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Perhaps even more than a topper, a tree skirt is an accessory that will complete your tasteful Christmas centerpiece. It acts as an anchor point for the pine or fir you’ve chosen at your local farm (or that favorite faux you pulled out of storage) and is a complement to every green branch decorated with bulbs and ornaments. There are no sparkling snowflakes or embroidered Santa Claus caricatures here, however: We promise that our list of the best tree skirts you can buy, below, is anything but cheesy. Our favorites offer a range of pretty prints and sophisticated, subtle neutrals, rounded out with a few collar options, too.
Best Minimalist Tree Skirts
Simple tree skirts are best if your Christmas color scheme skews soft and subdued (we’re talking creams, browns, and beige). In these instances, we turn to natural fibers like jute—one particular piece from H&M is our favorite for being far more expensive-looking than it is (at a palatable price point of $18!)—and ultra-smooth velvet, including a channeled option from CB2 that one reviewer claims “reminds me of the snow back home in Minnesota.”
Best Rustic Tree Skirts
If your Christmas vibe is more akin to the Cotswolds cottage featured in The Holiday, take the rustic tree skirt route. Our favorite designs that fall under this category offer warmer, woodsier tones and textures that remind us of the real base of a tree. These styles also have a tendency to lean into traditional and vintage-inspired patterns—both the embroidered options from Julia Amory and IKEA recall Scandinavian prints that would look right at home at an après-ski lodge.
Best Classic Tree Skirts
You know the ones—stripes, gingham, and plaid in classic combos of red, white, and green. Our favorite classic Christmas tree skirts come with a bit of nostalgia, easily mistaken for a family heirloom that’s been passed down from generation to generation.
Best Nontraditional Tree Skirts
Combining a maximalist pattern and luxe fabric is one foolproof way to achieve fancy festive vibes. When it comes to nontraditional tree skirts, we look for vibrant, unusual palettes and whimsical details, whether scalloped trim or felt fringe or a pom-pom–adorned edge.
Best Tree Collars
We’ve been very into tree collars as a skirt alternative since we spotted Shea McGee’s hack using a willow woven basket a few Christmases ago. Lucky for us, her McGee & Co. shop now includes a wicker look-alike. “This is so pretty in person and fit my bulky tree stand perfectly,” one reviewer writes. Other benefits of going with a collar or cuff: This is the type of treatment that will refuse to look rumpled or get caught, always staying neat and tidy in place. Unsurprisingly, our top picks either feature braided wicker or rope and slats of painted wood.
Ask Domino
Q: How big is a tree skirt?
The standard diameter of a tree skirt is typically 60 inches. There aren’t often a lot of size options to choose from, with the other popular offerings being a smaller 34, 48, or 54 inches.
Q: What if I can’t find a tree skirt big enough to fully cover up my tree stand?
In instances when you can’t find a skirt big enough to cover your tree stand, there are a couple of crafty DIY hacks you can try. One of the easiest routes is simply buying an oversize throw blanket or a bunch of extra fabric and bunching it around the base of your tree. Or just do as Shea McGee did a couple of years back and stuff it in a big basket.
Q: Is there a difference between a Christmas tree skirt and a collar?
The biggest difference is the material. A skirt is often fabric that wraps around the base of a tree flatly, whereas a collar more closely hugs against the trunk to cover the stand. You’ll likely lay your presents on top of a skirt but next to a collar.
The Last Word
If you haven’t invested in a stylish Christmas tree stand, then you’re probably in need of one of the best tree skirts. Not only do they disguise the base of a tree but they offer a foundational place on which to stack presents. Much like the bow on top, a skirt ties your overall gift-opening spot together and makes Christmas morning feel that much more magical.