We recently finished a bedroom makeover, turning our primary bedroom into this beautiful moody space with a dark patterned rug and black feature wall. For years, I’d dreamed about having a Christmas tree in there – just imagine waking up to soft twinkle lights on winter mornings. This year, I finally bought my first artificial Christmas tree to make it happen.
The only problem? The basic metal tree stand would look completely out of place in our carefully designed room. After looking at fancy retailers selling trees in gorgeous planters (with equally gorgeous price tags), I knew I could create the same look myself.
I’ll show you exactly how I transformed a basic artificial tree into something that looks custom-made for our space using a planter and some simple materials. The best part? This method works in any room where you want your faux trees to look more high-end than holiday store basic. Let’s dive into How to Put an Artificial Christmas Tree in any Planter!

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Why Choose a Planter Over Traditional Tree Skirts
I’m always hunting for fresh ways to style our Christmas decor. Last year, I figured out how to flip our tree collar upside down to create a basket look for our real tree in the living room. But for our bedroom tree, I wanted something completely different.
After years of wrestling with tree skirts that never stayed put, I started looking at different ways to dress up my Christmas tree base. Tree collars were everywhere last year, but most looked too rustic for my bedroom’s modern style. That’s when I noticed high-end design magazines showing trees in beautiful planters.
Here’s what I love about using a planter instead of traditional tree covers: you can match it exactly to your room’s style. I picked up a ceramic planter and painted it with my favorite almost black paint. It now mirrors the modern vibe of our bedroom, but you could just as easily use a vintage crate for farmhouse style or a brass planter for glam decor.
I checked prices at design stores – they want $300+ for pre-made tree planters. But I made mine using a $20 Marshall’s find. The best part? When January rolls around, I can use it for my actual plants.
This setup works great for any size tree too. My bedroom tree is 7.5 feet tall, but my neighbor used the same method for her tiny 4-foot tree in her entryway. She liked it so much, she’s planning to try it with her real tree next year.

Quick Tip for Short Trees: This base system can solve the problem of a too-short artificial tree. A standard 5-foot tree can gain an extra 16 inches of height in a tall concrete planter, helping it better fill a space with high ceilings. Adding rocks in the bottom of tall containers provides extra stability, and remember to plan for the added height when running your light cords. It’s a simple way to make a shorter tree work without buying a new one.
Choosing the Right Size Container for Your Tree
When you’re shopping for a planter, keep scale in mind. A container that looks huge in the store might end up looking tiny once your tree is set up. Think about it – most planters are designed for regular houseplants, not 6-7 foot Christmas trees.
Take a measuring tape when you shop. I spent a good hour at Marshall’s holding up different containers and picturing how they’d look with my tree. My rule of thumb? The planter should be about 1/3 the width of your tree’s bottom diameter. Too small, and your tree will look top-heavy. Too large, and it’ll throw off the whole look.
Quick Reference Size Guide
Here’s what I’ve found works best after testing different combinations:
Height Of The Tree | Minimum Planter Diameter | Ideal Planter Height | Example Container |
---|---|---|---|
3-4 feet | 12-14 inches | 10-12 inches | Large ceramic pot |
5-6 feet | 16-18 inches | 12-14 inches | Storage crate |
7-8 feet | 18-20 inches | 14-16 inches | Barrel planter |
9+ feet | 24+ inches | 16-18 inches | Large basket |
Container Tips from My Experience
- Your planter should be about 1/3 the width of your tree’s bottom diameter
- For slim trees, you can go smaller – my bedroom tree is slim, so I used a 14-inch planter
- The container height should hit just below where your tree’s first row of branches start
- Make sure your bucket fits inside with at least 1 inch of space around it
Weight Matters
- Taller trees need heavier bases
- If using a lightweight container like a basket, you might want to add some rocks in the bottom
- My concrete-filled bucket weighs about 22 pounds – perfect for my 7.5-foot tree
Remember, these aren’t strict rules – they’re starting points. I’ve seen people use all sorts of containers successfully. The key is proportion. If it looks right to your eye, it probably is.

What You’ll Need For This Project
The Main Pieces
- Your artificial Christmas tree (I’m using a 7.5-foot slim tree)
- A decorative planter that fits your tree
- 1-gallon plastic bucket – this becomes your new tree stand
- PVC pipe that matches your tree pole diameter
- Light strings (If your tree is not pre-lit)
Quick note: You won’t need your tree’s original stand for this project. We’re creating a completely new base that’s slimmer and more stable than those wide metal stands that come with artificial trees.
For the Base
- 1 bag of quick-set concrete mix (I used this concrete mix)
- 5 gallon bucket for mixing
- Plain water for mixing
- Small level
- Drill and Drill Attachment for mixing concrete (optional)
Basic Tools
- Measuring tape
- Pencil for marking
- Saw for cutting PVC (a hand saw works fine)
- Painters tape (to cover end of PVC)
Optional but Helpful
- Sand paper to smooth PVC edges
- Drop cloth to protect your floor while mixing concrete
- Work gloves
I spent about $30 total at Home Depot on new materials – the concrete, bucket, and PVC pipe. The best part? This setup is actually more stable than the original stand because the concrete adds weight at the bottom. Plus, it takes up way less space, so your tree can fit into almost any container you like.


Making Your Custom Tree Base: Step by Step
1. Getting Your Measurements Right
First step is taking apart your artificial tree. Remove the original metal stand – you won’t need it anymore. Now measure:
- Your PVC pipe needs to match the diameter of your tree’s center pole (mine was 1.25 inches)
- Mark where your tree sections connect – this helps with PVC height
- Check how tall your planter is to make sure your tree will sit at the right height


2. Setting Up the Base
This is the messy part, but it’s pretty straightforward:
- Put your bucket in the center of your planter
- Cut your PVC pipe to match the height of your planter – this way, your tree’s bottom branches will rest nicely on the planter’s rim
- Mix up your concrete according to package directions
- Pour concrete into the bucket, filling it about 3/4 full
- Wrap one end of your PVC with tape (to keep concrete from entering the pipe)
- Push your PVC pipe that is covered with tape into the center of the wet concrete
- Use a level to make sure your pipe is perfectly straight
- Let it sit overnight






3. Testing the Fit
After the concrete sets:
- Try fitting your tree’s bottom pole into the PVC pipe
- If it’s too tight, sand the inside edge of the PVC
- If it’s too loose, wrap some electrical tape around your tree pole until it fits snugly
- Give it a gentle shake – it should feel solid
4. Putting It All Together
Now for the fun part:
- Drop your tree’s bottom section into the PVC pipe
- Add your other tree sections
- If your tree seems a bit wobbly, adjust the PVC fit with tape
- Run any light cords down the back
- Cover the top of the bucket with some tissue paper or moss for a natural look if you can see it
The whole project took me about an hour of active work, plus drying time. My tree hasn’t budged since I set it up!

Creative Container Ideas
My black ceramic planter works for our modern bedroom, but there are lots of options that could work for your space. On my thrift store hunts, I’ve spotted:
- Large woven baskets (just make sure they’re sturdy enough)
- Wooden crates with character
- Copper or brass planters for a bit of shine
You don’t need to spend much either. I saw a gorgeous vintage metal container at Goodwill last week for $12. Check local vintage markets, thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace – especially right after the holidays when people are decluttering.



I love how my bedroom potted tree turned out – the black planter matches our moody decor perfectly, and the whole setup took just an afternoon to create. Once the holidays wrap up, I’ll store the bucket-and-PVC base with my artificial tree sections. The planter will look great holding a large faux olive tree in our bedroom until next Christmas.
Knowing me, I’ll probably get the itch to switch things up again next year – maybe try a vintage brass container or a large storage basket. That’s what I like about this DIY base system. The concrete stand works with any container, so I can change the look without starting from scratch.
And if you’re wondering about my decorated living room tree – yes, I’m still using that flipped tree collar trick from last year. But who knows? Maybe next Christmas I’ll end up making another one of these planter bases for that tree too. Thank you for visiting, How to Put an Artificial Christmas Tree in a Planter. For more Holiday inspiration please visit my Holiday Home Decor page.
Happy Decorating Friends!
