A good faux fir can rival the real thing
Allergies, pets, small children may make you consider going with an artificial tree
ATLANTA, GA.— If you’re dreaming of a lovely, needle-free Christmas tree, you are in good company.
About 80 per cent of homes in the U.S. will opt for an artificial tree this year, according to the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA).
Here are seven tips for buying a quality faux tree:
Ask yourself: Does the tree look realistic? Does the tree look full? Check out the tips and branches. If you’re looking at the tree in a store, note that it might not be fully fluffed — play around with a few branches to see if, with a little care, you can get the full look you are going for.
Needles made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) look more realistic than those made from plastic, while needles made from PE (polyethylene) are even more lifelike.
Making an investment. Just as fake trees can be found in all sizes, they can also be found in all price ranges. The quality of the tree and additional accents will affect the pricing. And there is a vast range depending on size, features and quality.
For example, a seven-foot-tall, prelit PVC tree can range from about $130 (U.S.) to $2,000. Depending on your budget, try to invest in the showcase tree in your house — if you’re setting up multiple trees and need to scale back the budget, spend less on the trees not front and centre.
Determine your style. Going with a faux tree gives you lots of options. Are you looking for a traditional justcut-from-the-farm tree, a snowswept tree, or a glamorous, bold metallic tree? There’s a tree to fit your personal decorating style.
Determine the size. You need to consider the clearance for a comfortable walkway in the room where the tree will be set up, and also be aware of the ceiling height; try to leave a foot of space between the topper and the ceiling.
Pre-lit or not? The time during the holidays is precious and seems to always be on the fast-forward mode so take any chance to simplify and get some time back. Technology has made its mark on trees, and is there to make your life easier. If you want to go back and forth each year between white lights and multicolour lights, don’t fret: there are now trees that have dual lights so you don’t even have to choose one over the other.
If you choose a pre-lit fake tree, look for one that is labelled “continuous on” or “with burnout protection.” This means that if a single bulb on the strand burns out, the rest of the lights illuminated.
Check the wires to make sure they’ll be hidden from the lights to the tree’s trunk.
Will it hold your ornaments? Feel the sturdiness of the tips and branches to ensure they can do the job. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency