Artificial Christmas Tree Tips & Tricks from Real Testers

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Why You Should Go Faux

Achieve the real Christmas tree look for less

By Julia Fields

Associate Commerce Editor

We've spent over two years testing artificial Christmas trees, both in our Lab and at home, which means we've learned a lot about fake tree branches and how to find the perfect tree for you, that will last longer than just one season. While we love the scent of a real tree, year after year we come back to the upsides of an artificial tree: cost, size, and cleanup. Here are a few reasons why we recommend artificial trees over the real deal.

Cost: Typically, artificial trees cost more out the door than a real tree, but they are meant to be used for years to come (our team has had theirs anywhere from two to five to even ten years!). What we've found is the more expensive trees look more "real" while the less expensive versions look more faux.
Save Time: Assembling a pre-lit Christmas tree took us 16 minutes on average—and none of the 36 trees we tested took longer than 21 minutes to assemble. With that kind of time savings, you can put your tree up the first weekend in December, and enjoy it all month long.
Fluff as You Go: Fluffing can make or break the look of your tree. Most trees are broken into sections you stack on top of each other (making them easier to store the other 11 months of the year). We recommend you start the fluffing process as soon as you add one layer. During testing, we used a pair of gardening gloves and wore a long-sleeved shirt to protect our hands and arms from plastic needles.
Got Holes?: Supplement any gaps in branches with real or fake greenery to give it a fuller look. Even if your tree comes prelit, adding a few strands of lights can give the tree that extra touch.
Cleanup & Storage: Artificial trees are easier to clean up than a real tree—no sticky sap, no needles, and no potential water leakage from the tree stand. However, a downside is storage, especially if you are tight on space. Some of the more expensive trees we tested come with a storage bag for the off-season, but if not, you'll need to buy one (or save the box). Proper storage keeps dust at bay. We recommend something with a heavy-duty exterior and wheels, like this one from Amazon.
It's Not Just for Christmas: Love your tree? Get even more out of it and keep it up year-round with new decorations. Think hearts on Valentine's Day, shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day, pumpkins for Halloween, and beyond.

If you're considering an artificial tree, act fast. We recommend buying a tree this weekend to have it arrive with enough time to enjoy it before Christmas. Curious about our list? Read about our top artificial Christmas trees here. What are your favorite ways to spruce up your artificial tree? Let us know!