Choosing the Right Christmas Tree Skirt
A Christmas tree skirt is a decorative circular cover that sits around the base of your tree, hiding the stand, trunk, plastic pot and trailing cables, while catching any dropped needles and creating a neat space for presents underneath. It is the finishing touch that pulls your whole Christmas tree display together, and it works with both real and artificial trees. Choosing the right one comes down to three things: material and style, the size of your tree, and how you plan to use it.
Tree Skirt Materials and Styles
Our skirts come in a range of materials to suit every interior. Natural wicker, rattan and seagrass basket skirts are one of the biggest decorating trends right now, giving a relaxed, Scandi-inspired look while neatly concealing the pot: you simply lift and drop the tree inside. Faux fur skirts in snowy white or soft grey add a cosy, winter-wonderland feel, while velvet brings a rich, luxurious touch in deep jewel tones. For a more traditional look, tartan and knitted skirts never go out of style, and rustic hessian suits a country or farmhouse theme. Pick a material that echoes your existing decorations and tree topper for a co-ordinated finish.
What Size Tree Skirt Do You Need?
As a rule, choose a skirt with a diameter around 15cm (6 inches) wider than the widest lower branches of your tree, so it covers the stand and sits just beyond the foliage without looking oversized. As a rough guide, small tabletop or 3ft to 4ft trees suit a skirt of around 60cm to 75cm, 5ft to 6ft trees work well with around 90cm to 100cm, and larger 7ft to 8ft trees look best with 120cm or more. Basket-style wicker skirts are measured by the diameter of the basket itself, so check that your tree stand or pot will fit comfortably inside before you buy.
How to Use and Style Your Tree Skirt
For an artificial tree, assemble and decorate the tree first, then wrap the skirt around the base with the opening at the back and smooth it into place. For a real tree, make sure you can still reach the stand to top up the water, and shake off any needles the skirt catches before you store it away. Once it is in place, arrange your presents on top, wind any spare tree lights around the base for extra glow, and step back to enjoy a beautifully finished tree. After Christmas, brush off any debris and keep your skirt in a storage bag so it stays fresh for next year.
