Christmas decorations have evolved over the years, but no matter what you’re subtracting or adding this year, we can all agree that for a home to really feel like Christmas, a tree is non-negotiable.
Deck the halls with a forest full of holly, and hang a wreath on every door (including the cat flap), but without the decorative centrepiece that is a Christmas tree, your winter wonderland theme will likely feel a little off. And besides, without one, where will all your favourite baubles and tinsel go?
We may still be months away from the big day, but it’s never too early to get yourself organised to ensure that the most wonderful time of the year lives up to its headline billing.
The benefits of an artificial tree
While real evergreens give that sought-after Christmassy scent, getting one home and maintaining it can be a headache - especially if you haven’t got much time on your hands. They need repurchasing every December, and even if you opt for home delivery, the needle shedding means vacuuming more than usual. Then there’s the question of disposing of them come January.
Christmas comedown is real, and nothing kills festive cheer like the sight of tree carcasses littering the street. Unless you’ve signed up for a service that promises to replant your tree after the big event, it risks feeling like a wasteful exercise.
An artificial one, on the other hand, is an investment that you can enjoy every year without forking out every December. Sure, you won’t get the forest-fresh scent, but it’s nothing a few festive candles won’t fix, and they’re a more appealing prospect for allergy sufferers too. Pet owners and new parents will also be pleased about the lack of sharp needles all over the floor.
Today’s faux trees have come on leaps and bounds from the plastic pretenders of the past. As well as plain artificial evergreens, you can find models with lights already embedded within the realistic-looking branches and needles which means no more unwinding tangled lights or spending unnecessary cash on new ones.
We can only picture the sheer joy on Martin Luther’s face - the first to style his fir tree with lit candles back in 16th century Germany - if he’d seen a pre-lit Christmas tree in all its glory today.
Artificial trees are available in a host of styles, shapes and colours to suit every budget, from ceiling-scrapers to hog the living room spotlight and corner ones that give the impression of full trees even in the tightest of spaces, to rave-worthy neon designs to bring a twist to your celebrations.
Find the best artificial trees to buy now below
John Lewis Belgravia Pre-lit Christmas Tree, 6ft
Set on a stand and in a classic conical shape, you’d have to touch this tree to realise it’s not the real thing. The rich emerald green is an ideal base for traditional Christmas decorations and there are 400 LEDs to bring a festive sparkle to any room or hallway.
Buy now £299.00, John Lewis
Dunelm 7.5ft Pre-Lit Frosted Andorra Fir Christmas Tree
Whether it snows or not this Christmas is beside the point when it comes to your tree; Dunelm's design will always look perfectly frosted. The pre-lit tree comes with 500 warm white LEDs embedded across its tips and hinged branches for a lifelike effect. A folding metal stand and crush-resistant, real-feeling branches add to its authenticity.
Buy now £379.00, Dunelm
Alupssuc 2FT Pre-lit Artificial Mini Christmas Tree
Invite Yuletide feels into your home without blowing your Christmas budget with this faux tree available at Amazon. The 2ft-tall piece is ideal for smaller homes, adding cheer without hogging floor space. The base comes wrapped in a chic burlap sack while multicoloured LEDs can be set to one of eight modes, allowing you to customise your decoration every night.
Buy now £35.99, Amazon
Cox & Cox Ultimate Lights Pre-Lit Christmas Tree
If you want to recreate a show-stopping look, it all starts with the tree, and this pre-lit hyper-realistic version is an ideal foundation.
There are eight light settings to fit your mood, whether you’re after a gentle twinkle or straight-up static to impress guests. With uniformly placed LED bulbs (5400 of them, to be precise), you can say goodbye to stringing it all yourself and skip straight to the good part - arranging your favourite baubles.
Buy now £550.00, Cox & Cox
Pure Living Premium Artificial Christmas Tree
Can't stomach the export fees for a true Nordic spruce? Amazon has the faux answer all wrapped up with this premium design. Sporting dense, realistic branches all sitting neatly on a wooden base (much nicer than metal), the 180cm tall tree won't shed needles, making clean-up non-existent. It also comes with a handy compact storage bag to use once the festivities are over.
Buy now £199.95, Amazon
The Seasonal Aisle 3 Piece Green Pine Christmas Trees with 20 Clear/White Light Set and Stand
Looking for an all-in-one front-door transformation? A pre-lit wreath and mini pine trees offer an excellent route to seasonal sprucing. The three-piece set come with LED string lights to wrap around each artificial piece, leaving you to add on further decorations if you wish - a red velvet ribbon for that wreath perhaps? The trees even come in their own mini plant pots, so you’ll have everything you need to go right out of the box.
Buy now £58.99, Wayfair
The Pre-lit Ultra Devonshire Half Tree Warm White Lights
If you only have a corner spare, it can feel pointless to buy a traditional tree design as one side of it will be blocked out of sight. Half trees may look odd straight out of the box but are an ingenious solution when backed into a wall or corner.
This version from specialist Christmas Tree World comes with warm white lights embedded within, so no awkward stringing for you. You can get it from 4ft to 7ft, so it should fit a range of spaces. A sound investment for Christmases to come.
There’s an entire forest of trees to be found at Christmas Tree World, from slim and snow-covered designs to pleasingly realistic bushy ones in a range of heights.
Buy now £64.99, Christmas Tree World
Premier Decorations 8ft Pre lit Archway Christmas Tree
If you're up for trying something different this year, consider a festive arch to hang around doorways, behind beds and around fireplaces. The PVC design works as a replacement or in addition to a tree, giving you even more places to add baubles and joyous Christmas cheer. While unlit options are available, this version comes with 340 LEDs that can illuminate in eight modes for the perfect flavour of magic.
For indoor use only.
Buy now £252.00, Argos
Bosk 7.5ft Pre-lit Oakley Fir Life-Like Artificial Christmas Tree with 750 LED Lights
If you're lucky enough to have high ceilings, it's time to go to town by installing a 7.5ft tree to bring the Christmas spirit home.
Hayes Garden World has dozens of beautifully tall trees ready to steal the spotlight this festive season, but for ultimate convenience, we recommend a pre-lit design to save you from wrestling with fairy light wires.
This Oakley design has the look of a true fir and is finished with 750 long-lasting warm LEDs for a welcoming twinkle, no matter which room you put it in. Eight modes can easily be adjusted via a foot switch, meaning rummaging along the branches is a thing of the past. Just adorn with ornaments, grab a chair to help you pop on the tree topper and stand back to bask in its glowy glory.
Comes with a five-year guarantee.
Buy now £499.00, Hayes Garden World
Habitat 6ft Half Parasol Christmas Tree - Green
Curious pets and toddlers within striking distance of a Christmas tree can only lead to disaster. Keep their inquisitive paws out of reach from all the shiny, dangly things - not to mention live wires - with Habitat’s ingenious half parasol tree. The design is very much the festive version of a mullet with the party kept up top and business at the lower end.
Buy now £41.25, Argos
