The $8 Christmas item you didn't know you needed

I had never heard of a Christmas tree skirt until my daughter got her first job at our local The Reject Shop.

She was telling me about her first day on the job, and I asked her what the most unusual item a customer asked for was. She said it was something called a 'Christmas tree skirt'.

My daughter had no idea what Christmas tree skirts were or if they sold them. I had never heard of them either and thought they must be some niche product only a few people used.

How wrong I was.

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Later that week, I visited my local Kmart and was met with a display of Christmas tree skirts and something called a Christmas tree collar.

I still wasn't exactly sure how they worked, until I visited my local Christmas Warehouse where they had them set up and on display.

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Christmas tree skirts seem to act as an elaborate doily for Christmas trees, hiding the bottom of the tree and laying a foundation on which to place gifts.

They can also be made from a sturdier fabric and be set up in a standing position around the base of the Christmas tree instead of laid on the floor.

They come in a variety of colours and materials and can easily be matched to your Christmas tree or decorations.

A visit to my local Roni's also uncovered even more varieties of Christmas tree skirts and collars.

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Kmart buys that add a festive fun to every room of the house

What interested me about the collars was that they would be a great way to keep my cats and kittens from attacking the bottom of our Christmas tree, which we just set up.

Yes, we set up our tree a tad early this year, but it's only because we just moved into a new place with high ceilings and got a little overexcited.

It turns out the 8ft tree was just a touch too tall, but if we bend the top down and add a modest star to it, we can make it work.

This year, Christmas tree skirts seem to be the must-have addition to festive displays. I have gone from never having heard of them before to seeing them everywhere!

My cousin who was visiting from the US said they are common in the States, but seem to have just become popular Down Under.

Now, with a Christmas tree skirt and/or Christmas tree collar, our display will be complete – and with the addition of a collar, will be safe from fur baby attacks. Not to mention hiding all the wires from Christmas tree lights.

We found Christmas tree skirts and collars at The Reject Shop, Kmart, Christmas Warehouse, Ronis and Myer.

How have I gone so long without knowing about this?

We also found a TikToker who shows you how to make your own Christmas tree skirt using leftover festive materials.

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Although prices start at just $8 for Christmas tree skirts (at The Reject Shop) and $18 for a Christmas tree collar (Kmart), so it may be easier to purchase one next time you are stocking up on decorations.

But be careful, because they can cost as much as $50-$60 each for both skirts and collars, depending on which ones you choose.

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