Spruce up your home for Christmas - we help you find the best Christmas trees to make your home as festive and fragrant as possible
The Christmas tree is the focal point of your festive decorations, so it’s worth taking the time to create a real showstopper.
Whether you choose to decorate with traditional red and gold, modern silver and black, or go for warm white lights or merry and bright multicoloured ones, you’ll want to make sure you get the tree that’s right for you first!
If you’re not a fan of falling pine needles and daily watering, then it’s best to opt for a fake fir.
Artificial trees might cost more than the real thing, but they will last for years, which means you will save money in the long run.
These days, fake firs are so good it’s hard to tell them from the real thing, and they require no maintenance other than fluffing out the branches when they come out of storage.
You can choose whichever style suits your décor, and no needle drop means the tree will look as gorgeous on the day you take it down as it did on the day it went up!
For real Christmas tree fans, there’s still plenty of choice – and lots of fun, too.
Going out to choose the tree has become a tradition for many families, and there’s the added bonus of a fresh, natural pine or spruce scent that fills your home with festive fragrance.
Real trees are time-consuming to keep looking good, as you do need to factor in watering and needle sweeping – how much depends on the type of tree you choose.
So, which one do you go for?
Here are a few options to consider:
Nordmann fir: The most popular Christmas tree in Europe, the Nordmann fir hangs on to its needles throughout the festive season. With the added barrier of a thick waxy coating on the glossy, dark green needles, this is a good tree for those suffering from allergies.
Norway spruce: The traditional Christmas favourite, this has a wonderful shape and a lovely festive scent. It’s best to buy this one closer to Christmas though, as it loses its needles quickly once brought indoors.
Douglas fir: This tree has blue-green soft needles with a sweet scent and is usually nice and full. It does drop needles if it doesn’t get enough water.
Fraser fir: Stiff branches are good for ornaments, and this tree keeps its needles well. It smells good, and is apparently the type of tree most often used at the White House!
Keep real trees away from radiators and open fires, and regularly top up with water.
And whether your tree is real or artificial, place it near a plug socket to avoid trailing wires across the floor.
