Natural Christmas trees are lovely, but they sure can be fickle. They turn brown, drop needles and show bare spots. You have to keep their stands full of water. They’re never perfect: some have twisted trunks and others have a fat side and a skinny side. On top of that, you have to buy a new one every year!

Some traditionalists will never abandon the wooden evergreen, but every year more and more folks opt for the stylish convenience of an artificial Christmas tree. If you’re about to make the switch, or if you’ve already gone the hassle-free route and are looking for an upgrade, here are some guidelines for selecting the perfect faux fir.

How Real Can You Get?

No manufactured tree looks completely natural, but many come close. It’s up to you how much your counterfeit conifer resembles the real thing. The answer might depend on the room it will inhabit! A natural-looking tree fits happily in a rustic motif or a classic style, especially if there are traditional ornaments elsewhere in the home. A stylized, differently colored or even edgy tree will be at home in a contemporary or industrial setting.

The most realistic trees have needles that resemble the real thing, whether they’re soft pines, full firs or sharp and pointy spruces. Sometimes they add to the illusion with twigs, cones and berries! On the other hand, other artificial trees make it no secret that they came from a factory. Sometimes they’re not even green, and their branches can be configured in ways that can’t possibly occur in nature!

Branches and Needles

A full tree is a more natural-looking tree! One factor that makes for fullness is a high tip count. That means that they have additional branch tips and more needles. Not only do they look more genuine, they also can carry heavier ornaments. 800-900 is a full tip count for a 6 ½ foot tree and 1200-1500 looks lush on a 7 ½.

Some tree-makers deliberately go to a lower tip count to produce a tiered or layered look. You might prefer this if you have a lot of hanging ornaments.

A natural appearance depends not only on how many needles there are but also on what they’re made of:

• PVC needles and tips are classic and widely used. They’re make from a synthetic film that’s shaped between twisted wire. The needles can be soft and flexible or hard and bushy. There’s also a cashmere style where the hard tips are distressed to look softer. They don’t look as realistic as PE needles.
• Polyethylene (PE) tips are natural looking because they’re molded from actual tree needles. This makes them natural to the touch as well. As you might guess, they’re more expensive.

A good realistic look can be had with a mixture of PVC and PE needles!

Going Big or Small

Do you want a tree that takes over the room, or would you prefer one that stands demurely in the corner and defers to the rest of the decor? Sizes vary from tabletop two-footers to 15-foot mega-firs! Many people choose trees in the seven- to nine-foot range. Diameter is as big a factor as height in how a tree fits its room! Widths might be as large or larger than a 72-inch full-sized or as skinny as a 30-inch ultra-slim.

If you can’t settle on a size, why not pick two: an impressive selection for your vaulted great room and a more modest number for your den. You don’t have to stop there! A tabletop tree can make a jolly addition to a home office, greet your guests with cheer in an entryway, or even make a great addition to your Christmas dinner tablescape.

Making It Easy on Yourself

Artificial Christmas trees are simple to set up, and that’s even more the case for some newer options! The traditional style consists of sections fitted into each other with branches that you must attach one by one each time you bring the tree out. Today, it’s more common to find hinged branches that easily fold down and pop into place. Then all you have to do is shape the branches. There are also pre-shaped branches that require very little adjustment to the foilage to make them look right.

Shall We Have Lights?

The artificial prelit Christmas tree is a popular choice, but some people prefer trees that come with no lights at all. These folks either already have lights that they’re fond of, or they’re going to display an unlit tree, perhaps in a farmhouse-style setting. Using your own string of lights has this advantage: if fashions or your tastes change in a couple of years, you can swap in some new ones!

Some Christmas tree lights are incandescent. They’re reliable, inexpensive and they’ve been illuminating both natural and artificial evergreens for years. Long-life incandescents take advantage of newer technology and last longer. However, it’s LEDs that are rapidly become the bulbs of choice. They last longer, burn less electricity and are cooler to the touch.

Finally, you get to choose what color your lights will be! Clear lights and white bulbs have never gone out of fashion and provide a clean and classic look. On the other hand, it is Christmas, and some folks just insist on lights of many colors. If you can’t make up your mind, many modern trees come with multi-function lights that change on command!

Another option: many styles of pre-lit trees have the light strand sets woven over the assembled sections of a tree. These lights can be removed if a section needs a strand of new lights or you decide to change the lights on a prelit tree. This can add longevity to an artificial tree investment.

There’s a marvelous assortment of artificial Christmas trees, both prelit and unlit, this season. No matter what your Christmas theme or what size your available space, there’s a best artificial Christmas tree out there waiting for you to adopt it and give it a happy holiday home!