Once the tree is up and decorated, the bottom of it is usually a metal stand and a tangle of cords. Something has to cover that, and there are two choices: a collar or a skirt. They do the same job in quite different ways.
Tree collar
A rigid ring, usually woven, metal or wood, that sits around the stand like a cuff. It gives the tree a neat, finished base and looks more modern.
What’s good about it: it stays where you put it. Nobody can kick it into a heap, and dogs can’t drag it around. It gathers the lowest branches in a little so the tree looks fuller at the bottom, and presents can lean against it.
What’s not: it’s sized to the stand, so it has to be right. Too small looks squeezed, too big swallows the base. It can’t drape over a stand that’s off-center or a real tree with an awkward base, and if your stand’s legs stick out wider than the collar, you’re back where you started.
Suits modern and farmhouse trees, homes with cats, and anyone who doesn’t want to keep straightening fabric.
Tree skirt
A circle of fabric with a slit and a hole in the middle. It’s been around forever because it’s forgiving: it covers a crooked stand, a wide stand, a real tree’s uneven base and the power strip. It comes in every fabric, from quilted cotton to faux fur to knit, and it’s soft, which is nice with toddlers running around.
What’s not so good: skirts move. They get kicked and bunched up, especially in a busy room. Thin ones wrinkle and look cheap, and good ones (quilted, lined, weighted hem) cost about as much as a collar.
Suits traditional and cozy rooms, homes with small kids, and real trees.
Sizes
Collars need an opening that clears your stand’s legs with an inch or two to spare. Measure the actual stand before ordering; some cheap stands have very wide legs.
| Tree height | Collar diameter | Collar height |
|---|---|---|
| 4–5 ft | 19–22 in. | 9–11 in. |
| 6–7 ft | 22–27 in. | 10–14 in. |
| 7.5–9 ft | 27–33 in. | 12–16 in. |
| Over 9 ft | 33 in. or more | 14 in. or more |
Skirts should reach 6 to 12 inches past the tips of the lowest branches.
| Tree height | Typical branch spread | Skirt diameter |
|---|---|---|
| 4–5 ft | 30–36 in. | 42–48 in. |
| 6–7 ft | 42–52 in. | 54–60 in. |
| 7.5–9 ft | 52–62 in. | 60–72 in. |
If you’re unsure, go bigger. A big skirt can be tucked under; a small collar can’t be stretched.
Materials
- Woven rattan or seagrass. (Example (on Amazon).) Warm and textured, good with farmhouse, coastal and boho trees. Cheap ones shed fibers and can snag the low branches.
- Galvanized metal. (Example, for small trees (on Amazon).) Clean and a bit industrial; great with flocked trees and metallic ornaments. Shows fingerprints and dents, and doesn’t sit well with a traditional red and gold tree.
- Wood. Sturdy and rustic, nice with plaid. The heaviest option, and it can warp if stored somewhere damp.
- Fabric skirts. The widest range of looks; a neutral knit skirt (on Amazon) suits most rooms. Light colors show dirt from the stand.
- Burlap or kraft paper wrapped around the stand. Practically free, rustic, and you throw it out in January.
With pets
Cats: a collar. A skirt is basically a tent, and cats love it. A metal collar also isn’t fun to scratch. If your cat climbs the tree itself, neither option will help much.
Dogs: it depends. A big dog with a busy tail will knock a light collar sideways, so either get a heavy wood or metal one or use a skirt, which just settles back down. Small dogs that like to nest will treat a skirt the way cats do.
Either way: skip tassels, pom-poms and fringe, which are toys. Avoid sharp metal edges at nose height. Run the light cords behind the tree, not across the skirt or collar.