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Every year, I toy with the idea of an artificial tree. They are getting better looking all the time, yet I cannot seem to pull the trigger. After all the years of cutting down our trees, and enjoying the smell, and laughing at the inevitable imperfections, I am afraid I will not like an artificial tree. We built our last house in the middle of a Xmas tree farm that had never been harvested. Every year we cut down a tall evergreen, and used the top 8' as our Christmas tree. We had some real Charlie Brown trees, but they had personality.
I think my feelings are as much about being against plastic perfection vs. natural, real imperfection; the real spirit of Christmas vs the crass commercialism.
How many of you have gone fake, and are happy with your decision? Who has gone from fake, back to real?
I've had fake trees now for probably 25 years, with the occasional real one (which I usually regret) thrown in. I mean, every once in awhile, we'll have a kid around or something and we'll get this crazy idea that it would be fun to go pick out a tree, cut it down, water it for weeks, vacuum up the needles for weeks, etc. and we do it and then the next year comes around and we say, "LET'S NOT DO THAT AGAIN." But occasionally - about once every 10 years, we lose our minds and try it again.
We have only tall, skinny trees - the sort of weird, funky ones that aren't real wide or thick. I like those - they are quirky and sort of fun. They are also easy to store - we don't have to take them apart.
Believe it or not, we have five of them in varying heights.
Now - I will admit that I wouldn't mind a VERY SMALL real tree sitting on my hearth. In fact I saw a beautiful example of one that was only about 3 feet tall, very thick and wide, and sitting down in a wine crate. It only had white lights in it - no other decorations. That looked awesome. I could be talked into that. I could also do real greenery on the mantel. That's enough real for me.
I understand the appeal, but it's just not appealing to me personally to get a real tree. As for the scent - I light a pine scented candle and that works for me!
How many of you have gone fake, and are happy with your decision? Who has gone from fake, back to real?
We've always alternated depending upon our mood and our plans. We sometimes do overnight or weekend trips during the holiday season and hate to leave a live tree in an unoccupied house. Also some years we're just not in the mood to deal with needles all over the floor.
We'll probably stay close to home this year and do a live tree if we can find a good one. Many are just misshapen and ugly, it takes a long time to find one that's both attractive and a good size for our home. Our artificial tree is exactly right for the space.
When we do a live tree, we also do live wreaths on the doors and on our interior brick wall. But again never when we're planning on leaving the house overnight.
I switched from real to fake for most of the same reasons that KA did. They really do make a mess, especially when you take it down and have to get it out of the house. Getting it into the house is a little messy but not nearly as bad as taking it out...needles everywhere .
I also got fed up with real trees when we were having to pay about $100 for them. It just made sense to buy a fake and quit wasting the money every year. It also became a hassle to get the trash guys to take it away. The last one I probably hauled it from one end of the driveway to the curb about three times before the trash guys decided that they had room on the truck for it. I had to call and complain too.
And lastly, the scent of a real tree made my cat go a little wonky. He would try to sharpen his claws on the trunk, and I was always afraid that he would sneak in and do his little thing when we weren't around, and it would topple over. With a fake tree, he would curl up in a ball under it but never tried the claw thing.
Real trees are pretty, and I love the fresh scent, but they're just too much trouble.
everything is decorated except the tree. Im thinking not do do a tree this year, but I dont wanna be sorry.
Id like a real tree tall and skinny, but that doesnt happen.
it usually fake and tall and skinny and a real tree is usually short and fat.
ugh !! what to do....
I just get the real trees so i can chuck it, and no storage is necessary........but I really am liking the tall and skinny trees and in an apartment they are really perfect for the corner of the living room.....
I have a 4' silver tinsel tree, and I use it every other year or so. If I had room for 2 trees, I'd use it every year, but I do like a real tree -- and so do my cats, LOL. My mom keeps trying to give me her huge artificial tree, but it would overpower my 12 x 15 living room.
Back from Thanksgiving with family in Washington and time to say goodbye to pumpkins and autumn leaves and hello winter and Christmas.
This year I'm going tartan/plaid red and silver. Still trying to decide what to do about a tree as we rescued a male jack russell puppy this summer and from experience I know he will want to help 'water' the tree if we get a real one.
Time to start digging totes out from the dungeon, each year I cram everything into those totes never label anything or organise so I end up having to get everything out even if its not getting used.
My wife and I are all about the real trees. We love the smell of pine throughout the house and the slight imperfections that come with a real tree. We have wood flooring where the tree goes so cleanup is actually pretty easy and quick for us. The hard part is cramming an 8' tree into the trunk of a Jetta to get it home.
Anyone use an actual floral designer or decorator to have their home decorated, and if so whats been your experience and do you have any pictures?
I know these designers charge several thousands of dollars but man they do such great work and make such a huge difference in the quality of the decor.
I haven't gotten too far along with the decorating. Put up the furkids' stockings..........actually found three toys from last Christmas still in them........ Also risked life and limb to get the boxed nativity set out of my very crowded storage closet. Doing so required almost 4 hours of taking stuff out..........sorting.....throwing some stuff out....rearranging and then putting everything back.
Wheew.....I was done for the day.
This weekend I absolutely have to get a tree. My favorite is a balsam fir. Hopefully, I'll find the right sized tree this year. Not too fat, not too skinny, not too tall and not too short. Last year's was too fat....though the height was fine.
I've tried a fake tree.......my eldest cat pulled out the branches. She leaves real trees alone.
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