Living spaces seem to get smaller as life gets more cluttered, so finding the right compact Christmas tree to suit your space and lifestyle can be challenging.
A real Christmas tree always looks and smells fabulous, but if you want it to look great for the whole festive season, you’ll need to invest in a Nordmann or Balsam Fir, which won’t come cheap. The obvious alternative is an artificial tree.
They come in all shapes, sizes and colours, ranging from elaborate and expensive to cheap and cheerful; with a bit of research online, you’ll find something that suits your needs. As a general rule of thumb with artificial trees, the cheaper you go, the less realistic and full they will look, but if you are on a limited budget, a little work with ribbons and baubles can make a world of difference.
Lights are another important addition – the more, the better! You can save yourself a world of hassle by opting for a prelit tree. No need to worry about a visit from the tangle fairy, twisting your carefully stowed lights into an unfathomable ball somewhere between January and November. Simply unpack your tree at the start of the season and plug it into the mains, and voila! – a perfectly lit tree.
We found our perfect tree this season at online retailer We R Christmas
. It’s compact enough to tuck into the corner of a hallway or stand on a table or piece of furniture in the living room but makes a big impact, thanks to its 100 bright dual white pre-attached lights.
Our chosen 4 ft tall tree is flocked with fake snow, which is evenly distributed throughout the branches which we love, even if it does shed a fair bit when you first adjust the branches. It comes with a weighted pot rather than a stand, so you really do have everything you need, particularly if you’re a fan of the minimalist look.
The only negative point of the tree is that there is no covering to the pot, showing the cement weight in the bottom. It’s an easy one to cover up, of course, with some scrunched paper or fabric. Once the branches are separated and placed, it is barely noticeable, blending perfectly.
The attached lights have eight different settings, so you can change them up with ease. Switch to warm white for a warm, fireside look or for a more icy look; the icy white setting works well. Settings vary from steady to flashing between warm and icy white for whatever look makes you smile.
Whatever tree you choose will undoubtedly add plenty of festive sparkle to your living space, ready for Father Christmas to deliver the gifts on Christmas Eve.
