The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Christmas Tree for Your Home

October 24, 2024

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Our Opinion

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Christmas Tree for Your Home: A Holly Jolly Adventure from the Staff of The Parent Game

Ho, ho, holly jolly season, dear parents! It’s that time of the year when gingerbread cookies come wafting from the kitchen, carols fill the air, and children dream of sugar plum fairies — but wait! What’s a Christmas celebration without the pièce de résistance: the Christmas tree? At The Parent Game, we know that choosing the right Christmas tree can feel like a strategic mission worthy of a holiday epic. So, grab your eggnog and let’s dive into our ultimate guide to selecting the best Christmas tree for your home!

Step 1: Choose Your Tree Type – Real vs. Artificial

Before we can deck those halls, we must first select the type of tree we want to showcase in our living room. So, will it be a fresh spruce or an artificial masterpiece?

Real Trees: The Classic Choice

There’s nothing quite like the scent of a real Christmas tree wafting through the living room. Options like Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, and Balsam Fir each bring a unique aroma and aesthetic. Real trees are eco-friendly as long as they are sourced sustainably, plus, you can recycle them afterward! Just watch out for those pine needles that seem to have a personal vendetta against your vacuum cleaner!

Artificial Trees: Convenience is Key

If you like the look of a tree but don’t want the mess – or the yearly hunt – artificial trees are your best pals! They come in every shape, size, and color. Plus, they don’t shed, and they can be used year after year. Just be prepared for what might feel like a scavenger hunt in the attic or basement when locating it each Christmas. And don’t forget to ensure your artificial tree is flame-retardant—safety first!

Step 2: Size Matters – Finding the Right Fit

Before you rush to a Christmas tree lot or online store, measure your space! You don’t want to end up with a towering spruce that grazes the ceiling; unless you’re cool with having your holiday lights tangled in the ceiling fan.

The 3-5 Rule

And remember the ‘3-5 Rule’ — your tree should have about 3 feet of clearance above it (that let’s the star shine brightly) and around 1 to 1.5 feet of space on each side for decorations and presents. Your living room won’t feel festive if it resembles a Christmas tree gauntlet!

Step 3: Assessing Your Lifestyle

As the champions of family fun at The Parent Game, we know every family has its quirks. Here are some questions to consider:

  • Do you have little helpers? If your home features small children or mischievous pets, invest in sturdy ornaments and a tree that can withstand occasional attack!

  • Are you a busy bee? Families on the go might prefer an artificial tree or a pre-lit one to save time and spillage for those last-minute holiday gatherings.

  • Do you have allergies? If allergies make your nose itch and eyes watery, an artificial tree might be the right choice for your family.

Step 4: Budgeting Your Tree Adventure

Christmas tree dreams shouldn’t break the bank! Set a budget that includes all elements: the tree, decor, and possibly even a new tree skirt the cat won’t shred. Don’t forget that many local farms offer deals, and don’t be shy about seeking out sales on artificial trees after the big day!

Step 5: Decorate Like a Pro

Congratulations! You’ve chosen the perfect tree. What’s next? Decorating, of course! Check out our tips for turning your tree into a festive masterpiece:

  1. Lights First: Start from the bottom and wrap your lights around the branches, weaving in and out—just like you would with your favorite yarn during craft hour!

  2. Ornaments Next: Choose a theme that reflects your family’s personality. You don’t need to win a decorating contest; the best ornaments are the memories attached to them!

  3. Topping It Off: Top your tree with a star, angel, or anything else that tells your family’s holiday story!

Bonus Tips from The Parent Game Team

  • Don’t Forget to Water Your Tree: If you went with a real one, keep it hydrated like the champion it is. This will prevent it from turning into a fire hazard faster than you can sing "Jingle Bells."

  • Consider the Eco-friendly Route: If you’re going for a cut tree, keep your eye out for tree farms that plant new trees every year. That way, you’re not just decking your halls; you’re also helping Mother Nature.

  • Involve the Kids: Make tree selecting a memorable family outing. Let your kids unleash their creativity and help design the tree. Before long, they’ll be strategizing their own holiday special!

Conclusion: Time to Get Your Jingle On!

Finding the perfect Christmas tree may seem daunting, but with a bit of planning and the right tools, you’ll be spreading holiday cheer in no time! From picking the best spot in your home to ensuring that you’re tree-tastic all season long, get ready to create lasting memories around your beautifully adorned tree.

On behalf of everyone here at The Parent Game, may your holidays be merry and bright! Now go forth and take on the world of holiday trees!

Products We Currently Love on Amazon

  • ARTIFICIAL SPRUCE TREE: High-quality PVC needles recreate the dense foliage of the iconic spruce pine tree to produce a simple yet elegant centerpiece for the holiday season

  • DECORATE YOUR WAY: Grab the family and create your own holiday aesthetic as this tree provides a blank canvas for your favorite lights, garland, and ornaments to shine

  • REALISTIC APPEARANCE: Hundreds of tips create a full, yet tapered appearance with meticulously crafted branches that mimic the color and texture of an authentic pine tree; Number of Tips (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft/12ft): 398 / 798/ 1,346/ 2,028/ 4,188

  • CLASSIC DESIGN: Inspire holiday cheer this season with a customer favorite that helps make the season feel complete; equipped with sturdy branches, strong enough to hold garland and all your favorite ornaments for a customized look

  • FULL APPEARANCE: Fully fluff the branches to provide a healthy, natural appearance, with 763, 798, 1,346, 2,028, and 4,188 tips (based on tree size). You also save time decorating with 200, 250, 550, 900, and 1,300 incandescent lights (based on tree size) pre-strung in your tree

  • EASY ASSEMBLY & FLUFFING: Put the tree together in just 3 steps: simply connect the base to the largest section of the tree before attaching the remaining sections and easily fluffing the branches

  • This Dunhill Fir Full Artificial Green Christmas Tree is 6 feet tall with a 46 inch base diameter. Featuring hundreds of individually crafted branch tips to create full bodied branches, this tree is designed to look and feel lifelike.

  • Designed to look and feel lifelike, this tree is defined by its close attention to detail, featuring hundreds of individually crafted branch tips that make up the wide, full-bodied branches that create space for your lights and ornaments.

  • This tree features pre-attached, hinged branches that drop down for a simple set-up and fold back in for quick and convenient storage. Set aside 45-60 minutes to properly shape the tree by peeling back the branches and pulling the tips apart.

  • NATURAL LIFELIKE APPEAL: Our pre-lit artificial branches look ultra-realistic and lifelike. With 4,026 individually crafted branch tips, this full bodied tree is as charming as the real thing

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  • 10 FUNCTION, MULTI-COLOR LIGHTS: This durable pre-lit Christmas tree features 900 long-lasting LED lights. Our Dual Color light options include both solid white and multi-color, and 10 different functions to choose from. Complete with a sturdy metal base and fire-resistant, non-allergenic needle tips

  • CLASSIC PINE TREE: High-quality PVC needles recreate the dense foliage of the iconic pine tree to produce a simple yet elegant centerpiece for the holiday season

  • DECORATE YOUR WAY: Grab the family and create your own holiday aesthetic as this tree provides a blank canvas for your favorite lights, garland, and ornaments to shine

  • REALISTIC APPEARANCE: Hundreds of tips create a full, yet tapered appearance with meticulously crafted branches that mimic the color and texture of an authentic pine tree; Number of Tips (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft): 400/ 1,000/ 1,346/ 2,028

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  • Seriously No-Hassle: If you're looking for a prelit artificial Xmas tree that holds its shape and is a securer option for your family, look no further than this artificial Christmas tree. It is decorated in warm white LED lights, so you get the beauty of a traditional tree without the maintenance of a fresh-cut tree (no needles!).

  • Make Fluffing Fun: The only time you're really spending is fluffing the pencil Christmas tree, which can be a family-friendly way to decorate and share some hot chocolate. Make it a game: race against the clock, compete to see who fluffs the most, or create an obstacle course.

  • More Ambience Is Better: A realistic yet flame-retardant Christmas tree is going to give some extra peace-of-mind in case you have to put your tree next to your fireplace. Of course, it's great ambience on its own, but a fireplace...I mean, come on.

  • This Dunhill Fir Full Pre-Lit Artificial Green Christmas Tree is 6 feet tall with a 46 inch base diameter. Featuring hundreds of individually crafted branch tips to create full bodied branches, this tree is designed to look and feel lifelike.

  • Features 600 white lights that remain lit even when a bulb goes out. The lights are strung on the tree before packaging, offering an easier, more convenient set up. Light Type-Incandescent

  • This tree features pre-attached, hinged branches that drop down for a simple set-up and fold back in for quick and convenient storage. Set aside 45-60 minutes to properly shape the tree by peeling back the branches and pulling the tips apart.

  • NATURAL LIFELIKE APPEAL: This tree uses our trademarked 'FEEL REAL' technology that offers outstanding realism on 1,325 branch tips. These crush-resistant tips give our trees and greenery foliage that best mirrors nature's design

  • SIMPLE SETUP AND STORAGE: Convenient hinged branches allow for easy setup and disassembly

  • LASTING DURABILITY: Built to endure many holidays with its sturdy metal base, our time-tested needles are also fire resistant and non-allergenic

  • ELEGANT SNOW-FLOCKED DESIGN: Experience a white Christmas as the vibrant green PVC pine needles are beautifully enhanced by a snow-flocked finish, transforming your home or office space into a winter wonderland!

  • WARM WHITE LIGHTS: Our pre-lit tree comes adorned with hundreds of incandescent white lights, creating a magical glow and a festive ambiance that's the perfect centerpiece to any holiday display; Number of Lights (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft/12ft): 150/ 250/ 350/ 500/ 950

  • LUSH, FULL APPEARANCE: Hundreds of tips create a full, yet tapered appearance with meticulously crafted branches that mimic the color and texture of an authentic Christmas tree. Number of Tips (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft/12ft): 268/502/641/1,005/1,843

  • Artificial Christmas Tree: This is a 6′ pre-lit flocked artificial Christmas tree covered with flocking with a foldable metal stand and 820 tips. The hinged-fir holiday tree with 250 incandescent warm white lights will give your house a cozy and inviting glow

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  • Clear Warm Lights: This Christmas Fir Tree has ample incandescent warm white lights, creating a cozy and festive ambiance. Place this Xmas tree in front of your house or in the garden, let it shine brightly throughout the winter, and spread the brilliant glow and cheerful warmth to all who see it

  • CLASSIC NOBLE FIR: Specially built branches combine premium-quality PE & PVC to recreate the stiff, horizontal pattern of the iconic tree-combining convenient construction with realistic appeal

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  • EASY ASSEMBLY & CORDLESS CONNECTION: This 3-step assembly features a cordless light system-just stack the sections of the tree, fluff, and plug in the base; Fluffing times (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft/12ft): 15-30 min/ 30-45 min / 45-60 min/ 1-1.5hrs/1.5-2hrs

  • PRE-LIT ARTIFICIAL HOLIDAY TREE: This Pre-Lit Fraser Fir Pencil Artificial Christmas Tree will light up any room in your home

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  • HOLIDAY MAGIC: Inspire holiday cheer in your home, office, holiday party, and more with a Christmas tree that helps make the season feel complete; equipped with sturdy branches, strong enough to hold garland and all your favorite ornaments for a customized look

  • PRE-DECORATED DESIGN: A collection of hundreds of incandescent lights are complemented by a collection of artificial pine cones and berries to bring a natural ambiance to your home; Number of Lights (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft/12ft): 150/250/550/900/1,300

  • EASY ASSEMBLY& FLUFFING: Unfold the metal stand and stack each section from largest to smallest, fluff and enjoy! Fluff Time (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft/12ft): Approximately 15-30 min/ 30-45 min/ 45-60 min/ 1-1.5 hrs/ 1.5-2 hrs

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  • PRE-LIT PENCIL TREE: Each tree features a slender profile and a set of warm, incandescent lights to brighten your holidays; Light Counts (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft/12ft): 150/250/350/450/700

  • Seriously No-Hassle: If you're looking for a unlit artificial Xmas tree that holds its shape and is a securer option for your family, look no further than this 6 ft artificial Christmas tree. No more crowded farms (yech), no more allergies (phew), no fires, no watering, no needles, you get the idea.

  • Make Fluffing Fun: The only time you're really spending is fluffing the tree that has an auto open design, which can be a family-friendly way to decorate and share some hot chocolate, or make it a game: race against the clock, compete to see who fluffs the most, create an obstacle course…the options are nearly endless.

  • More Ambience Is Better: A flame-retardent realistic Christmas tree is going to give some extra peace-of-mind in case you have to put your tree next to your fireplace. Of course, it's great ambience on its own, but a fireplace...I mean, come on.

  • NATURAL LIFELIKE APPEAL: Our pre-lit artificial branches look ultra-realistic and lifelike With 198 individually crafted branch tips, this full bodied tree is as charming as the real thing

  • SIMPLE SETUP AND STORAGE: Setup and take down for storage are easy with lights conveninetly pre-strung to branches

  • LASTING DURABILITY: Built to endure many holidays with its sturdy metal base and 50 UL white lights that remain lit even if a bulb burns out Our time-tested needles are fire resistant and non-allergenic

  • Natural Drooping Pencil Design: Our YITAHOME tree features 800 branch tips, closely resembling a natural layered spruce for a unique look; Covered in white flocking, it adds a special winter ambiance; The elegant pencil spruce doesn't occupy much space, making it perfect for corners and limited spaces, adding excitement and creativity to your life

  • Pre-lit Design: Our pre-lit Christmas tree shines brightly with 350 pre-strung lights, offering 3 light colors + 11 modes for easy operation; Switch modes with a touch of a button to illuminate your holiday moments

  • Easy Assembly: Our pencil Christmas tree comes with pre-attached hinged branches for easy setup; The product may be compressed, simply adjust the branches to fill in any obvious gaps for an elegant appearance; Pre-installed pinecones are evenly distributed under the branches and can be manually adjusted during assembly for a perfect presentation

  • This Kingswood Fir Slim Artificial Green Christmas Tree is 6.5 feet tall with a 28 inch base diameter. Featuring hundreds of individually crafted branch tips to create full bodied branches, this tree is designed to look and feel lifelike.

  • Designed to look and feel lifelike, this tree is defined by its close attention to detail, featuring hundreds of individually crafted branch tips that make up the wide, full-bodied branches that create space for your lights and ornaments.

  • This tree features pre-attached, hinged branches that drop down for a simple set-up and fold back in for quick and convenient storage. Set aside 45-60 minutes to properly shape the tree by peeling back the branches and pulling the tips apart.

  • 【Replaceable Lights】Warm White lights.

  • 【Ideal Size】7.5 feet tall. The pre lit Christmas Tree is 7.5 foot with a 44 inch base diameter, an ideal choice for Christmas decorations. you can accentuate different areas of your living space, office, or even a holiday home party by customizing your tree with garland, ornaments, and more!

  • 【Pre-Lit Design 】Pre-installed 350 warm white lights,you don't need to install the lights string by yourself. At the same time, the bulbs that the Christmas tree used meet the strict UL standard, safely designed to remain lit even if one burns out. Easy and convenient and bring festive brilliance to your home.