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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Fake, we have had the same one for 10 years and it has survived a 6 year old and a 4 year old. We now have a 23 month old and 2 kittens as well, so the forecast for this year is cloudy with a chance of wreckage.

Living on my own now, there is no point having a real tree, although I like them, or a fake tree as having to just move and am in rented accommodation....I may have some lights but that is about it.

Fake all the way, real ones are too much hassle and cost too much year on year.

For us real every year they are so low drop needles now and the smell it creates is just so worth while

It has to be a fake one as I don't like the mess real ones create and they are never perfectly shaped x

always have a fake one

I'm really surprised by the love for fake trees. I always sort of assumed that people who had them were doing it because for some reason a real tree was impractical, but that deep down they would prefer real. Its always useful to be reminded that what I like is not what everyone likes.

Fake all the way! No needles being hoovered up six months later...

Fake all the way! We have a 7ft one for the living room and a 4ft for the conservatory. They satisfy my need for symmetry and don't drop needles on the floor!

We enjoy putting them up as a family and make a big deal out of the whole day with special drinks and snacks and music on in the background. When it's all finished and gone dark outside, a glass of our favourite tipple is poured and Die Hard on the TV!

Real all the way. The smell is lovely and it's not Christmas without s real tree.

Fake as I have a dog and he once got ine needles in his paw and had to take him to the vets, hence a bill to pay near Christmas! Fake ones are so realistic looking these days anyway.

It just has to be an artificial tree. When my dd was 1, she was obsessed with the tree and kept knocking it overly Christmas Eve it was bald from about halfway down. We had an emergency dash for an artificial one to save xmas

Prefer fake, tried a real one last year, for the first time, but had to throw it out early as it started smelling of rotting bananas and quite expensive to have to buy a new one every year

I love the smell of real trees but they are just too much hassle, so we have a fake one. But we got one that was as natural looking as possible.

I have to go for fake because my cats attack a real one too much

I used to be a real Christmas tree girl myself but after spending the last 3 years hoovering up bits of tree every day over the Xmas period I have converted to a plastic one this year!

They've came a long way from the ones we had as kids and you can get scented ornaments that give off the smell of Christmas trees and cinnamon.
Wish me luck, this is my first year with good ol' fakey tree.

Fake for sure! With 2 boys and a cat who loves to climb the tree, I couldn't bear a real one now.

Fake - we've never had a real one! I don't think I could cope with all the needles!

You cab only realistically without look WIERD have a tree in your house once a year!!!!
We love shopping for the tree naming the tree, we let the kids decorate it... No designer ball hanging in this house !!!
Smells great, looks great Wowsers ... I've got a mahoosive tree in my house !!!

real tree, the smell and look..well worth it

We always have a real tree. I love going to pick it out and then the smell of it in the house always gets me in the Christmas spirit! We spend a day at home all together decorating it.
Real trees are hard work and would be easier with a fake but I just love the smell of real trees.

I have always had real trees until last year - I found a great fake tree which looks amazing, so we bought that. It will be better with a crawling baby around too, as she just eats everything!

Growing up we had real trees, which we had to crry hom efor about 3 miles in the cold (and sometimes snow). We then spent hours chopping bits off to get them to loook right, before eventually decorating them. We then spent most of the year piccking up needles, before starting all over again!

Nowadays we have artificial ones. A big traditional one in the lounge, a tiny white one in the hall and a very modern, twig-style on in the conservatory. Much easier and they look better too. They usually all go up on the 1st or 2nd December, but we're having a new (desperately needed) kitchen fitted before Christmas this year, so goodness knows when we'll manange to put them up this year.

Real while the children were growing up.