Picking the Perfect Artificial Tree

I remember one year when we (my father, brothers and myself) were on our way out to get the family Christmas tree, when I innocently asked if we were going to get one of those "fake" trees that I saw at the store. I thought it was an innocent question—boy I couldn't have been more wrong! My father stated quite simply (and fairly forcefully) that there would never be an artificial tree in his home. The reason, he said, was that those "plastic" trees looked too fake, and that if we got one, then our home would look shabby and unattractive.

Thank goodness times have changed. If you are in the market for an artificial tree, then you should be prepared for some changes. Long gone are the days of easily spotted plastic "pine" needles that couldn't have fooled a bat. Now you are going to need to take just as much care and time when picking the perfect artificial tree as you would when picking a natural one. The reason for this is that the quality has improved to the point that you cannot always tell the difference (by sight) which is an artificial tree and which is a natural one. Some trees now even come with that "authentic" pine scent.

Here are some simple guidelines that can help you when you are perusing your choices for what to bring home. Keep these in mind and you are never going to go wrong. You will end up with a tree that is going to have people talking year after year.

• Size and space. Take a little time to measure out the room and the location in the room where you plan on putting the tree. Use this information to help determine how large of tree you can fit into your room. Be sure that you take special interest in the height of the tree. Nothing is more frustrating than getting a tree that cannot fit into your room. It should not be very difficult to deal with this since the measurements are on the outside of the box; simply match your room measurements with the ones on the box.
• Species. Since there is more than one type of natural Christmas tree, there are going to be more than a single type of artificial tree as well. Every species of tree is going to have a unique coloration, feel, look, and total shape. Prior to purchasing your tree, do a little bit of homework into the four most popular species which are the Fraser, Scotch pine, Noble, Spruce and Douglas firs.
• Shape. There are three overall shapes when it comes to trees. These three shapes are full, slim, and narrow. Typically, the ideal shape for a Christmas tree is the full which is more of a cone shape than anything else. If you need a tree that is going to fit into a tighter or smaller location, then you are going to look at the slim and narrow shapes. Just keep one thing in mind though—you want to avoid something that looks like an overgrown pencil. Such trees look fake and should be avoided.
• Accessories. Some of the newer trees come pre-decorated to some degree or another. This includes everything from tastefully built-in LED lights to a tree that is completely decorated with ornaments. There are even those trees that do not have any decorations for the more traditional minded.