Everything about Christmas brings out child-like excitement in most of us, and one of the traditions that people look forward to every year, is the buying and decorating of a Christmas Tree. There are a lot of options to consider when buying a Christmas Tree, artificial versus real, tall or short, narrow or wide. Here at Builders Marketplace, we’ve created this guide to help you decide which Christmas Tree is the best one for you.

The first step in choosing your Christmas Tree is whether you’re going for an artificial tree or a real one, there are benefits to both options.

Artificial Tree: The Pros

The manufacturing of Artificial Christmas Trees has come a long way, such a long way in fact that at a glance, they can be mistaken for the real thing. This makes them a popular choice for most UK homes, as they are the quick and easy option, with aesthetics that come close to a real tree.

The benefits of an Artificial Christmas Tree are endless, but the main upsides come from installation and the cost-effectiveness of the product. Smaller trees may already put together, so it is simply a case of taking it out of the box and placing it where you want it to go. However, in most cases, a standard artificial tree will need to be assembled. The components usually included with an artificial tree include a stand, a post that runs down the middle with corresponding holes and the branches, that are usually attached to metal hooks that are then attached around the post to form the classic Christmas Tree shape. The holes in the post and the branches are sometimes colour coded, with the branches in the same length group being coded the same colour, so the branches are placed on the post with the longest branches at the bottom and the shortest ones at the top.

These trees require literally no maintenance and will last for as long as you want to keep them, so it is important for you to choose the right dimensions for your tree, -f you choose the right size for your tree, you can use it as many times as you want to. It is suggested that the bigger the space you have to work with, the wider and taller your tree can be, suggesting a narrow, neater tree for smaller spaces and a more extravagant floor-to-ceiling tree if space is no concern at all. However much space you have, the tree is sure to guarantee Christmas spirit, even if it is artificial.

Unlike real trees, artificial trees sometimes offer added extras to mimic certain conditions of a real tree, like a snow-tipped design for example, or just to make the whole process even more convenient, such as a tree with lights built in.

Artificial Tree: The Cons

As easy and convenient as artificial trees are, many feel they don’t capture the same spirit as real trees, due to their standing as the traditional Christmas Tree. If a reasonable priced artificial tree is purchased, they can resemble the real thing, but if you go for a tree that is more on the budget friendly side, it is more likely to look fake. Some feel they miss out on the aromatic fragrance that is emitted from a real tree, but allergy sufferers will greatly benefit from an artificial tree. As previously mentioned, it is important to choose the right size for your tree, as a problem with artificial trees is  with most if not all of these trees, it is not possible to change the height without compromising on complete installation. Another practical downside of an artificial tree is that they are not the most environmentally efficient, especially if you choose to buy a new one every year. This is due to the fact that artificial trees are made from non-renewable resources.

Real Tree: The Pros

Known as Fir or Spruce trees for the other eleven months of the year, Real Christmas Trees have been the popular choice amongst festive traditionalists for centuries. Each of these trees will be unique to you and fill your home with festive spirit and natural fragrance. Just like artificial trees, real trees are available in multiple sizes to fit the requirements of your space and due to the fact that there is no assembly required, placing a real tree in your home will be just as quick if not quicker than its artificial counterpart. These types of trees also offer more customisation in terms of size, as the trunk of the tree can be cut if it turns out it is too tall for your desired space. Purchasing a real tree will also help support Christmas Tree farmers and provide jobs at a time when money can be tight.

As well as helping to boost the economy, choosing a real tree over an artificial one can greatly benefit the environment. Not only will these trees naturally break down over time and can be used for other purposes when the tinsel and lights come off, they continue their natural process of absorbing carbon dioxide and other potentially harmful greenhouse gasses and releasing fresh oxygen. Now cutting down trees just to put them in our living rooms every year doesn’t sound like the most eco-friendly decision, however, it is a known process to plant a new tree every time one is harvested. This is done to keep a steady supply for each Christmas season, but does solve the problem of deforestation.

Real Tree: The Cons

There are multiple downsides to the real tree option, some that previous owners of real trees are all too aware of. One of the most common being that due to the nature of these trees, they will shed their needles as the festive season goes on, creating a mess and a chance of stepping on them, which is not ideal for walking around your living room. As well as this, the combination of the needles drying up and the heat of lights can cause a potential fire hazard in your home. Allergy sufferers may want to avoid purchasing a real tree, as several parts of the tree including the smell can trigger certain allergies. Furthermore, just like any other tree, a Real Christmas Tree can be prone to rotting if left in its unnatural environment for long enough. A Real Christmas Tree is also not the best economical decision either in terms of spending, the cost of buying a new tree every year will add up over time when you can get multiple uses out of an artificial one, but if you want to mix it up for one year it wouldn’t cause much of an effect in that respect.

A Christmas Tree is a classic part of a traditional Christmas celebration, and we hope that we have taken some of the hassle out of deciding the perfect type of tree for you, so you can focus on decorating and celebrating with loved ones. Check out our range of Christmas Trees here.