A great big ribbon bow on top of the tree, with streamers cascading down through the branches and picks fanning out around it — that's the look that makes people gasp when they walk in. It's also way more doable than it looks. Here's how I make one, and the honest moment where you decide to keep going or let me. — Jodie
A bow topper does three things a stiff star never could: it adds height and movement, it lets you pull your tree's colors all the way to the top, and it gives you those gorgeous streamers that cascade down and tie the whole tree together. Once you've done a ribbon topper, it's hard to go back.
The cover photo on this post is one of mine — a watermelon-themed topper with layered ribbons, picks, and long streamers. Same method works for any theme, from coastal to classic Christmas.
You'll need: 6–8 yards of wired ribbon total (two or three coordinating patterns is ideal), floral wire and cutters, scissors, and a few tall picks (berry sprays, glittered branches, anything that echoes your tree's theme).
Go big — this is viewed from across the room. A topper that looks "a little too big" in your hands is usually just right on the tree. Make your loops larger than you would for a door bow.
Build a full layered bow. Use my how to tie a bow with ribbon method: leave a long tail, make a loop, pinch and twist, make the matching loop, repeat in pairs. Treat your two or three coordinating ribbons as one stacked piece so they read as a single lush bow.
Leave extra-long streamer tails. For a door you'd cut tails at 12–18 inches. For a topper, leave them long — a couple of feet — so they can cascade down through the branches. You'll trim them in place once it's on the tree.
Wire it with long lashing tails. When you secure the center with floral wire, leave several inches of wire free on the back. Those are your anchors for attaching it to the tree.
Add tall picks behind the bow. Before it goes up, tuck tall picks — berry sprays, glittered branches, themed picks — up and behind the bow and wire them to the back so they fan out above and around it. This is what turns a bow into a full topper arrangement.
Lash it to the top of the tree. Use those long back wires to tie the bow directly onto the top branches and the center pole. Twist tight, tuck the ends in. It should feel anchored, not balanced on top.
Cascade the streamers and fluff. Gently weave or drape the long streamers down through the branches so they spiral down the tree. Then step back, open up every loop, and adjust the picks so the whole thing reads full from across the room.
Real talk: a bow topper is one of the more ambitious bow projects, mostly because of the scale and getting it anchored well up high. If you love a project, go for it — it's so worth it. But if you want the wow without wrestling ribbon over your head on a step stool, this is exactly the kind of thing I make.
And honestly? The topper is often where people decide they'd rather I just do the whole tree, or the whole house. If that's you, let's talk — I decorate full trees and homes across the Crystal Coast every season, and the calendar fills up early.
Place Makers Suite 26, Emerald Plantation 8700 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle, NC 28594 Wednesday–Saturday, 10 AM–6 PM (252) 764-0011
Walk in, custom-order, or call ahead. Reach out through the contact page to order a custom tree topper or book holiday decorating. Shipping available anywhere in the U.S.
— Jodie
Place Makers is a bow bar, wreath studio, and holiday decorating service in Emerald Isle, NC. We serve homeowners, second-home owners, vacation rental managers, and event decorators across the Crystal Coast — from Beaufort to Swansboro, and every beach in between.
More than you think — a tree topper is meant to be seen from across the room, so it has to be big. Plan on at least 6 to 8 yards total across your ribbons for a full-size tree. If you're layering two or three coordinating ribbons (which is what gives that lush, professional look), that's a few yards of each. Buy extra; you can always trim the streamers.
Leave long pieces of floral wire on the back of the finished bow when you build it, then use those wires to lash the bow directly onto the top branches and the center pole of the tree. Twist them tight and tuck the ends in. For long streamers, you can wire or gently weave them down through the branches so they cascade. A bow topper should feel anchored, not perched.
Wired ribbon, always — the wire is what lets the loops and streamers hold their shape and stand up tall. For a topper you can go wider and bolder than a door bow, since it's viewed from a distance. Mixing two or three patterns (a stripe, a solid, and a pattern, for example) in coordinating colors is what makes a topper look custom instead of flat.
Absolutely, and you should — it's the secret to a designer topper. Tuck tall picks (berry sprays, glittered branches, picks that echo your tree's theme) up and behind the bow before you wire it on, so they fan out above and around it. The picks add height and drama and turn a simple bow into a full topper arrangement.
Yes — custom tree toppers are one of our favorite things to make. We build them to match your tree's colors and theme at our Emerald Isle storefront (Suite 26, Emerald Plantation, 8700 Emerald Drive). Walk in Wednesday through Saturday 10–6, call (252) 764-0011, or order through the contact page. We ship anywhere in the U.S., and we decorate full trees and homes across the Crystal Coast.