Many people prefer artificial Christmas trees over cut trees since they don't have to worry about transporting the tree, watering the tree, picking up the fallen needles, and disposing of the tree.
If you are purchasing a new artificial Christmas tree this year, consider these steps for how to choose an artificial Christmas tree.
photo courtesy of Quinn flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/8248848124/Height
Most people want the largest Christmas tree that will fit in their home.
When selecting a Christmas tree, consider the height of the Christmas tree base and the height of your Christmas tree topper.
Measure your ceiling height to determine the maximum height Christmas tree you can get, which is usually at least 1 foot shorter than your ceiling height.
Width
In addition to the height of your Christmas tree, you should also consider the width.
If you want a tall tree but don't have a wide space, there are tall and skinny trees available.
Color
The traditional color of Christmas trees is green, or maybe a green tree flocked in white to resemble snow.
You should also consider more interesting and unique Christmas tree colors, such as pink, red, and silver.
Fullness
Many people like a very full Christmas tree, however full trees are not as easy to decorate.
Determine how full you want your Christmas tree to be before shopping.
Pre-Lit
Decide if you want a pre-lit Christmas tree or not.
Pre-lit trees are often more expensive, however eliminate the hassle of putting up lights.
Some pre-lit trees do not have very many lights, so you may still need to add additional lights.
Ensure that your pre-lit tree has special bulbs that do not turn off the entire strand of lights when one bulb burns out.
Also look at the color of light that the tree emits since some lights tend to look blue, which you may not want.
Look for the UL symbol on the lights to ensure they have been tested by the Underwriter's Laboratory for safety.
Sturdiness
A Christmas tree often holds many precious and glass ornaments, so it should be sturdy and stable.
Tug on the floor model of the Christmas tree you want to ensure it does not move.
Number of Pieces
Some fake Christmas trees come in 2 or 3 sections while others require you to attach each branch individually.
Determine which style you like and how much time you want to spend on assembling your Christmas tree.
Box
You need to know where you will store your Christmas tree the other 11 months of the year.
Consider the size of the box that your Christmas tree comes in and whether the box will fit through your attic door, closet door, or wherever you put it.
Also consider the weight of the box if you will be lifting it into your attic.
Price
You will most likely pay more for a fake Christmas tree before Christmas than right after Christmas, so consider postponing your purchase unless you are very specific in what you want and don't want to risk it selling out.
