No tree this year- what mini thing could I buy instead?

[GetInTheBinDave]

unfortunately this is an in-laws Christmas year. They’re lovely people but the distance means a 2 week trip minimum and staying in a hotel over the festive period, which I am sad about.

as a result we won’t be putting the tree up this year because we’ll barely be there.

my eldest is excited about a tree, but I just can’t bring myself to do it amidst everything else that needs to be done. My in laws don’t even usually have a Christmas tree but they have said they will get one for her to decorate.

But so we can have some cheer- has anyone seen any nice mini trees or pop up ones which can go in my hallway when it’s a normal Christmas, and usual tree is pride of place?

I have of course googled but it would be great have some personal recommendations.

How old is your child?

I think children tend to be very traditional about things like Christmas. I would have been really upset if we had no tree as a child even if not there for most of the time. Would you consider a mini tree? You can get them small and not expensive.

Let your DS out the tree up 30th November or sometime that week. Why not? Plenty of time to enjoy it.

-For years when we lived in a flat, I used to decorate an indoor plant like a mini tree
-Make a tree from your existing christmas lights stuck on the wall. 3M brand make tiny hooks that are removable
-Argos and many supermarkets do pop up trees or slimline ones. Seems silly to buy one for just 1 yr though www.argos.co.uk/sd/pop-up-christmas-tree/

All our local charity shops seem to have small, still in the box artificial trees for sale at the moment for about a fiver.

Just a thought, now your children are getting to a stage where Christmas traditions are special could your PIL not come to you?

I have a Bloom &Wild 'Tiny Tree' every year.

There are some really nice small fibre optic trees that are easy, just pull them out and plug them in. Something like https://www.ukchristmasworld.com/products/60cm-prelit-berry-and-cone-table-top-christmas-tree-with-warm-white-multi-coloured-lights-switchable this maybe?

If it were me, as long as I could afford it, I'd still get a tree, even if it were just for a week. I might put it up a bit early, so we get 2 weeks out of it etc.

In fact, that is what is happening for us this year. I'll also be away for 2 weeks over Christmas, half a world away from our home. On years like this, we will put a smaller tree up, and maybe a few less decorations, but still something. My son would be very upset if we didn't keep the traditon going, and I'd miss it too. It only takes an evening, and for a small tree, it isn't that expensive.

Me too, we lived abroad when I was little and had to travel for Christmas, but we always put the tree up first.

It doesn't need to be a big job, just get everything out and let the children do it, except perhaps for helping with the lights.

I have a pre-lit mini tree from M&S, it’s about 3ft or so, is it something like that you’re after? Tesco do mini real ones too although it’s a bit early yet.

For other non tree decorations, I like wreaths both inside and outside, a long string of lights wrapped around the stair bannisters, fairy lights or those star shaped paper lights in windows, Christmassy cushions in the sofa, nativity scenes. There are lots of possibilities but I guess only worth it if you’ll use them again!

I’d definitely put a tree up. It looks lovely for more than just those three days and helps everyone feel Christmassy.

If you don’t want to buy another tree (although if you go to the in laws for Christmas on a regular basis, it might be worth buying a smaller tree to go up on the years you do go) then you could get some of those detachable hooks that go on the wall and peel off without causing any damage, and put lights up like @JDM625’s photo. You could add baubles etc to that (although, if you’re going to all that effort, you could just buy a cheap tree).

I have one of these. Nice and easy to put up, just stick the wee stars on the ends of the branches. Stars LED Fibre Optic Christmas Tree

I’d put a tree up regardless but what about renting a potted tree? Last year I bought a small potted tree to go in the hall, with the intent of keeping it but sadly it died. We have a cut real tree for the main tree.

We got one of these the year that my mum was unwell and spent a lot of time in bed, for her bedroom. They store pretty flat and open out, the lights are cute and you can hang decorations from the branches.

https://amzn.eu/d/etAr5e2