Choosing the right Christmas tree

How to choose the right Christmas Tree for you

It seems to come around more quickly every year, and one of the essentials for every home during the festive season is the Christmas tree. Do you plump for a real tree, filling your home with the secret of pine, and risk spending the whole of January picking up needles? Do you choose one of the many artificial Christmas trees available to make life easier, but perhaps less fragrant? What about pop-up, snowy and pre-lit Christmas trees – and twig trees?

This handy guide should help you ensure that you can see the wood for the trees…

How much space can you spare?

The number one concern is space. Firstly, make sure you measure the ceiling height, as buying a tree that won’t fit in the room is really falling at the first hurdle.

Width is also important, however. How much room can you afford to spare for your tree? If you don’t have a vast amount of space, do you want the tree to dominate the room? If you plant to place all your presents underneath, how much space will you need for this?

Artificial Christmas trees tend to be narrower than real trees. The latter can be pretty wide, so it may be worth measuring the maximum width of the space you’re prepared to devote to the tree, and taking that tape measure with you when you go shopping.

A real tree should be placed in a stand that holds water, so consider space for this too – as well as the fact that your pets might like to drink from said stand.

Types of artificial tree

Light up your life

There are plenty of pre-lit Christmas trees on the market now, so it’s worth thinking about whether to buy your fairy lights separately, or to purchase a tree that already has lighting built in. The latter is more convenient, while the former allows for some creative input on your part. It’s often just a matter of how much time you tend to have on your hands when the festive season arrives.

Pop-up products

The selection of products now available includes pop up Christmas trees, which are proving very popular. Such trees do just as they say on the tin (or rather, the box), and putting one up is therefore very easy indeed. Some pop-up Christmas trees even come with baubles already on the branches, simplifying festive decoration – and thus your life – even further.

Let it snow

If you’re a fan of all things snowy, you might like to consider one of the snow Christmas trees. Such artificial trees have white flocking added to give the impression of a dusting of snow all over the branches. Many of these snow Christmas trees have artificial pine cones added too, allowing you to bring a little of the outdoor winter wonderland into your home – even during the mildest December weather conditions.

Twiggy

If you’re not keen on the traditional Christmas tree, or have very limited space to spare, then you might like to think about buying a twig tree instead. This is an artificial tree, and as the name suggests the branches tend to be bare, revealing the twigs that during summer would be covered in a thick blanket of foliage. These can be pretty small, so they’re ideal for displaying on a table top, windowsill or other surface. You could have one or more of these as well as a traditional Christmas tree, or instead if you prefer. Many of these are also pre-lit, so they need very little extra decoration – ideal for minimalists!

Super slim

If twig trees don’t appeal, or you want to display a ‘proper’ Christmas tree as well, why not opt for an ultra-slim tree? Many of these models can fit into the tiniest corner, meaning that even smaller homes with very little spare room can squeeze one of these slimmed-down trees in.

Real Christmas trees

There’s no denying that the smell of pine is very evocative of the festive season, and for some this is one of the highlights of Christmas. Many people insist that the only Christmas tree is a real tree, and while they are undeniably beautiful, and fill your home with fragrance, they do have their downfalls – namely, dropping pine needles everywhere as well as the space factor, as mentioned above. If you do want to opt for a real Christmas tree, you may like to decide which of the following types would be the best to go for, in advance of your tree-buying trip.

Nordmann Fir

The Nordmann Fir is the king of Christmas trees. The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) estimate that the Norman Fir accounts for 80% of the Christmas trees sold annually in Britain. It is a popular choice due to its low needle drop, and as the needles are soft and waxy to the touch, this tree is also a safer option – for those with small children and pets in particular.

Fraser Fir

The Fraser Fir is a great option for those with less space, as this type of tree tends to be slimmer than the others. It can also be taller, however, so make sure you measure your ceiling height carefully. It also has a good rate of needle retention, and the needles are also fairly soft. Some love this tree for its fresh, citrusy aroma too.

Blue Spruce or Noble Fir

These two tree types are very similar in appearance, due in part to the fact that both feature needles with a very pretty silvery-blue hue to them. Both retain their needles well, but the needles of the Blue Spruce in particular tend to be spikier than most, making this a less than ideal option for families with young children and pets.

Norway Spruce

This type of tree is often far cheaper to buy that the other types. It is not the best tree in terms of needle retention, however, and some purchasers find that the needles (which can be spiky) fall like rain in response to the slightest touch. This can be improved by frequent watering, however, and this tree is well-loved for its classic pine scent.

Artificial Christmas Trees

Decorating your Christmas Tree