Christmas decorations have evolved over the years, but no matter what you’re subtracting or adding for 2025, we can all agree that for a home to truly feel like Christmas has arrived, a tree is non-negotiable.
You can deck the halls with a forest full of holly, and hang a wreath over every door (including the cat flap), but without the decorative headliner that is a Christmas tree, your winter wonderland theme will fall flat. Apart from anything else, where will you put the presents?
The big day is a while off yet, but as seasoned preppers, we say it’s never too early to get yourself organised.
Real or artificial tree?
I grew up with plastic trees; it was only when I had my own place that I could fork out for the real thing. And I can tell you this: while real evergreens give that sought-after Christmassy scent, maintaining it can be a headache - especially if you haven’t got much time on your hands. Getting it home can be a nightmare, and the constant shedding means more vacuuming than usual. Then comes the question of disposing of them come January.
The early days of the year are anticlimactic enough without a miserable tree carcass to dispose of. Unless you’ve signed up for a service that promises to replant your tree after Christmas, the whole thing feels wasteful.
The good news is that today’s faux trees have come on leaps and bounds from the plastic pretenders of the past.
Alongside the blank canvas of plain artificial evergreens, you can find models with lights already embedded within the realistic-looking branches and needles, so no more unwinding tangled lights or spending unnecessary cash on fresh ones.
Best UK retailers for Christmas trees
Artificial trees are available in a host of styles, shapes and colours to suit every budget, from ceiling-scrapers that will stand resplendently in the hall, and corner ones that give the impression of full trees in the tightest of spaces, to rave-worthy neon designs to bring a party spin to your celebrations.
Shop the best artificial Christmas trees now
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Christow Pre-Lit Aspen Spruce Pencil Christmas Tree
The trouble with small living rooms is that there isn't quite enough space to do your festive centrepiece justice. That doesn't mean you should do away with it altogether - just invest in a pencil-style tree instead. This slim option from Christow comes in three height options, offering the effect without the bulk. LEDs are already on board, so all you have to do is add your favourite baubles (arguably the best bit of decorating).
Buy now £59.99, Christow
Cox & Cox Opulent Pine Pre-Lit Christmas Tree - 7ft
Make the most of your tall ceilings by filling them with an artifical tree that looks so realistic, you'd think it had been plucked straight from Lapland. Standing at an imposing 7ft tall, this pre-lit beauty is made for grand Christmas themes (although it looks pretty festive just with the 600 warm white LEDs twinkling too).
Buy now £385.00, Cox & Cox
The Seasonal Aisle Artificial Cypress Christmas Tree
With a lush, slightly wild look, the longer trailing leaves of a Cypress tree offers a wholesome twist the traditional tree look. You'll need to engage in some branch reshaping when it arrives but if you're looking to fill a corner or don't want the tree eating up all your spare space, this pencil-slim tree comes up trumps. Sold with a tree stand to hold her steady.
Buy now £47.99, Wayfair
Habitat 6ft Mixed Tip Upswept Christmas Tree
Designed to be as lifelike as possible, you'd have to get right up to the brown coloured branches of Habitat's tree to tell it's synthetic.
The upswept design has been made to look as natural as possible - something you can help by teasing and arranging the branches so they fill as much space as possible. Standing at six feet high, it will work as a main tree for most homes. And at 8kg, there should be minimal grunting retrieving this out of the cupboard for next year's event.
The tree comes without lights or decorations, so if you're excited to do festive festooning, this is your chance to go for it.
Buy now £120.00, Argos
AGM Christmas Tree 6ft
No lights on this one, but still plenty to admire with snow-dusted artificial tips, red berries and pine cones embedded into the look. The six-foot design is relatively light too at 4.2kg and comes with a sturdy base that folds along with the tree when it needs to go into storage.
Buy now £69.99, Amazon
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 £55.00, Argos
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 £63.99, Wayfair
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 £31.99, Amazon
Christmas Tree World 6ft Pre-lit Arbor Vitae Fir Tree
A child's Christmas tree drawing sprung joyfully to life. This PVC six-footer boasts high-quality tips studded with 300 long-lasting LED lights in a warm white hue. The bushy look not only appears generous, but creates plenty of settings to tuck in your favourite tree ornaments.
Buy now £149.99, Christmas Tree World
Argos Home 3ft Small Christmas Tree - Rainbow
Throw out the Christmas tree playbook this year and embrace something that's jolly even without ornaments dangling from its branches. Argos Home has unveiled a rainbow design that will work for small spaces or as a secondary tree elsewhere in the house - think the kitchen, a bedroom, the downstairs loo. It's just three-feet high with fire retardant PVC needles that are strong enough to hold your favourite novelty baubles and comes with a stand for much-needed stability.
Best of all, it will hardly take up any room in storage. Sold with a one-year manufacturer's guarantee.
Buy now £8.00, Argos
The benefits of an artificial tree
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 - nothing a few festive candles can’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 lying in wait all over the floor.
We can only picture the joy on Martin Luther’s face - the first to style his fir tree with lit candles in 16th-century Germany - if he’d seen a pre-lit Christmas tree in all its glory today.
