organised by decor style, so you can go straight to the section that matches your tree.
Here are 25 Christmas tree topper ideas, grouped by the five styles real homes actually have — with DIY options, clever buys, and a few things you already own.
Modern and Minimalist
Minimalist trees live on restraint: a tight colour palette, simple shapes, and negative space doing the heavy lifting. Your topper should be a clean silhouette, not a busy centrepiece — think sculptural, single-material, and deliberately quiet.
- 1. Geometric gold wire star. A five-pointed star made from bent brass or gold wire — hollow, architectural, and striking against sparse branches. You can bend one yourself from craft wire in about twenty minutes, or buy one for very little.
- 2. Slim brass hoop topper. A simple metal ring, mounted upright like a halo over the treetop. It reads as modern art, adds height without bulk, and works beautifully on slim pencil trees where a heavy topper would look ridiculous.
- 3. Monochrome ribbon cascade. Gather long tails of a single ribbon — matte black, ivory, or champagne — and let them fall from the crown of the tree. No structure at all, just movement and colour. It is the lightest topper possible, which matters on artificial trees with flimsy tops.
- 4. Frosted acrylic star. A clean-cut star in frosted acrylic catches the tree lights and throws a soft glow without a single bulb of its own. Feather-light, shatterproof, and quietly futuristic.
- 5. White ceramic star. A matte white ceramic or porcelain star is the minimalist’s classic: calm, elegant, and the same topper will still look right in ten years. Heavier than it looks, so wire it firmly to the trunk.
Rustic Farmhouse
Farmhouse trees are all about texture: wood, twine, burlap, dried things, and the warm feeling that someone made this. These toppers lean natural and handcrafted, and several of them cost nothing but a walk in the woods.
- 6. Grapevine star with fairy lights. Bend grapevine into a five-pointed star (or buy the ready-made form from a craft shop) and weave a short string of warm-white battery fairy lights through it. Glowing, organic, and the quintessential farmhouse topper.
- 7. Antiqued metal finial. Scout flea markets or salvage shops for a tarnished metal finial, curtain-rod end, or vintage drawer pull mounted on a short dowel. It looks like it has been in the family for generations, even if you bought it in October.
- 8. Dried hydrangea cloud. Gather several large dried hydrangea heads in cream or faded blue and nestle them over the treetop like a soft cloud. Romantic, weightless, and a lovely use for garden flowers you dried in autumn.
- 9. Vintage-style mini lantern. A small metal lantern — with a battery tealight inside, never a real flame — hung or wired to the crown of the tree. It glows at night and looks charmingly old-fashioned by day.
- 10. Twine-wrapped cone with lights. Wrap a cardboard cone tightly in natural twine, dot it with a few tiny dried berries or pinecones, and tuck battery micro-lights into the twine. Under an hour to make, and it suits any warm-neutral tree.
Glam and Sparkle
If your tree is dripping in metallics, mercury glass, and enough glitter to alarm the hoover, your topper needs to compete. These are unapologetically dramatic — reflective surfaces that catch every light on the tree and throw it back into the room.
- 11. Crystal icicle burst. Cluster faceted acrylic or glass icicle drops around a small central ring so they fan upward like a frozen firework. It reads as pure ice palace, and it picks up the tree lights spectacularly.
- 12. Peacock feather plume. Gather a dramatic bouquet of peacock feathers — real or faux — and fan them from the crown of the tree. The iridescent greens and blues look impossibly luxurious against red or gold decor.
- 13. Mirror ball topper. A small disco ball wired to the treetop throws dancing light spots around the whole room when the tree lights hit it. Festive, fun, and oddly glamorous — it is having a genuine moment in interior styling.
- 14. Gold laurel crown topper. A gilded laurel or olive-branch crown, made from craft-store floral picks, sits on the treetop like a Roman emperor’s wreath. Regal, unusual, and a conversation starter.
- 15. Champagne glitter branch spray. Fan several glitter-dusted decorative branches upward from the crown, mixing champagne and gold tones. It adds a full 30cm of height and drama, and costs a fraction of a designer topper.
Vintage and Heirloom
The most-loved toppers are often the ones with a story. These ideas either reuse something with history or fake the patina convincingly — because a topper that looks like it has seen fifty Christmases feels like it belongs.
- 16. Victorian-style glass angel. Antique-style blown-glass angels, often in blush pink or icy blue with spun-glass wings, were the height of Victorian tree fashion. Reproductions are widely available and instantly add old-world charm.
- 17. Mid-century plastic starburst. Those atomic-age starburst toppers from the 1950s and 60s — spiky, kitschy, glorious — are collectible now, but faithful reproductions are cheap. Perfect on a retro or tinsel tree.
- 18. Family brooch bouquet. Gather a few inherited or charity-shop brooches and pin them onto a small velvet-covered ball or cone. Jewelled, deeply personal, and it gives Grandma’s costume jewellery a starring role every December.
- 19. Vintage sheet-music cone. Roll pages from an old hymn book or music score into a cone, top it with a small bow, and add a sprig of holly. Musical, nostalgic, and it costs whatever a charity-shop songbook costs.
- 20. Lace doily star. Stiffen a vintage crocheted doily with fabric stiffener, fold and layer two or three into a star, and add a pearl bead at the centre. Delicate, feminine, and genuinely one of a kind.
Playful and Family
Not every tree needs to look like a magazine shoot. If your household runs on chaos, small children, and questionable taste, the topper should be the funniest thing in the room — the decoration equivalent of an inside joke.
- 21. Light-up acrylic snowflake. A large clear snowflake pre-wired with cool-white LEDs that runs on batteries. It glows like a little constellation above the tree, and kids are reliably mesmerised.
- 22. Family monogram letter. Cut your surname initial from wood or thick card, paint it in your tree’s accent colour, and mount it on a dowel. Personal without being sentimental, and it photographs brilliantly.
- 23. Coastal starfish. For beach-house trees or anyone dreaming of warmer Christmases, a large starfish wired to the crown is unexpected and delightful — especially dusted with a little white glitter “sea spray.”
- 24. Candy-cane cluster. Bind five or six real or faux candy canes into a striped bouquet with ribbon, hooks facing outward. Sweet, graphic, and it doubles as emergency tree snacks if you use the real ones.
- 25. Mini Santa sleigh with reindeer. A small wooden or metal sleigh, pulled by a tiny reindeer figurine, perched on the treetop as if about to take off. Whimsical, nostalgic, and the kids will check every morning to see if it moved.
How to Choose, Secure, and Store Your Topper
Scale is the make-or-break factor: aim for a topper roughly one-tenth of your tree’s height — about 15 to 20cm on a standard 6-foot tree. Too big looks clownish, too small vanishes. Weight matters just as much, especially on real trees with bendy top branches; when in doubt, choose lighter, or reinforce the top branch by wiring it to the sturdy one below.
For mounting, use whatever the topper gives you — a cone or spiral base on shop-bought toppers, floral wire or sturdy ribbon tied firmly for DIY ones, or a short wooden dowel pushed into the trunk for heavy pieces. Always do the wobble test: give the tree a gentle shake and make sure the topper stays put. And store delicate toppers in their own box with tissue paper at the top of the decorations box — never crushed under the baubles. For more festive ideas as the season builds, browse Beverly Magazine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the traditional Christmas tree topper?
The star is the most traditional topper worldwide, symbolising the Star of Bethlehem — a custom that traces back to 18th-century Germany. The angel is the classic runner-up, especially on traditional and religious-themed trees, and has been popular since Victorian times.
How do I attach a topper to an artificial tree?
On most artificial trees, gently bend the top branch into a slight curl and slide the topper’s cone or spiral base over it, then secure with floral wire. For DIY toppers, tie them on firmly with ribbon or wire so they cannot slide off.
What can I use instead of a star or angel?
Almost anything with a mount: a big bow, a monogram letter, a favourite ornament, a small lantern, a feather plume, or a natural bundle of branches. The only rules are that it suits your tree’s style and stays securely in place.
How big should my tree topper be?
About one-tenth of your tree’s height — roughly 15 to 20cm for a 6-foot tree. Slim pencil trees suit tall, narrow toppers like hoops or branch sprays; wide, full trees can carry something bolder without looking top-heavy.
Can I put a topper on a small tabletop tree?
Yes, but keep it light and small — a heavy topper will topple a tabletop tree. Mini bows, tiny stars, small pinecone clusters, or a single statement bauble wired to the top all work well.
Bottom Line
The right topper is the one that makes your tree feel finished — and finished does not mean expensive or conventional. It means the crown of your tree speaks the same language as everything below it. Whether that is a geometric wire star on a minimalist tree, a glowing grapevine star on a farmhouse one, or a disco ball because your family is fun, pick the idea that matches your style and your people. The top of the tree is prime real estate. Spend it on something you love looking at.
