Steeped in childhood memories, decorating the Christmas tree is an eagerly anticipated event in every festive home. The beating heart of our Christmas decorating, a lot of the joy of the season hinges on finding a tree that meets all our expectations. This week’s Style Note looks at why we think artificial Christmas trees are the winning choice for stylish homes.
A low maintenance and hassle free Christmas tree
While the prospect of choosing and bringing home a real tree is packed with wholesome nostalgia, the reality can be far from idyllic. Any large Christmas tree is a nuisance to transport, especially for family cars with child seats. Then of course you have to repeat the process with a shedding tree to take it for recycling. It’s staggering how many needles a real Christmas tree can lose between the living room and the back door, yet still have enough to leave the car smelling “pine fresh” for weeks to come.
Real Christmas tree maintenance can be an extra hassle at an already busy time – will this year’s tree fit in last year’s Christmas tree stand? How often should I water my Christmas tree? All questions that can be ignored when you have an artificial Christmas tree. Guaranteed to be the perfect shape and size for your home year after year, a premium quality faux tree that is well cared for will retain its needles for at least 10 years and pack down neatly at the end of every holiday. And of course for those of us who like to decorate early, there really is no better option than faux when it comes to looking as good on Twelfth Night as it did in the middle of November.
No more wrestling with tangled fairy lights ...
Pre-lit artificial trees will always offer the perfect arrangement of lights, and it takes yet another stressful step out of putting up the Christmas tree.
If you prefer to experiment with your decor, an unlit faux tree will also give you the creative freedom to opt for cluster lights one year, pastel bulbs, or candle lights the next.
Real or faux – which Christmas tree is more cost effective over time?
While a premium artificial tree may come with a substantial price tag, the price of real trees is ever-rising. We estimate that the initial outlay on an artificial tree is generally recouped by about the third year of ownership, depending on your choice of tree.
You will also reduce the environmental impact of your faux tree the more often you reuse it. Artificial trees also offer an allergy free alternative for those who are sensitive to tree pollen, sap and mould. They also make great “second” trees for a child’s bedroom or corner of the kitchen dining room where heat from cooking might cause extra shedding in a real tree.
How do I choose a faux tree?
Size is the first thing to consider when choosing an artificial Christmas tree. Faux trees usually range in height from 5 to 10ft, with 5ft and under being perfect for placing on a table and 8 and 10ft options being ideal for homes with high ceilings. More standard ceiling heights of around 240cm will work best with a 7ft tree. Aim to have 20cm breathing space between your tree and ceiling to give room for a topper and avoid it looking too cramped. A tree skirt won’t affect the height of an artificial tree, but will effectively conceal the base and create a much more polished look.
Once you’ve decided on the height, think about the shape. Classic bushy shapes will always have wow factor and are great for large rooms with a big bay window or home with grand hallways. With an impressively realistic spread of needles and tips, their imposing stature will give these trees a powerful presence. Our Snowy Pencil Pine and Alpine Fir Trees are great space-saving trees; both are slender options that easily nestle in the corner of a small room while retaining that incredibly realistic appearance. Alternatively, consider decorating a console with a small tabletop tree if floor space is limited. Find out more with our Christmas tree buying guide.
What type of artificial tree is the most realistic?
Most artificial trees these days look incredibly authentic - but be sure to invest in those that come with moulded tips. The moulded tips give a natural silhouette and a much more realistic appearance to the final look. Most traditional trees in our range are made from polyethylene with PVC tips which have been moulded individually so they appear more real. Look for central branches that provide lots of depth and volume. Always style the centre branches vertically up - to hide the inner stem. Then zhuzh the outer branches into a natural position, ensuring some are curved up and others down. Check out the video on our Christmas tree product pages for top zhuzhing advice from our stylist Maddy.