CHOOSING your Christmas tree, A key part Of holiday planning
Newer trees have polyethylene plastic needles at the front of the tree that look realistic and PVC on inner branches as filler.
Planning is everything to ensure a successful holiday season, especially this year, when travel, shopping and socializing are so different. The first thing on my list is organizing the decorating and the location of my Christmas tree, since it's the centrepiece to any holiday home decor. This year (as in many past), I will be using an artificial tree; mostly for ease of assembly and no surprises.
If you love a carefree artificial tree like I do, then you'll know there have been many advancements over the past few years, such as realistic looks, longer lasting LED lights and easier assembly. Here are a few tips on choosing a tree that will fit in your space and bring fa-la-la-lala for years to come.
Size And proportion
Consider the tree's size and how it will fit in the room. Both the height and diameter are important factors. The diameter of the base can consume from nine to 36 square feet of precious floor space, so in small rooms, consider a thin tree that offers height but is less than 10 square feet at the base.
Tip: Love the look of a full tree but don't have the floor space? Consider a vertical half tree. It will create the effect of a full tree, but has half the diameter and requires half the floor area. Another option is a three- to four-foot tree; when placed on a table, it gives the illusion of a taller tree in the room.
pre-lit Or unlit
An unlit tree is great for those who like to change the colour of their lights each year or don't like the white lights that come standard on many pre-lit trees. Keep in mind that even though most trees are sold pre-lit, you do not have to plug it in and can always add your own string lights to change up the look.
Pre-lit trees come with multicoloured lights or warm white. New technology has now offered the ability to change the tree light's colours with the use of an app.
Get realistic
Many new artificial trees come in a variety of needles
and branches that offer a realistic look. In years past, trees were made of dark green wire branches wrapped with shredding PVC, but newer trees have polyethylene plastic (also called PE) needles at the front of the tree that look realistic and PVC (the shredded plastic) on inner branches as filler. Look for trees that have brown wood-look inner branches and stumps.
As an option, get ones with faux pine cones wired into place. If you're looking for something different, there are flocked ( branch
es are covered in a snow-look or glitter material). You can also find trees in popular colours like white, navy or black for a fantasy look. Tinsel trees (popular in the 1950s) are a great way to inject fun.
A tree that is bound to be popular this year is the smaller four-foot pre-lit models; they store away as one slim piece and can be displayed on the floor or set on a tabletop. Smaller will be very popular for those in tiny apartments who will be spending their holidays at home this year.
Tip: Look for a tree style that is native to your area for a realistic factor.
this year's top trees Through my research of this year's artificial trees, the NOMA Pre-lit Advanced 7.5-foot Aurora Holiday Symphony Tree from Canadian Tire gains Santa points for its good looks, easy assembly, and state of the art features such as 600 LED lights equipped with RGB light technology (LED lights that can turn red, green or blue). It offers thousands of light colour
combinations, seven pre-set
musical synchronized light shows, a built-in speaker and a foot pedal for easy on/off operation. The ease, realistic looks and interactive technology will certainly be the future of artificial trees.
top tree toppers And BASES
The classic choice for topping the tree is an angel or a star, but I like to be creative. A black felt top hat and red scarf was a big hit a few years ago, and this year I am thinking about adding a rack of gilded resin antlers. At the floor, a popular way to hide the base of the tree this year is with a tree collar. These bucket-shaped containers are often made of wicker, rustic or shiny painted metal; you simply drop the tree stand into it so it's neatly hidden. I go another route: I like to conceal the base with a large, inexpensive faux fur blanket which adds a natural yet luxe look. This year, it will tie in beautifully with the antlers at the top!
Do you have a decor dilemma or want to give feedback? You can contact Karl on Instagram at Karl Lohnes. Karl has worked as a home decor expert and product designer for 25 years.