7 Christmas Tree Base Ideas: Collars for a Polished Look

A fully decorated Christmas tree is a sight to behold — a TREE TOPPER perched up high, branches dressed in ORNAMENTS, and festive LIGHTS. An often-overlooked detail, however, is the tree base and it can be easily spruced up with a tree collar, skirt, or even a basket. Below we share a few decorating ideas for Christmas tree bases.

Introduction to Tree Collars

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• What Is a Christmas Tree Collar?

  Tree collars are conical cylinders that latch around the base of your tree. These offer more coverage than tree skirts, and are commonly made of metal, wood, or natural fibers.

• Do You Need a Christmas Tree Collar?

  Christmas tree stands, whether for real or artificial trees, are purely utilitarian and have protruding screws. Tree collars, on the other hand, are both functional and decorative in that they hide unsightly stands while complementing the rest of your tree décor.

• What Is the Difference Between a Tree Collar and Skirt?

  Skirts started as a way to protect the floor from falling needles and wax drippings of traditional candlelit Christmas trees. Unlike collars, tree skirts lie flat on the floor and are usually made of fabric material.

• What Size Christmas Collar Do I Need?

  Christmas trees under 7 feet pair well with Balsam Hill’s small collars that measure up to 29 inches in diameter. For trees that are 7 to 11 feet tall, we recommend our large collars that come in 34 inches and can cover tree bases up to 32 inches in diameter.

Christmas Tree Base Decoration Ideas

Check out these festive tree base ideas that our designers recommend.

Earthy Appeal With a Basket Collar

Made from handwoven cattail plant fibers, this basket Christmas tree collar creates a beautiful textured look for your display. Our Woven Tree Collar is available in two sizes in either a light brown or chestnut color.

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Shine and Sparkle With a Metallic Collar

This tree collar features natural capiz shells and a gilded metal frame in a matte finish. Perfect for a glam or metallic-themed décor, this gold Christmas tree collar is a striking accent to your glass ornaments and sparkling ribbons.

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Rustic With a Wooden Barrel Collar

Inspired by whisky barrels, this wooden Christmas tree collar features vegan leather trim and iron rivets for that rustic look. The collar is made from fir wood and comes in three parts with latching hinges for quick assembly.

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Weathered Chic With a Wooden Crate Collar

For a modern farmhouse look, go with a Christmas tree box collar. Our Wooden Crate Collar is available in four colors and features hinged panels that interlock to protect the bottom part of your tree.

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Nostalgic With a Christmas Drum Collar

Handcrafted from galvanized iron, our Christmas Drum Collar comes in a classic red color and features a gold rope trim. This is an ideal choice if you’re going for a traditional Christmas decorating theme this year.

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Modern Industrial With an Olive Bucket Collar

Our Olive Bucket Collar is made from iron and designed with the rugged look of slatted metal buckets. Whether industrial or farmhouse, this versatile collar complements a variety of decorating styles.

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Delightful Charm With a Christmas Village Collar

Create an enchanting scene for your gift-giving traditions with our Christmas Village Tree Collar. This handcrafted collar features six connectible pieces and comes pre-lit with warm white LED lights.

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More Questions About Tree Collars?

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Christmas tree collars.

• How Do You Cover an Artificial Tree Base?

  You can use a tree collar to cover an artificial tree’s base. Wrap it around the metallic feet of your tree and— depending on how they’re made — hinge its detachable sections or attach its magnetic sides to each other.

• What Can I Use as a Base for My Christmas Tree?

  Aside from collars and skirts, some Christmas tree base ideas include using everyday household items such as blankets, THROWS, or scarves. You can also repurpose a piano stool as a tree stand for your small Christmas tree. Another option is to take out the planter boxes you used in spring or summer and use them as the base.

• What Are Some Tree Collar Alternatives?

  CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRTS are beautiful alternatives to tree collars. Balsam Hill offers a wide assortment of skirts in various sizes and designs to suit any decorating style. We also have matching stockings for some of our tree skirts to complete your holiday display.