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

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We have a fake tree at Christmas after a disaster one Christmas. As you do, you put the tree in a large bucket of water as the tree drinks loads of water in the couple of weeks it's up in the house; unfortunately whilst we were out the bucket split sending water all over our new floor, we returned home to a ruined floor and spent Christmas looking at floorboards! Not quite what I had in mind.

I'd rather have a fake one. Real one's look and smell great, but they can be very messy and constantly buying one each year seems like a waste of money.

Fake - We once had a real one and the dog took too much of an interest to it, then it dropped it;s needles so going for no mess :)

Often have both, but prefer the fake tree, it lasted over a decade and was almost a member of the family ! as it had it's own lights it made life so much easier without having to lots of untying...

Fake tree but lots of tree scented candles. The aroma without the mess!

Real, no comparison, plus it wouldn't be xmas without standing on pine needles everywhere!

REAL all the way! Love the whole process of choosing the tree, spending hours trying to get the balance 'just right' before showering as many baubles, lights & tinsel as the branches will hold! Even love hoovering up the needles months later :)

Got to be real; for me the smell, pines dropping and pain in the arse of getting it back out of the house when you done are sell part of Christmas!

Artificial. I don't like the idea of a tree being cut down and 'used' for just a few days. Even if it still has roots, it doesn't seem right to bring it out of the cold into a centrally-heated home. Also I read that they are full of creepy crawlies & can trigger asthma.

So it's artificial here but not pre-decorated - we have lots of decorations and we add a new one every year. I don't see the point of trying to be tasteful - just throw them all on! I love the way the lights make the tinsel glow.

Definitely fake. used to have real ones all the time but the needles used to go everywhere and create a lot more work. Prickly too for little ones. Nowadays a lot of fake trees are very good quality.

We will have an artificial tree because we have a kitten, and real pine needles would hurt her paws. Having said that, I would prefer a real tree.

Fake! Real ones are far too messy!

I absolutely adore real trees, there's nothing like the smell of them to start feeling Christmasey! However, with a toddler, last year we got an artificial one so I guess we better use it again this year! It's got snow tipped ends and is still really nice. I'll miss the true Christmas Tree smell though and will look forwrad to going back to my Mums for that feeling! We always had real ones as kids and my parents still get one every year now. Lovely.

As much as I love the smell of real Christmas trees I don’t like the mess, So we now have artificial and works great with the children :) x

Fake Tree for me - love the smell of real trees but hate the mess!

We have an artificial tree as we have a budgerigar and a dog

Fake, don't like real ones, needles drop even on the ones that are not supposed too, also don't like the forestry.

Fake! Having a real one requires far too much effort, haha ;)

I'm an artificial girl! With a hyper 5 year old boy and a cat and a husband, the thought of the mess of the needles to clean daily gives me shudders! Haha! I do love the idea of a real tree as they are beautiful, but I think I will have to wait for another few years! We do have a beautiful big bushy artificial tree with some pine cones on it. It's really nice! Xo

fake all the wayyyyy

I converted to a real tree about 5 years ago, much better.

fake, we've had the tree for about 6 years

A fake one but i would love a real one this year

To be honest, I don't really mind either way, as long as it's nice and full (no big gaps or spindly branches) - but if I had to choose, it'd definitely be a real tree.

Real, all the way. We've never had an artificial tree. You can't beat the smell of the real one when you walk into the house. I've never found the needles to be too much of a bother - nothing a quick vacuum can't sort out, anyway!