A good artificial tree looks like the real thing, and manufacturers have come a long way in replicating the sense of real, live trees. Today’s options are excellent reproductions of the real thing. You can even choose to match the tree species that grow in your area without cutting down the live thing. Families that use multiple trees will often have different types, simply to increase the variety in their Christmas display. Here's what you need to know in your search.
Artificial Christmas Tree Buyer's Guide
Selecting a Tree Size
The first thing that most people need consider is the size of the tree they’re going to buy. The larger the tree, the more impressive it looks in your home. However, there are limits. A tree should be at least one foot shorter than ceiling height, which is eight feet on average. This extra space protects your ceilings and leaves room for angle or star toppers.
In homes with cathedral ceilings, a taller tree usually looks better, as the high ceilings will make the tree appear shorter than it actually is. While an 18 foot tall tree is impractical for most families, an 8 or 9 foot tall tree will fill the area better.
Number of Branches
One thing realistic trees provide is more "points" or "branches" than older models of artificial trees did. The points are the individual twigs that ornaments are hung on. In many cases, there are more than 1,000 points on a tree, providing ample space for your large ornament collections.
Most tree manufacturers provide information on how many points their trees have. This helps in picking a tree that works well with your decorating style. Families that use themed trees will not need as many points on the tree as families which have large collections of assorted ornaments to put on their tree.
Regular or Slim?
Traditionally, Christmas trees are made to a ratio of about 5:3. That means that a tree which is ten ft. tall will be six feet across at the base. This works in some homes, but many people have trouble fitting a wide Christmas tree into their living room, even if they have the ceiling height for a tall one. The problem is worse for people with high ceilings, as a short tree doesn't look as impressive.
The solution to this problem is to use a slim tree. Slim trees are made to a ratio of about 5:2. While that may not sound like much of a difference, it means that a ten foot tall tree will only be four feet across at the base. In a full room, this arrangement is much easier to work with.
Lighting
Pre-lit trees are becoming more and more common, taking over the market from unlit trees. The advantage is that you won't have to string the lights yourself - a frustrating task. The problem with standard lights on trees is they only last a few years and after that, you end up having to replace them or string lights on the tree yourself; either option isn’t all that attractive.
Quality tree brands, like the ones on our list, have switched over to using dura-lights which keep burning even if some of the bulbs burn out. These keep your tree lit and prevent dark sections where all the lights are out. Long-lasting and energy efficient lights are often LED bulbs, as oppoed to traditional incandescent bulbs. With LEDs, your grandchildren may end up using the same tree without having to replace the lights.
Flocking
Artificial trees are also available pre-flocked. This gives the illusion of the tree standing in the woods, covered with snow. The flocking used on these trees is much lighter than what you used to have to spray on yourself. However, it will still need some touchup after a few years of use.
Safety and Convenience
All artificial Christmas trees are required by law to be flame retardant so you can rest easy knowing your artificial tree will be safe without creating any safety risks for your family. The branches on most artificial trees are also hinged, making setting them and taking them down fairly easy. They may also come with boxes designed for long-term storage, so you can safely tuck your artificial tree away until next year.