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

Fake all the way. I don't worry about the enviroment, I don't worry about cleaning up needles and my little one can decorate the tree over and over and over again without me worrying about needle-drop! Also, as a single Mum, it is more cost effective.

A real one with roots which I bring in from the garden every year.

Fake. I rather see the real ones in the forest then in my living room then thrown out on the street after. It makes me feel sad all the waste for such a short space of time!

I love real and always had one growing up but we lived on a farm so easier to dispose of and got from a sustainable source. Now I sometimes use artificial and with a little one pine needles not littering the house is easier too.

All said and done I am team REAL

Real ones remind me of the ones we had growing up. However, my dad insisted on never buying them until a couple of days before Christmas by which time the garden centre would have sold out of all the good ones - so ours were often a bit skinny and pathetic-looking! Real but lush, please!

Real!!

Fake I'm afraid, though maybe real one day in the future

Both! We have a real tree in the living room and a large artifical one that we've had for years in our dining room. If I had to choose just one, then I'd have a real one every time, I just love the smell!

fake! we have dogs and kids who get into everything. we have had real ones and been picking up pine needles for months after. my LO also had a rash from playing under the tree and being in contact with it :(

Always have a fake tree.

We have had a few over the years but the very small one we have from when DH and I had our first Christmas together still goes up somewhere.

It maybe a bit threadbare and missing a couple of branches but I can't see it ever being thrown away. It holds far too many memories.

Real tree in our house as I love the way they smell. We do have a small fake one on the dining table though. At the moment, I really like the look of the Scandinavian style ones which are wall-mounted.

Real for sure - much more in keeping with Christmas, I think

fake for us - hate the pine needles over the floor

I love a real tree that's big and bushy but I have only had one once. We usually have a fake tree mainly because of the cost but also the mess with children running around.

Fake - no hassle, no need to shop every year and then somehow get it home, no need to keep hoovering bits up and no nasty bits under one's feet, and no need to have to carry it down to the park for composting afterwards.

It always has to be real! Even though they can take a bit more work, if looked after they do give a traditional air to the family christmas and the scent is amazing!

I cheat and have both - real in the living room and fake in the dining room

Although I love the smell of a real tree it is more convenient to have fake. You only buy it once and it sheds less mess. We do have real tree clippings though to enjoy the smell!

Real tree every year. Doesn't smell or feel like Christmas without one. I don't want some plastic perfectly shaped tree shipped from China - not festive!

The forestry commission place we went to with my parents as children to pick our tree is now the place that I go back to with my children to pick our tree every year. In the decades I between, the forest closed to let the trees grow up .

This year will be the first without my beloved dad who we lost a few months ago. Going back to pick our tree is even more important this year. Getting a tree down from the attic and out of its box just wouldn't and couldn't compare.

Fake. with 3 young children and the dog I have enough to hoover up, without the pines from a real tree.

I prefer an artificial tree.

We did try a real tree one year, and were still picking pine needles out of the carpet by the following Christmas! And the children complained, because 'they prickled'.

I like the look of a real tree but we have an artificial one at home as theyre much easier to look after

Both for me - artificial in the living room and a real one in the front

I'd love a fake tree, problem is hairy shitzu dog, who seems to have a knack of getting covered in pine needles. I debated shaving her for Christmas, but thought that was cruel so it's the fake tree out of the attic again for us. After all the dog is for life, the tree is just for Christmas.

and that will teach me not to read it first.. I meant I'd love a real tree!!!
lesson learned, don't type with said dog on lap!