A decorated Christmas tree with lights and ornaments stands beside a modern fireplace, complemented by a DIY Christmas tree collar. Above the fireplace, three stockings hang, marked with the letters L, B, and an unmarked one. Logs are stacked decoratively next to the fireplace.
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DIY Modern Christmas Tree Collar

ByLisa

Christmas is my favorite holiday and definitely my favorite to decorate for. But like all home decor, I love changing things up! This holiday season I wanted the Christmas vibe to be simple, with modern and neutral Christmas decorations to compliment the newly renovated family room. One of the key components is of course the Christmas tree. While I have added several small DIYs to the tree this year, I wanted to address a big one, the Christmas tree base. Metal tree collars have been all the rage, but I have yet to find a modern version. So, you guessed it, I made a wooden Christmas tree collar! It was a very easy project and I am going to show you how to make your own modern DIY Christmas tree collar with this simple tutorial.

A modern Christmas tree featuring a DIY black and wood tree collar is adorned with gold and silver ornaments. Cozy stockings hang by the nearby fireplace, enhancing the festive ambiance. Text overlay reads, "DIY Modern Christmas Tree Collar.

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DIY Modern Christmas Tree Collar

Like with many aspects of interior design, I frequently dream up ideas that don’t exist at a store to buy. Story of my life! In this case I was after a simple Christmas tree box stand that would hide the ugly tree base. I envisioned something black with a few wood accents. And this is how my DIY tree collar idea was born. 

What is a Christmas Tree Collar?

A Christmas tree collar is exactly what it sounds like. It is a covering at the base of the Christmas tree that hides the ugly tree stands and the bowl of water if you have a real tree. It replaces the traditional Christmas tree skirt. It is a great way to take your tree decor to the next level. 

Tree collars come in all different shapes, sizes, and materials. There are square collars and hinged collars for a tighter tree collar fit. And if you want a woven tree collar or galvanized tree collar there are plenty of options. But all of these seemed a little too farmhouse for me and I didn’t find many modern or wooden tree collars that weren’t crazy expensive. 

DIY Modern Christmas Tree Collar Materials 

1 – 1x12x8 Common Board
2 – 1x2x8 Boards
Nail Gun 
Clamps
Black Paint
Painters Tape
Sliding 12inch Miter Saw 

Before the modern Christmas tree collar, the base of my tree looked like this. Not only was it lacking pizzazz, but I can’t stand to see the cords! Speaking of, if you don’t have a smart plug for your Christmas tree, you are missing out! I love asking Google to turn on the Christmas tree every night 🙂 

A decorated Christmas tree with lights and various ornaments, including round baubles and a beaded hanging, stands on a wooden floor. A metal tree stand is stylishly wrapped in a DIY Christmas tree collar, while festive decor is partially visible in the background.

Step 1 – Buy Your Wood

Pick up a 1x12x8 common board from your local hardware store. I found mine at Home Depot and it cost less than $18.

Stacks of light-colored wooden planks with visible knots are vertically arranged on metal shelves in a hardware store, perfect for crafting a DIY Christmas tree collar. The scene showcases the organized storage of building materials, ready for your holiday projects.

Step 2 – Measure and Cut 

Measure the base of your tree stand to determine how large to make your Christmas tree collar. You will also want to measure the height of your tree from the ground. Mine is 21×18, but they do vary in size, so make sure to measure first. I have a thin artificial tree that is 9ft tall. If you have a wider, larger tree your stand will likely be bigger as well. 

A green and black compound miter saw is set up outdoors on a stand, ready to craft the perfect DIY Christmas tree collar. A wooden plank is positioned on the saw, eager for transformation. In the background, a brown wooden fence and white brick wall complete the scene.

Then cut your piece of wood into four pieces based on the size of your tree. I cut two pieces to 21.75 inches and two to 19.75 inches using the sliding miter saw. I used my first piece as a template for the second. You could also use a table saw or a circular saw. If you do not have a saw, you can ask your hardware store to cut the wood for you. I used the entire width of the board, so no rip cuts were required. 

Step 3 – Assemble the Tree Collar Pieces

Make a box with the four pieces of wood you cut in step two. The top and bottom of the box will be open as this is where the Christmas tree stand will sit. I used clamps to help hold the box together before nailing it. You don’t need clamps, but it does make this step easier. I used 1.25 inch brad nails in the nail gun to attach the four pieces with butt joints. You could also do this with a 45 degree angle cut if you have a sliding compound miter saw. 

A wooden box, soon to become a DIY Christmas Tree Collar, is being constructed on a table, secured with clamps. A nail gun connected to a hose rests nearby amid the construction materials and tools scattered in the background.

Step 4 – Paint or Stain the Wood Christmas Tree Box

Paint or stain your box. I chose to paint mine a solid color with leftover paint I had on hand from the stock tank pool. The actual color name is black. Clearly the person in charge of naming paint that day was hungover. Even a third grader can be more creative than that, haha! Technically this is exterior paint but I already had it. Any paint will do here. I used a foam roller and only painted the outside of my tree collar, but I wish I had painted the inside as well. At just the right angle I can see the unpainted wood inside of the tree collar.  

A can of Behr Ultra exterior flat stain-blocking paint and primer sits on a table next to a black paint tray with a foam roller. Nearby, someone is crafting a DIY Christmas tree collar, evidenced by splatters of the same paint and creative flair shining through the work in progress.

Step 5 – Cut Optional Wood Slats

To add some additional modern detail to my Christmas tree collar, I cut strips of wood from some scraps I had leftover from the fireplace makeover. I cut five pieces per side, for a total of 20 pieces. The scraps I used were leftovers from long rip cuts that were just the right size, but you can easily use 1x2s instead. This particular wood is beetle kill pine, so it has a bit of blue gray coloring to it.  

Two long, narrow wooden planks are laid parallel on a concrete floor, reminiscent of a DIY Christmas tree collar project. The planks boast a natural wood texture and are evenly positioned, while the floor exudes a slightly worn appearance.

Several pieces of weathered wood of varying sizes are laid out on a white surface, arranged in groups for a DIY Christmas tree collar, adding a rustic touch to your holiday decor.

Step 6 – Attach Optional Wood Slats

Use a brad nailer to attach the strips of wood to the Christmas tree collar. To help me decide on the placement, I used some painters tape to get a visual before nailing them in place. I chose to leave my wood strips natural to compliment the rest of the rooms décor, but you can definitely stain or paint them based on your personal preference. 

A black wooden box, reminiscent of a DIY Christmas Tree Collar, rests on a white cloth-covered surface, propped up by wooden blocks. Blue painter's tape is applied vertically, marking sections of interest or areas ready for painting or festive preparation.

Step 7 – Add Your Christmas Tree 

Place the base of your Christmas tree inside the tree collar. Because my tree was already up and decorated when I decided to make this on a whim, this part was a bit tricky. Ideally, it’s best to place the collar before the tree is assembled, but we managed to pull it off with only a Christmas tree decoration casualties. PS, I only use plastic ornaments because, life happens. Now you can decorate the rest of the tree and enjoy the bottom of the tree just as much as the top! 

A decorated Christmas tree with a DIY Christmas tree collar stands in the living room next to a fireplace. It is adorned with white lights, snowflakes, baubles, and a large star on top. The room features patterned curtains and a mantel with small decorative trees.

A beautiful Christmas tree collar is a super easy DIY project that can be done in a day! It adds the perfect finishing touch to the Christmas tree and works really well with the new mantel and picture ledge. It is also the perfect way to hide the cords to the tree lights. Not to mention, it’s the natural and modern vibe I was really after! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make one to fit my design style better? 

Absolutely! Raw or stained wood adds a more rustic touch while painted wood is more modern. For traditional styles you might try using trim molding for extra detail. 

Does it have to be made out of wood? 

Not at all! I have seen many DIY Christmas tree collar ideas that include a wicker basket, a block of wood, a large basket, a cardboard box, a vintage crate, a woven basket, and even outdoor planters. The choice is yours. 

Can I have a tree collar with a live tree? 

Definitely, you do not need a faux tree to do this DIY. You will just need to make sure you have plenty of room at the base of the tree to water it.

How do you store this? 

I store mine in the basement with my Christmas tree. If you need an easy way to store it, you might consider adding hinges and a latch on the inside. This will create easy storage and you can stash it flat under a bed 😉 

A comparison of a Christmas tree before and after its transformation with a DIY Christmas Tree Collar. The top image reveals the bare metal stand, while the bottom showcases the stylish upgrade with a decorative black and white box cover. Text: "Before" and "After.

Because I already had the paint and some scrap wood on hand, I was able to build this modern Christmas tree collar for less than $20! What do you think? Will you try this easy DIY Christmas tree collar this year? 

A decorated Christmas tree with glowing lights, white snowflakes, and assorted black, silver, and gold ornaments. The base is a DIY Christmas tree collar designed as a wooden box with vertical slats, sitting perfectly on the wooden floor.

A decorated Christmas tree with lights and ornaments stands proudly next to a white brick fireplace, adorned with a DIY Christmas tree collar. The mantel showcases festive decorations, including miniature trees and a stocking. The wooden floor enhances the room's warm, cozy ambiance.

If you enjoyed my DIY Modern Christmas Tree Collar, please share it on Facebook or hover over an image and save to Pinterest! And if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, or Facebook I would love for us to be friends!

A festive living room showcases a decorated Christmas tree with white and silver ornaments and bright lights. A wooden star tops the tree, which stands elegantly on a DIY Christmas Tree Collar. Nearby, a fireplace with stockings and decorative trees sits beneath a wall-mounted TV.

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A decorated Christmas tree proudly displays a DIY Christmas tree collar, complemented by ornaments, snowflakes, and nutcracker figures. The cozy scene includes a glimpse of the fireplace, wooden floor, and a softly draped curtain in the background.This post, DIY Modern Christmas Tree Collar, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

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