Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Real tree Vs artificial tree? Is it a status symbol?

607 replies

CatsWhiskers1976 · 07/12/2020 11:26

Just putting up our artificial tree and having some thoughts.
At work the other day we got to discussing Christmas trees, and the old real vs artificial debate. It seemed to me that there was a bit of 'snobbery' against those who had artificial trees (maybe that's just where I work!). There were those who said artificial trees were just TERRIBLE for the environment. Given that most people I know have had their tree for many years (our family one was about 40 years old before it was replaced) is this really true? Cutting down live trees is okay for the environment? I have never had a real tree, growing up I didn't know anyone who had a real tree and in our circles it was usually only the slightly more well off people who ever had real trees. Apologies if this offends anyone, it was just my experience as a child growing up in working class Scotland.
Some people at work looked horrified at the thought of having a 'plastic' tree (mind, they were going off to cut the perfect one down on their 'estate').
So what do you think? Real Vs artificial? I spent a fair bit a few years ago to get a really nice realistic looking artificial tree which I hope will last years. At the time we had cats and I was afraid they would get hurt/never leave the real tree alone so I have stuck with artificial.
What does everyone else have? Do you judge people with fake trees?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
smilingontheinside · 08/12/2020 21:36

My tree cost £40 (reduced from £70) 30 years ago! It comes out every year, gets covered in all sorts of decorations collected and made over the years. No co-ordination whatsoever and we love it. It's a family tradition for me and now AC to decorate and we laugh at some of the ones they made and reminisce at the ones bought on trips abroad or gifted by people no longer with us. They have even asked which one I'm leaving the tree and Dec's too in my will. So lovely to have the memories rather than a tree decorated to Co- ordinate with the latest DIY trend colours.

MummyJ12 · 08/12/2020 21:45

We have both, a real tree in the dining room which is decorated mid December, and an ‘artificial’ one in the lounge. The artificial one always looks better IMO and you can’t see that it isn’t real (although it was super duper expensive Shock.) we invest in a really lovely artificial tree and they last 15 plus years so are much more eco-friendly. However, I love having the best of both worlds and the smell of a real tree is just the best!!!

Real tree Vs artificial tree? Is it a status symbol?
MummyJ12 · 08/12/2020 21:47

‘Artificial tree’ pic posted above! Wishing everyone a lovely Christmas x

pinkhousesarebest · 08/12/2020 21:49

We have always had a real tree. Love the smell and the ritual. But this year it seems so wasteful for the first time. All that water waste in cultivation, transport, watching it slowly die, disposal. I find it hard to believe that in twenty years time it will still be happening.
Grinch post of the night 😂

Grellbunt · 08/12/2020 21:50

I’d love an artificial tree but my DH won’t have it.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 08/12/2020 21:50

I’ve had both.. ironically the year we had the beautiful real tree was the Christmas we spent in a refuge 🤷‍♀️ because a) I was trying to make it special, and b) it fitted the room. We were fairly middle class when I was growing up, but always had cats, so had an artificial tree.

bellie710 · 08/12/2020 21:51

We have always had a real tree, I sometimes wish I had an artificial one so we could put it up earlier but I just love the smell of a real tree, don't think I could ever switch.

Grellbunt · 08/12/2020 21:53

What’s the problem with real trees and cats? I’ve always had real tree and cat - cat doesn’t have an issue?

BBCONEANDTWO · 08/12/2020 21:54

We got a real tree one year but it was rubbish, all the needles fell off and it wasn't as symmetrical as an artificial one. But yes I do think there's a bit of snobbery round having a 'real' tree.

Catlover77 · 08/12/2020 22:01

I admit to being a bit of a snob regarding plastic trees. I always have done and would only have a real one

MissMarks · 08/12/2020 22:05

Had real tree growing up and real tree now. Unless you spend a lot, I don’t think fake ones look as good.

StatisticallyChallenged · 08/12/2020 22:11

@Grellbunt

What’s the problem with real trees and cats? I’ve always had real tree and cat - cat doesn’t have an issue?
Climbing (they're heavier generally) and pine needles in paws/coats. Some christmas trees can be mildly toxic to cats as well.

I have maine coons. They're big heavy cats, they won't even attempt to climb an artifical one but a real tree is just a challenge.

EverybodystalkingaboutJamie · 08/12/2020 22:13

@MrsPumpkinPie

It's not the real trees that are an environmental problem, it's the plastic netting that they all come in that is truly horrifying. It doesn't seem to be anything that anyone discusses or even thinks about. Hundreds of thousands of bits of completely non-recyclable plastic netting going into landfill every single year! I watch people asking to see multiple trees to find the perfect one (all those bits of plastic netting thrown away) and then when the 'chosen one' is found, putting that through the sodding plastic netting machine. I honestly can't believe my eyes! For the record, we have a medium sized real tree that sits in a pot at the end of the garden and then bring it in each year. We've had it for 6 years now.
I wish we had the like button...you are spot on!
Barney60 · 08/12/2020 22:31

think there are some fab artificial trees now, i dont like real ones unless outside.

KarlKennedysDurianFruit · 08/12/2020 23:45

@Grellbunt my cat's a real tree climbing/destroying bastard , ignores artificial

caringcarer · 08/12/2020 23:50

Growing up in a working class family we always had a real tree. I have always chosen a real tree too I like a large 8 foot one which goes in middle of conservatory as it has a high ceiling dome. I am quite extravagant when it comes to Xmas baubles and like hand blown glass ones and little bells. I am frugal with many things but not Xmas trees. My dh grew up with an artificial one and because I am generally frugal with a lot of things he can't believe how extravagant I am with Xmas trees and baubles. He agreed it.lookd lovely though. I will be getting mine next weekend.

Mamanyt · 09/12/2020 01:05

At my age, an artificial tree just makes sense. I saved for quite a while and got one that looks real. People have no idea that it isn't until they actually touch it. I do buy a wreath of real evergreen to hang in my living room, so even the smell is there. But this tree will last me until I die. And I don't have to get down on my knees to water it, wondering if I'll ever get back up again!

I haven't noticed a difference in preference between economic status, actually. I'd say that my friends in all income brackets are about equally divided between real and artificial.

TheMotherShipAhoy · 09/12/2020 01:24

Until they make a wonky, assymetric, double tipped, shedding PITA artificial tree, it's got to be a real tree for me. I struggle with the neatness of artificial trees. And if they have 'themed' decorations to boot...
Mine's a hot mess of my childhood's vividly coloured glass baubles and 1980s lovingly preserved silver tinsel, tiny flag bunting, the DCs' salt dough creations from nursery etc, so tree needs to be a bit wild to keep up.

Middersweekly · 09/12/2020 07:58

We always had real trees 🌲 growing up in London as did everyone else on our working class housing estate. When I moved out as an adult I got a fake one which I used a few of times when I had young babies and couldn’t afford a real one. This was then replaced every year with real ones as the DC got older and could respect the tree (not pull baubals off of it etc) and we could afford it. I loved the smell of them and there was something of a tradition in selecting the perfect tree, bundling it home and erecting it. I love the smell of a real tree. Anyway we moved to a warm country where we can’t get a real tree because a Nordic fur would be dead by the time it got here so we have an artificial one now. It’s done 4 years so far. It’s not my favorite and I hate assembling it every year but it looks ok when it’s up and it’s a small compromise for a warmer climate! Don’t worry yourself with what other people do/think OP, as long as you’re happy with it then who gives a hoot what others think!

winniestone37 · 09/12/2020 09:16

We had real tress growing up - we were dirt poor for a bit. I love the smell be have them now. Maybe there is a class element but that doesn’t mean there a status symbol - that’s a silly thing to say. The fact that you think that kind of reveals more about you than anyone else.

Janegrey333 · 09/12/2020 10:37

On another thread, posters are discussing the merits of Balsam Hill trees. The trees do not have any individuality and actually look as if they come “ready decorated”.

Looking at them makes me realise why a proper tree is preferable. It’s nice to see the greenery for one thing. This year I think I shall pick masses of holly and ivy from the garden and rely on that mainly. Seems like the sort of year to bring the outdoors inside, given how deprived of freedom we’ve all been.

Grellbunt · 09/12/2020 11:51

My cat must be proper lazy !

FoolsAssassin · 09/12/2020 12:09

Just thinking back to what we’ve had over DD’s lifetime (she’s 22). Had a real one that came with baubles attached as a last minute one when I was pregnant . Then an artificial one from Matalan for a tenner that was supposed to be temporary and pretty rubbish but she got attached so it stayed longer than anticipated.

Then had quite a few years of real ones, including ones in pots that rarely survived more than a year as I am a tree killer. I haven’t quite lived down the year I brought home more of a Christmas Bush and had to radically prune it so we could get through the living room door.

Back to artificial when we had building work, followed by a real, then artificial last year as only had underlay so couldn’t hoover needles out. Found a lovely one on Facebook for hardly anything it was so nice think will use it this year instead of a real one. I’m going to make a garland with stuff from the garden for the fire place and always make a wreath for the door.

TwoZeroTwoZero · 09/12/2020 12:32

We have 2 artificial trees. One is a small 18" black one for the dining room that we bought when dc1 was a baby and we lived in a tiny house with no space for anything bigger (and I was thankful for that when he was a toddler and we could put it on a high shelf so he could look but not touch); the other is a larger, 4' green tree that we stand on the living room table. Someone gave it to us about 7 years ago.

I have nothing against real trees but I don't see the point in throwing away a perfectly usable item just to buy a different version.

janex1 · 09/12/2020 12:46

Artificial tree that we have used for at least 15 years- means we don't have to fork out £40 every year on top of all the other expenses and have the faff of dragging it out of the house. I hope it will last another 15 - I see no reason why not. I love the fact that it is reusable and we don't add to all those sad trees waiting to be collected by the bin men in January.