Christmas Tree Toppers

A Christmas tree topper is the last piece you fit and the first one anyone notices. It crowns the tree and pulls the whole scheme together: a tree without one always looks unfinished, however carefully the rest is decorated.

Star, finial or angel

The star remains the most common choice, after the star of Bethlehem. A slim finial stretches the silhouette visually — useful under a low ceiling or on a narrow tree. The angel belongs to tradition and is often handed down through a family.

Glass, metal or wood

A blown glass topper catches the light from the string and extends a scheme built on glass baubles. Pierced metal breaks the light into patterns. Wood suits a natural look, beside a Nordmann tree.

Lit toppers

A lit topper reads from across the room and earns its place on tall trees, where the crown often sits in the shadow of the lights. Check two things: the power supply — mains means running a cable down the trunk; batteries become hard to reach once the tree is dressed — and the colour temperature, which should match your Christmas lights. Never mix warm and cool white.

Getting the proportion right

This is the usual mistake: too small and it disappears, too large and the crown bends. Allow roughly one tenth of the tree's height — about 20 cm for a two-metre tree. Check the fitting too: push-on toppers suit artificial trees with a slim leader, while a real tree sometimes needs its tip trimmed slightly.

Original toppers

Beyond the star, you will find toppers shaped as a glossy sphere, a snowflake, a figure or a graphic silhouette. An original topper works best when the rest of the tree stays restrained: it is the one place where a bold piece does not overload the composition.

See also our decoration boxes and our full range of Christmas decorations.