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 for sure! Less hassle, less cleaning up, and a bigger choice of styles.

We always have a real tree, it wouldn't feel like Christmas without one. I love the smell and feel of a real tree, it makes the room feel really special.

This is a photo of last years tree... we're off next weekend to collect one for this year!

We have an artificial tree, which annoys my DH as his mum always had a real one. But we live in a small flat and tried a real one our first Christmas there and it was a nightmare, so I went back to a fake one.

I prefer it as I like to put a lot of decorations on, and I found I couldn't do that as well on the real tree. I love decorating it so looking forward to it this year!

has to be real for mex

Hmmm...I do love a real tree! The smell is amazing and it feels so like Christmas. But I always go with a fake tree - saves a lot of cleaning up and constant hoovering which I don't have time for playing Santa!

a fake tree because its less mess and also i think it makes for a beautiful tradition

Real in the garden; fake in the house - simple!

I believe that also trees suffers and I am against having a real one for Christmas. A small artificial one as a symbol is more than enough for me.

My parents always had a real tree - with real candles which I loved! But with a family of my own I can't face the fire hazard and so just go really fake - with lights that I can turn on every day, not just the once on Christmas Eve. Not sure my Mum ever understood, but I enjoy getting the tree out every year and it is part of my family tradition now

Fake tree for me, it's more cost effective.

Real, love them! Well, until Boxing Day when they have officially overstayed their welcome and need to leave my house immediately

Artificial in our place. We have a tiny flat and just don't have enough money to buy a real tree every year. It's a small artificial one that I bought for £10 in a sale 4 years ago. It's perfect for myself, oh and our 2 year old ds.

Had real trees for years but got fed up with dragging it to the car from the garden center, then from the car to the house. Then disposing of it ....

Much happier with the artificial one we have now. The cats are a bit peeved though ..... yes, they added their own special smell to the real trees

LOVE the idea of real ones xxx
But lets face it....artificial all the way..........
with decorations :D

Fake Tree benefits - (generally) More enviromentally freindly, No mess, No probelm to get rid of each year, Cheap in the long run, less fire risk
Real Tree benefits - Good smell, No need for loft space, authentic (even if you can't tell by looking at it)

I have no sense of smell and live in a house with two large loft spaces. So I'm firmly in the first camp.

We have an artificial tree, but it looks pretty realistic. It works out cheaper for us than buying a real tree every year and also means that all we have to do when we come to put the decorations up is pop into the loft and get it down.

I've always gone for real because of the smell & tradition etc. Last year though I was in homebase getting something just before Christmas & they had a display tree up that looked so real, lights attached loved it. Asked the staff how much it was just thinking casually might get it for next year. Anyway they said that's our last one and you can have if for half price !!! So yeh, fake tree convert

Got to be real for me

Fake all the way for me. Years ago when I had a tiny flat I bought a little fake tree with inbuilt LED lights. I loved it! No messing around untangling the fairy lights only to find they don't work!

I have a bigger fake tree now and I actually enjoy the ritual of decorating with lights and baubles. My decorations are quite old and have history and significance.

I'm not sure I'd ever go the whole hog and get a pre lit, pre decorated tree.

I prefer real trees (that smell!) but have had an artificial one for the last couple of years. We have quite low ceilings so it was tricky to find a nice bushy tree and usually had to lip the top off.

We have a very non-designer decorating style. Most of our decorations are old and have some significance or sentimental value so it can look a bit of a hitch potch but I love it. We have one particular Santa bauble which was my favourite as a little girl and mum and dad gave it to me for our dc's first Christmas. It must be over 40 years old. It's looking a bit tatty now but always has a spot front and centre on our tree.

Before we had our girls we had real trees, since we have had them we have had artificial ones. They have grown over the years.......from a small one which stood on a table to a big wide six footer which dominates the room. We love decorations it together, we don't have a pre-lit one as we like to change the lights and decorations every few years. We don't go mad trying to colour coordinate all the decorations but we do like themes, last year we had an angel theme so the tree was covered in angel decorations of all colours and sizes, it didn't look very professional but it did look individual

I prefer a fake tree. A decent one! Had a real one few years ago. I spent most of the time picking up the fallen needles before they got stuck in our feet or the dog decided to eat them. Prefer the easier option.

We cut one down out of the back garden every year

I love my fake tree, had it for nearly 20 years. Yes it sheds a bit, but nothing like a real tree. So easier, cheaper. I add my own smells to the room - I don't like pine, preferred mulled and citrus. Just win, win. This year I need to replace the lights and often add new baubles.

Fake for me. It is easier.