Real Christmas tree

How lovely are your artificial branches…

Christmas is right around the corner, which means it’s time to decorate. Everyone has plans to create a magical, winter wonderland in their apartment, but there’s one vital thing yet to figure out — do you get a real Christmas tree or an artificial Christmas tree?

Both have their pros and cons, so how do you pick? Well, you better not pout and you better not cry because we’re telling you what you need to know.

A brief history of Christmas trees

Germany is credited with the first use of the Christmas tree starting in the 16th century, and German settlers in Pennsylvania made Christmas trees popular in America in the 19th century.

Ever since then, picking out and decorating a tree has become synonymous with the Christmas season.

Things to consider with artificial Christmas trees

Artificial Christmas trees have been around since the 19th century. Considering they started off as dyed goose feathers, it’s safe to say they’ve come a long way. You no longer have to pluck the goose to decorate your apartment.

Today, you can get a really nice looking tree from a local craft or big box store for a reasonable price. The cost of fake trees can be anywhere from $30 into the thousands depending on what you’re looking for. As you’re making your decision, here are a few reasons to consider a fake Christmas tree this year:

1. Variety of styles and options

There are a lot of different types and styles of trees to choose from. From the traditional-looking green pine tree to sparkling silver to trees dusted with fake snow, you can pretty much buy any type of pine you want for the holidays.

2. Ease of use

One of the benefits of choosing a fake tree as an apartment dweller is how easy it is to set up. Most fake Christmas trees come in a box, so it’s much easier to get it into the apartment, especially if you live in a building with a small elevator.

A great deal of fake Christmas trees come pre-decorated with lights attached. That alone saves you a lot of time and energy. They’re easy to maintain as you don’t have to water them and you also avoid needles constantly falling and cluttering up your space. It’s also not as much of a fire hazard as a real tree because there are no dead pine needles that could spark.

3. Reusability

Unlike a real Christmas tree that has a short life span, fake Christmas trees are a one-time purchase that can last you for years to come. You’ll never have to purchase a tree again and can use the same, beautiful tree year-over-year.

When you’re done with Christmas and it’s time to put away the decorations, all you have to do is break down the tree and stuff it back in the closet it came from.

4. Lack of pine smell

While fake Christmas trees have a lot of perks, there is a con. With a fake tree, you’ll miss out on the fresh pine smell that’s linked to Christmas. Of course, there are candles and other substitutes to fix this problem, such as Thymes Frasier’s dispensers, but at the end of the day, nothing is as good as the authentic smell. But, if you have allergies, a fake tree is a great solution.

Things to consider with real Christmas trees

Christmas tree shopping is one of the many joys of the Christmas season. The thrill of picking out which tree shall be yours is exciting and can be a great family tradition. There’s nothing like walking the rows, debating between the small, Charlie Brown-looking tree or choosing the largest tree in the lot. But there are some other things to consider, too.

1. Choose a unique tree each year

The experience of picking out a fresh tree each year is unforgettable. You can find great trees in your local forest and chop them down yourself. Or, if sawing at a stump for hours in the cold isn’t your thing, then you can go Christmas tree shopping at a local lot. Either way, you’ll be sure to get a tree that is special and doesn’t look like everyone else’s.

2. Fresh pine tree smell

With a fake tree, you won’t have the crisp pine tree smell. But, with a real tree, your apartment will smell like fresh pine the moment you bring the tree home. No diffuser or candle can quite replicate that balsam fir smell.

3. Size and upkeep

There’s the joy of decorating your tree and deciding which ornaments go where. But, you can safely decorate both fake and real trees, and a downside to having a real Christmas tree in an apartment is the sheer size.

It can be a pain to lug a massive pine up to your apartment and then take it back down only a couple weeks later. There’s also the matter of having to care for the tree, making sure it gets enough water on a regular basis. When you’re deciding between a real and fake Christmas tree, make sure you consider the upkeep involved with a real tree.

Your final decision

There are many pros and cons to real Christmas trees vs. artificial Christmas trees. At the end of the day, it’s really up to you and what’s best for your apartment.

Do you want the authentic feel of a real Christmas tree or do you want the ease of an artificial tree? Either one is a great option and will make your apartment feel like a Christmas wonderland.

Ashley Singleton is a writer who loves following and writing about current lifestyle, DIY and home improvement trends. You can read some of her other work on the Lady Spike Media website. In her spare time, she performs stand-up comedy in Los Angeles.