Tree skirts are everywhere during the holiday season, but they’re also pretty standard. You’ve seen them – red, green, gold, shimmery, plaid, the list goes on. Although you may appreciate a traditional look, sometimes you want a Christmas tree skirt that is different. Unique. One that will make people say, “Wow! I wish I’d thought of that.” Here are some tips to get just that effect.

Go for the Fabric - Since Christmas tree skirts will soon be covered up with presents and maybe dry pine needles, a simple piece of silver fabric may be all you need to achieve a shiny effect. There are a couple of shiny fabric options to consider as alternative to your Christmas tree skirt. Even if you cannot sew, you can certainly cut a piece of fabric into a circle and cut a slit for the tree. You can find silver lame fabric or silver organza fabric, which may be more readily available at the local fabric store. The silver touch will look angelic under your Christmas tree. During the Christmas season you can sometimes find wedding materials and supplies on sale at department stores and large retailers.

Go Retro - Shop at the local thrift stores in search of a retro Christmas tree skirt, or offer to clean out the attic of your favorite great aunt or older neighbor. They may have an old yet lovely Christmas tree skirt tucked away, waiting to be discovered.

Get Crafty – Purchase a plain Christmas tree skirt in a color you want, and use this as a blank canvas for your creativity. If you love dogs, you can use fabric markers to draw pictures on the skirt. If lace and flowers are your thing, hunt around for lace bits and cloth scraps that have flowers on them, and sew or glue them on (using fabric glue). Let the kids draw all over it.

Use What You Have - You can use almost anything for a tree skirt, so be creative and look around your house. You just have to find something that's big enough to cover the tree stand and flow out from under the tree. Consider using tablecloths, quilts, sheets, bedspreads, blankets, leftover upholstery or drapery fabric, drapery panels, and fleece or chenille throws.

The point is to create a Christmas tree skirt that is unique to you, so go wild!

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