Real or fake Christmas tree? Share your opinions with Homebase for a chance to win a £300 Homebase voucher. NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

‘Tis the season once again. With Christmas on its way, Homebase is keen to get Mumsnetters’ views on the pros and cons of getting a real or fake tree.

Here’s what they have to say: “The Christmas tree is at the heart of everyone’s Christmas look but where do you stand on the annual dilemma - real or fake? Are you a fan of the fresh pine scent and traditional feel you only get from a real tree? Or do you go for a versatile artificial tree most years? Let us know if you go as far as ‘lights included’ or if your fake tree came already snow-tipped and adorned with berries and cones. Tell us all about your trees from over the years, whether you decide on authentic or artificial this Christmas and any tips you have on caring for real trees.”

So what do you think? Does the authentic smell of a real tree win you over? Or are smaller artificial trees better suited to your home? Do you get your family's much-loved tree out of the loft each year or is it a Christmas tradition to go together and choose one? Does real or fake really matter to you and your family?

Whatever your opinion, Homebase wants to know.

We’ll enter everyone who posts on this thread into a prize draw to win a £300 Homebase voucher.

Thanks and good luck.
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Artificial, even though real smells nice who has time to pick up all the needles.

Real all the way :)

We always enjoy an artificial tree in our house. To be honest I would prefer a real one but my husband is quite particular about tidiness and couldn't cope with 'the needles all over the floor!' - my dcs and I enjoy decorating it each year. [santa]

real - although it is messy so fake if you have pets.

Fake! Took me almost a year to get the pins out the house from the one i had up, couldnt bear to think of having that palava again!

My mum had artificial just one year and threw it out! She says it's not christmas without the smell of needles.
These days she just decorates a branch, bless her, but still gets the tree smell.
I love real and am hoping for real this year: 1st time for ages, can't wait! Especially when my crazy cat runs up it

Fake trees for me. I don't like that real trees aren't symmetrical and kind of lean to one side. They look messy. Although the smell is gorgeous, so I think I'll buy a spray this year (I know it's not the same but you can't have everything!)

i love my fake tree with the snow tips. I bought my tree last christmas from homebase, it was lovely.

Love a Nordman Fir, the smell in the room is so festive. Obviously once the fight with DH to get it to fit in the pot, stand up straight, stay stood up etc is over:)

Due to a crawling baby we have an 8ft artificial one for this year

Fake so much cleaner and can be dressed up to look real.

We have both. The bushiest tree we can find to go in the living room, which is traditionally decorated with lights, tinsel and loads of baubles all mismatched colours. Then a more tasteful themed artificial one in the corner of the kitchen, which is mainly there as a decoy for the cat so he leaves the big one alone doesn't work. I love real trees, the smell and the feel of them, the way things can almost get hidden in the branches but give out a soft glow. Really feels festive.

A very real looking artificial tree. Lasts for years and no needle drop

A fake christmas tree is cheaper and there's virtually no mess

Artificial for us, we don't have much room! I would love a large bay window so I could put a huge tree in it though

love a real tree, you can not beat the smell of a real tree :)

Fake, I can't be bothered with the hassle of buying it and cleaning the pine needles away constantly

Fake tree, although I do like the real ones but they are very expensive & cannot have them dropping pines with animals & small people.

Prefer real tree

definitely real

Definitely a real tree. The smell and tradition of a real tree make for a stronger Xmas atmosphere.

We have a fake tree. Just bare-bones dark green as I prefer to add my own lights and decorations. My parents always had a fake tree, so I've grown up with them and never had a real one. My childhood best friend did, and my main memory of being round at her house at Christmas was the amount of needles it shed, and how annoyed her mum was at having to lever them out of the cracks in their wooden floor!

I'd like a real tree someday, but I doubt it'll happen in the next few years. I have two crazy cats and I know they'd scale a real tree in a shot.

I love real ones but has to be fake as we dont want the dog to eat it :)

I used to love getting a real tree when my son was younger. We'd go to the forest sales place and pick one, take it home and spend the weekend arranging it. It was a lovely ceremony! But they're expensive, and artificial ones are a bit more environmentally friendly because the same one gets used every year and lasts such a long time! Also no needles and no tree to dispose of after Christmas!
I like to go walking amongst lots of Christmas trees instead and see them out there in the woods where they're supposed to be!

I love a real Christmas tree, it makes the house smell of Christmas and looks amazing. However the shedding of the needles is not fun and I end up hoovering them up well into March. We have a fake one for the children's playroom so that they can enjoy it without the mess.

Up in the loft we go each year to grab the big old fat fake tree and doll her up!!
I do love the real trees but i prefer the shapes of the fakes plus i aint got dropping needles all over the shop. No-one wants to get the vac out 5 times a day!
Its all about how you dress her up! xxx