Tree Collar vs. Tree Skirt: Which One Looks Better

By
Lit Christmas tree with burgundy velvet ribbon and gold ornaments standing in a hammered gold tree collar against a dark wall

Affiliate disclosure. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, The Little Bird may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Purchases happen on the retailer's site, not ours. Some pieces Jennie has shared came from brand partnerships, including gifted products or paid collaborations. This post includes paid partnerships with Wayfair and Quince. Read our affiliate disclosure.

Tree collar vs. tree skirt comes down to texture. I pick a woven collar when I want a clean, natural base, and a faux fur skirt when I want the cozy, luxe look. Both hide the tree stand, so it's really about the feel you want under the tree.

Here's how I'd pick: a collar for texture and a tidy ring around the stand, a basket for an easy swap, and a skirt for softness all the way out to the edge of the branches.

Tree collars: a clean, woven base

A collar is a ring that wraps the base of the tree and hides the stand. I love a woven one, because it adds natural warmth without competing with the ornaments. The Target collar is the one I've used. It comes in several sizes and colors, so check the size against your tree. The pieces come apart, which makes it a lot easier to get around a big tree.

"This pre-lit Christmas tree adds a warm glow that reflects beautifully against the woven tree collar, giving a touch of natural texture." That slim tree is in my tree comparison.

Slim lit Christmas tree in a woven tree collar beside a light wood media console
A woven collar under a slim pre-lit tree.

The other two collars here are from Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel.

Woven water hyacinth tree collar in a natural brown finish

Product image supplied by Target through LTK.

Target

Woven Hyacinth Tree Collar, 42 in

  • Material: Woven hyacinth
  • Size: 42 in in this listing
  • Style: Collar that comes apart in pieces

I love how it adds texture and style to my Christmas tree display.

Shop at Target ↗

Rattan tree collar with a scalloped weave edge on a light background

Product image supplied by Pottery Barn through LTK.

Pottery Barn

Rattan Scallop Tree Collar

  • Material: Rattan
  • Edge: Scalloped
  • Style: Collar

Shop at Pottery Barn ↗

Braided light wicker tree collar around the base of a decorated Christmas tree

Product image supplied by Crate & Barrel through LTK.

Crate & Barrel

Braided Light Fiber Wicker Tree Collar

  • Material: Braided light fiber wicker
  • Style: Collar
  • Match: A similar look, not an exact match to anything I use

Shop at Crate & Barrel ↗

The gold hammered collar under the tree at the top of this post is from World Market, but I can't find it on their site anymore, so I left it out. The ribbon on that tree is in how I put ribbon on a Christmas tree.

A basket instead of either one

This is the swap I love most: I traded our traditional tree skirt for an oversized woven basket from Wayfair. It's an easy way to add warmth, texture and that cozy, collected feel to your tree without spending a fortune. The rest of my tree order is in how I decorate a neutral Christmas tree.

Wayfair Tatiana open-weave rattan basket in a natural finish

Product image supplied by Wayfair through LTK.

Wayfair

Tatiana Open Weave Rattan Basket

  • Material: Rattan
  • Style: Open weave
  • Used as: A tree base in place of a skirt

I swapped our traditional tree skirt for this oversized woven basket and I love how it turned out.

Shop at Wayfair ↗

Tree skirts: soft, full and cozy

A skirt covers the stand and the cords and finishes the tree out to the edge of the branches. In our bedroom I went with a black faux fur skirt from Quince, and I love the cozy, luxe touch it adds under a warm, twinkling tree. Quince lists the faux fur one in ivory, latte, pine, glacier and snow right now, so check the page for the color you want. Both Quince skirts here are 60 inches across with a 7-inch center opening and tie on with three fabric ties.

Quince faux fur Christmas tree skirt in black

Product image supplied by Quince through LTK.

Quince

Faux Fur Tree Skirt

  • Size: 60 in across, 7 in center opening
  • Material: 100% recycled polyester
  • Closure: 3 fabric ties
  • Color shown: Black, the one in my bedroom

The black faux fur skirt adds a cozy, luxe touch.

Shop at Quince ↗

Ivory cotton velvet tree skirt with channel stitching and fabric ties

Product image supplied by Quince through LTK.

Quince

Cotton Velvet Tree Skirt in Ivory

  • Size: 60 in across, 7 in center opening
  • Material: Cotton velvet, filled with cotton
  • Detail: Channel stitching, 3 fabric ties
  • Care: Dry clean only
  • Note: A fresh find I haven't styled

Shop at Quince ↗

Collar or skirt: how I'd choose

Pick a collar if

  1. You want a clean, natural base with texture, like woven or rattan, that works with greenery and wood.
  2. You don't want a big circle of fabric on the floor.
  3. You like the look of rattan or a basket at the base.

Pick a skirt if

  1. You want the soft, cozy look of faux fur or velvet under a full tree.
  2. You want a soft place to set gifts.
  3. You want the stand and the cords covered out to the edge of the branches.

Shop this look

The pieces from this post, all from Jennie's LTK. Current prices and sizes are on each retailer's page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I size a tree collar or tree skirt?

Check the diameter in the listing and compare it to your tree stand. The Quince skirts are 60 inches across, and the Target collar comes in several sizes. If you're between sizes, I'd pick the wider one so it sits flat around the stand.

For more ways to finish a tree, see my budget Christmas decorating finds. Shop whole rooms on Shop the Look, or browse the Shop.

Brands in this post

Keep reading

More on the same topic