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A Christmas tree is even cuter in a basket! 🎄🤎 This is one of my favorite holiday styling hacks, and it is so simple to do.
Instead of leaving the tree on its metal stand, I tucked a cardboard box inside a woven basket and created a snug opening for the tree to sit in. It keeps the tree steady, hides the stand completely, and gives a small tree that cozy, elevated look. Here is the quick video from my dining room, my step-by-step, and everything I used linked below each photo, so just swipe through to shop!
Why I Put My Christmas Tree in a Basket
Small trees usually come with a fold-out metal stand, and in a corner like this one, the stand is the first thing you notice. A basket covers it, adds warm texture next to the wood floors and black chairs, and makes a smaller tree look intentional, almost like a big potted plant. It is also one of the easiest ways I know to make a simple faux tree look more high end.
My tree is a pre-lit faux cypress from Walmart. I love how soft and airy the branches are, and it fills the corner without taking over the room. The basket I used is sold out right now, so I linked similar baskets and tree collars in the next section. Here is my tree plus a few more small trees that would look so pretty in a basket:
How I Set a Tree in a Basket: The Cardboard Box Trick
This is the part that makes it work. A basket on its own is too wobbly to hold a tree, but a box inside gives the trunk something sturdy to stand in. Here is exactly how I do it:
- Take the tree off its stand. I set the metal stand aside, because the basket does its job now.
- Find a sturdy cardboard box that fits snugly inside your basket. The tighter the fit, the less the tree can shift or lean.
- Cut an opening in the top of the box just big enough for the tree pole to slide in. A snug opening is what keeps the tree standing straight.
- Set the box in the basket and slide the trunk into the opening. Check it from a few sides and adjust until the tree looks straight.
- Fluff the bottom branches out over the rim so the box disappears, then plug in the lights.
A couple of tips: pick a basket that is a little wider than the base of the tree, so the branches can drape over the edge without the tree looking like it is sinking. If your tree feels top-heavy, you can add some weight inside the box, like a few books, before the tree goes in. And if you would rather skip the box altogether, a woven tree collar gives a very similar look. Baskets and collars I love:
Styling the Base with Lanterns and Candlelight
Once the tree is in, I like to finish the base with lanterns. I used two black lanterns at different heights, tucked right up against the basket, so the corner glows at night. Mixing heights keeps it from looking too matched. A few stems or a little glass tree on a nearby shelf or sideboard carries the same look through the rest of the room. Everything I used to style it:
The Dining Room Around My Tree
I love having a little tree in the dining room. It makes the whole room feel festive, and the light in this corner is so pretty. The neutral backdrop of creamy walls, linen curtains, black chairs and warm wood lets the greenery be the star, so the room feels festive without a lot of extra decor. Here is everything in my dining room:
More Christmas Tree Ideas
Want more tree inspiration? Here is how I decorate a Christmas tree so it looks full and cozy, step by step. And you can shop everything from this video on my LTK, linked right here: