How to Choose the Right Christmas Tree
Nowadays, choosing a Christmas tree means having to pick from hundreds of possibilities. The market is full of options, so deciding which one to go for is no easy task.
Plus, who can forget the fantastic trees from our favorite Christmas movies? During the festive season, no home is complete without a good Christmas tree.
Whether real or artificial, whatever tree you choose, it’s important to try to find out where it came from before you buy.
Obviously, there’s no one type of tree that is perfect for everyone. Choosing the right tree involves taking into account your own personal taste, the size, the style (traditional or modern), the price…
Things to keep in mind before you buy your Christmas tree
- Material: firstly, you need to decide if you want an artificial (synthetic) or natural tree. This will allow you to discount several options straight away.
Both options have their pros and cons. The good thing about synthetic trees is that they don’t make a mess. Plus, you can reuse them year after year. However, if you care about the environment, the problem with artificial trees is that they are made from certain oil-based resins. As a result, they are not particularly environmentally friendly.
Natural trees, on the other hand, are much more environmentally friendly, as they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. At the same time, they also smell great. Their main disadvantage is that you need to take care of them, making sure to water them regularly and choose the right place to put them.
There are more and more initiatives which encourage people to replant their Christmas trees once the festive period is over. Plus, many of them are actually grown in nurseries before being sold.
- Space: before you buy your Christmas tree, you need to think about where you’re going to put it (the area, the height of the ceiling). This shouldn’t be much of an issue, as you can find trees of all different sizes these days.
Furthermore, you’ll also need to consider how you’re going to get it from the store to your house. If it won’t fit in your car, there are other options – like paying for a home delivery service or hiring a bigger car or truck.
- Budget: artificial Christmas trees are always going to be less expensive than natural ones. If you’re planning on buying an artificial tree and reusing it in years to come, you might want to buy a more expensive one, to have a better quality, longer-lasting tree.
Once you’ve bought your Christmas tree
- Location: although you’ll have already thought about this beforehand, it’s now time to put up your tree in your chosen location to see if you like the result. Obviously, your chosen tree needs to be in proportion with the room.
It’s best to put it somewhere it won’t get in the way, especially if you have children. People normally put them in corners. You’ll also need to consider the height of your ceiling.
The top of your Christmas tree should be an inch or two lower than the ceiling. You need to leave space so that you can add a decoration to the top.
- The surroundings: as well as ensuring your Christmas tree won’t get in the way, there are several other aspects to remember. For example, if you have chosen a natural tree, you’ll need to keep it away from heat sources, like radiators.
Whether natural or artificial, if you’re decorating your tree with lights, you’ll need to ensure it’s near a socket. Or you can buy battery-powered lights. This is a low-cost option, which will help you save electricity.
Finally, if you have a large Christmas tree, remember that the branches can get caught on things.
- The result: when it comes to decorating your Christmas tree, your personal tastes will play a huge role, dictating whether you go for one style or another. For example, you might choose a white artificial tree, traditional decorations, a minimalist look, lights… If you have children, they could make decorations and hang them on the tree. Little ones love arts and crafts.
So, you should consider all your options carefully, weighing up the pros and cons. This will help you to choose the best Christmas tree for you and your home.