How to Make a Christmas Tree Basket (Using a Woven Tree Collar)
To create the look of a Christmas tree basket, use a sectional woven tree collar and flip it upside down so the widest opening is at the top. Assemble the panels around your tree stand with the narrower opening on the floor. This simple trick gives you the look of a large woven basket without having to find an actual basket big enough to fit your Christmas tree and stand.
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Want to create this Christmas tree basket look? I used a woven tree collar for this easy trick. Shop the exact woven tree collar I used
Do you love the idea of a Christmas tree basket as much as I do? I've always wanted to display my holiday tree nestled inside a sweet woven basket, but didn't want to spend a fortune on some overpriced wicker creation.
This year I discovered a simple trick to get the cozy look of a large Christmas tree basket using an affordable four-panel woven tree collar. Just flip it upside down!
At a Glance: Christmas Tree Basket (Using a Collar)
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- Start with a sectional woven tree collar: Look for one with separate panels that hook or fasten together around the tree stand.
- Flip the collar upside down: Instead of placing the wide opening on the floor, turn it over so the widest part surrounds the lower branches.
- Create the basket look: The inverted shape makes the woven tree collar look like a large Christmas tree basket without requiring an actual oversized basket.
- Check the fit first: Make sure the narrow opening fits around your tree stand and that you can still access the water reservoir if you're using a fresh tree.
- Works with real or artificial trees: Just account for the size and shape of your particular tree stand before choosing a collar.
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- At a Glance: Christmas Tree Basket (Using a Collar)
- Christmas Tree Collar vs Basket: What's the Difference?
- My Secret Hack: Invert a Woven Tree Collar
- Choosing the right Christmas tree collar
- How to make a woven tree collar look like a Christmas tree basket
- The perfect cozy basket illusion
- Frequently asked questions
- More holiday decor inspiration and creative ideas
Christmas Tree Collar vs Basket: What's the Difference?
If you have ever wondered about the difference between a Christmas tree collar and a Christmas tree basket, you are not alone. Both are designed to hide the base of your tree, whether you are working with a fresh tree and its water stand or an artificial tree with a wide metal stand.
A Christmas tree collar is typically a single piece or a set of panels that wrap around the base. Most are made from wicker, wood, or metal. They sit on the floor around the stand and give your tree a clean, structured look. Collars work especially well with artificial trees since you do not need to water them, but many people use them with fresh trees too if the collar design leaves enough space to access the water basin.
A Christmas tree basket creates a softer, more organic look. Instead of rigid panels, it resembles a decorative woven or solid basket that your tree appears to sit inside. This style blends beautifully with cozy, farmhouse, or collected holiday decor. For fresh trees, baskets need to be large enough to hold the water stand and still allow easy watering. For artificial trees, baskets are simpler since you only need to fit the base.
Both options elevate your holiday style by hiding the unsightly stand. A collar delivers a more modern, tailored effect, while a basket feels casual, warm, and natural. The best choice comes down to your decorating style and whether your tree is fresh or artificial.
Note: If you have a large planter basket you would like to use for your Christmas tree, see my post on how to put an artificial tree in any planter.
My Secret Hack: Invert a Woven Tree Collar
I took a standard woven hyacinth tree collar and flipped it over so the widest part was on top instead of the bottom. Suddenly, my collar looked like the large woven Christmas tree basket I'd always wanted! No one would ever suspect it started as an ordinary tree collar or that the bottom of the "basket" doesn't even exist.
Choosing the right Christmas tree collar
The key is finding a woven tree collar made from separate panels that connect around the tree stand and base of your tree.
Look for a collar with built-in closure hooks on the panel edges, no hot glue required! This allows you to easily link the pieces into a collar, or in my case, an inverted basket. The hooks securely connect the panels while leaving room for a small opening to slide around the base of your tree.
Since I use fresh-cut Fraser firs in my New England home, I was careful to measure my tree stand and the height of the lowest branches first. Most importantly, make sure the collar's smaller opening is wide enough to fit around your tree stand, since that becomes the bottom when you flip the collar upside down. This trick works with both real and artificial trees, but stand sizes and dimensions will vary.
Tip: Regardless of whether you use this collar in the traditional way or as a faux basket as outlined in this post, these panels are genius for easy storage in your holiday storage space!
How to make a woven tree collar look like a Christmas tree basket
Time needed: 10 minutes
Materials:
- 1 paneled woven tree collar (with 4 separate panels and closure hooks)
Instructions:
- Stack the panels
Lay out the 4 woven wood panels. Make sure the hooks are positioned so you can easily connect them later.
- Connect the panels
Connect the four panels using the built-in hooks, leaving the final two panels unfastened so you can position the collar around the tree.
- Check the collar
Stand the collar upright as it's normally used, with the smaller opening on top and the wider opening at the base. This helps you see the shape before the flip.
- Invert the collar
Carefully flip the collar upside down so the widest opening now faces upward. This creates the illusion of a deep basket.
- Position around your tree
Slide the inverted collar around your tree stand so it sits at the base of the tree. If the back faces a wall, you can leave a small gap between the panels, or close all four sides for a complete basket look.
Because my fresh Christmas tree has branches very low to the ground, I didn't need to add anything inside the collar to fill the space. But for trees with more room underneath, you could creatively embellish by tucking in pine sprigs, A cozy throw blanket, woodland moss, shredded paper, excelsior or other filler. Make it your own!
Result: In less than 10 minutes, you'll have transformed an ordinary woven tree collar into a stylish Christmas tree basket that feels cozy and custom.
The perfect cozy basket illusion
I am so thrilled with how my upended woven tree collar convincingly mimics the Christmas tree-in-a-basket look. This wicker basket trick is incredibly simple but makes such a difference!
I hope my simple collar inversion inspires you to think "outside the box" when it comes to displaying your Christmas tree. It's such an easy way to step away from a traditional Christmas tree skirt and create something a little more unexpected.
Frequently asked questions
When using a real basket, choose one about one-third the width of your tree's base so it looks balanced. If you're using my woven tree collar hack, any standard collar will work because the inverted design naturally creates the basket effect.
Instead of a traditional tree skirt, try a woven tree collar, an oversized planter, a vintage crate or even a bedspread or a table cloth as a tree skirt alternative. These alternatives hide the stand, add style, and can match your holiday decor better than fabric skirts. My hack turns a collar into a basket look.
A Christmas tree collar basket is simply a tree collar styled to look like a decorative basket. Instead of wrapping your tree stand with fabric, you place the collar around the base to mimic a woven basket. It creates a polished, cozy look for the holidays.
To make a tree collar look like a basket, assemble your collar panels as usual, then invert it so the widest end faces up. Slide it around the base of your tree, and it instantly mimics the look of a decorative basket without buying one.
More holiday decor inspiration and creative ideas
When the season winds down, I take the woven collar apart and pack it away with the rest of my decor. If you're looking for simple, affordable ways to store your Christmas decorations, I shared my favorite Christmas storage bins here on the blog too.
Thanks for visiting the blog today for this Christmas tree basket post. I hope it inspired you to think outside the box this holiday season. Happy holidays!
Keep creating, friends!
thanks for sharing this awesome idea of the tree basket. Looks super cozy! Have you shared the link for candle holder on your mantle??? I would love that.
Hi There,
It was from Target but sold out quickly. I will add the link in the event it comes back in. Here it is: https://rstyle.me/+k_vADRDsWFqjRqEy4Vm8Aw
Thanks for visiting the blog!