Want to make a DIY Christmas tree collar? Here are a bunch fo step by step tutorials to teach you how to make a Christmas tree collar!

Christmas tree collars are a super trendy Christmas tree skirt alternative. They have a bit of a more sleek, modern look compared to a fabric tree skirt.

Think of a sofa – some have a fabric flap around the bottom, while others just have small feet. Neither is wrong, it’s just a different aesthetic and vibe.

Tree collars hide the base of your Christmas tree and are surprisingly easy to DIY! You can upcycle them from everyday items or make one from scratch!

Today we are excited to share our homemade Christmas tree collars and links to a few other DIY Christmas tree collar tutorials from some of our friends!

What is a tree collar?

A Christmas tree collar is like a choker necklace for your tree. They cover the base and stand of your tree without any excess material.

They tend to look more sleek and modern than a tree skirt. Tree collars are typically made of firm materials like wicker, metal, or wood, and not from fabric.

I made a metal tree collar for our faux tree two years ago and absolutely love it.

I think it looks much more streamlined and minimalistic compared to a tree skirt. Plus, it takes up less room on the floor. More room for presents!

Tree collars are a great option if you want to cover the base or stand of your Christmas tree and want something more solid than a piece of fabric.

Can you use a tree collar with a real tree?

Yes, of course! While tree collars were originally designed to hide the base of artificial trees, they can also work with real trees. Just be sure that your tree’s stand will fit inside the collar and you are good to go!

You will also want to be sure that you are able to water your Christmas tree through the collar. It should be open on the top and you can use a watering can.

How to install a tree collar

There are two styles of Christmas tree collar: ones that come in two pieces and snap together around the base of the tree stand, and ones that do not.

If you have a two piece tree collar, set up your Christmas tree and then slide the two pieces of the collar in place around the stand.

If your tree collar is one solid piece, you will need to set down the stand, add the collar on top, and then place the tree into the stand through the collar.

This can be precarious and usually involves 2 or more people.

Obviously, the two piece collars are easier to work with (and easier to store!), but they are much less common.

Tree Skirt vs Tree Collar

Christmas tree skirts are typically circles of fabric with a hole in the middle for the tree trunk (and usually a slit to slide it in place easily). Christmas tree collars are usually made of a hard material like wood, metal, or wicker.

The benefit of a tree skirt is that it folds up small and takes up nearly no storage space. They can be washed and swapped out after a few years for a new look.

However, tree skirts can get wrinkled and disheveled much easier.

Tree collars typically are large and do not fold or collapse, so they take up much more storage space. However, they are more durable and stay in place once positioned.

Tree Collar vs. Box Tree Stand

If you are used to putting your Christmas tree on a box stand, then you are already halfway to a tree collar. The difference is that the Christmas tree base goes INSIDE the tree collar instead of ON TOP of a box stand.

One benefit of a box stand is that they add height to your tree. See how we use a DIY box stand to make our Christmas tree look taller.

A modern tree collar does not add height to your tree, but it does cover the base and gives it a sleek look.

Both the tree collar and the box tree stand are popular alternatives to a tree skirt, and you can’t really go wrong with either one!

How do you make a tree collar fit?

It is super important that your tree collar fit around your tree stand. Measure the inner width and length as well as the height. A tree collar with a stand sticking out is… not a great look.

On the other hand, you don’t want it to bee too big for your tree either. You can always cut lower branches to make room for a tree collar, but generally you want to size it appropriately without needing too much pruning.

Typical store bought tree collars will vary from about 21″ in diameter to 27″ in diameter, and between 9″ and 11″ in height. Larger trees should have larger tree collars, with smaller trees getting smaller tree collars to look balanced.

Do you put a tree skirt under a tree collar?

This is 100% a personal preference. I prefer a clean, modern look which means no tree skirt. But, if you want layers or an almost carpet for your gifts, there is no harm in layering a tree skirt under a tree collar!

Check out my favorite DIY tree skirts here!

Make your own tree collar vs buying one

You can purchase pre-made tree collars at places like:

• Target
• Amazon
• Hobby Lobby
• Home Depot
• Michael’s
• Joann Fabric
• Pottery Barn

However, they typically cost 3x or even more the cost of making your own! It’s easy once you know how to make your own tree collar!

DIY Christmas Tree Collar Ideas

Christmas tree collars are easy to make. They can be expensive or inexpensive depending on what you have on hand and how creative you can get shopping.

What can I use as a tree collar?

There are tons of different options for Christmas tree collars. The most common materials are:

• Galvanized metal (like a galvanized bucket)
• Woven (like a wicker basket)
• Wooden
• Fabric (like burlap)

Basket tree collars are one of the easiest DIY tree collar options – all you need is a basket slightly bigger than your tree stand!

If you are using a faux Christmas tree, you can place it directly in the basket. If you have to water your real tree, I suggest cutting the bottom out of the basket to make it easier to water.

How to make a Christmas tree collar

To make a DIY tree collar, you basically need something big enough for your Christmas tree base to fit inside. This could be a a basket, bucket, bin, or anything.

You will need a hole or opening for the tree to fit in through. It needs to wrap around the base of the stand. Usually, this will involve cutting the bottom off of you basket or bucket.

You can get really creative and design a modern tree collar to match any style of holiday or home decor.

There really are no limits to the possibilities!

Here are some of my favorite Christmas tree collar DIY ideas:

Where to buy a tree collar

Don’t want to DIY? Here are some of my favorite tree collars on Amazon:

Love Christmas? Click here to download our FREE funny printable gift tags!

What’s your favorite Christmas tree collar?