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 ours - which goes up on Dec 1st! We go to my mum's (she lives in the next village) on Christmas Eve & again on Christmas Day and she has a massive real tree in the living room where we open most of our presents (except for the ones Santa brings to ours!). I prefer the real one, but the fake one works best for us at home :D

It has to be a real Christmas tree. I love the smell, the irregular shape. They look completely different to fake ones. I'd much rather have a small real tree than a huge fake one.

We have always had a fake tree, had the same one for 16 years now and still going strong! Always loved the idea of a real one though.

Fake tree for us. Just works for us at the moment

Fake here, just find it much cheaper and less hassle.

We had a fake one for years, but now we get a real one. They just look and smell scrummy!

I've always had a fake tree, even as a child. I would love a real tree one year! I have a 3 year old and a cat who plays with the baubles so I can't see us going real for a few years yet!

We bought a really lifelike, very big artificial tree in the sales many years ago and it still looks great now. I love the smell of real trees though so make sure to have pine fragrances in the room too!

real i have never had a fake tree

I'd love a real one but space means we have fake.

The gorgeous smell of a real Christmas tree must be one of my favourite Christmas fragrances. But - having said that - we now have a lovely 6ft artificial tree with inbuilt warm cream lights (would have cost about £100 new but bought in a charity shop for £15!) which comes out year after year and looks beautiful decorated in a red and gold theme.

I would love a real tree, sadly it's a bit out of our budget this year, plus I don't think it would survive being mauled by our 10 month old tasmanian devil DS! We bought a decent artificial tree last year and that will do us until we can justify getting a real one. We always had a real tree growing up and I'd love DS to have proper Christmases when he can remember them.

I'd love a real tree, but I learnt the hard way that pine needles and doggy paws don't mix, so it's fake for us!

It has to be fake for me. Just because I like all the different styles you can get :)

has to be real- the smell is amazing- especially walking into the living room on xmas day with all of the presents under the tree- I love the smell so much :)

I prefer real. Although the needles seem to get everywhere and can become very annoying!

We usually have fake but might get a real one this year, love the smell!!

Fake

I prefer a real Christmas Tree but with 9 cats and 3 dogs, we find it safer to have a fake tree so that the pets don't end up with needles in their paws. One year when we did have a real tree, we got a rescue cat on New Year's Day when the tree was still up. We were worried that this new cat didn't seem to be using the litter tree - until we realised he was using the sand at the base of the tree!!

There are pros and cons with both. We have a real tree, chosen from a farm and cut for us, we put it in a base with water, and it lasts ages. The scent is superb and so special. The cats tend to climb up it though, and try to pull it down! Fake trees can look great, but I find they get so dusty and make us feel allergic. :)

Fake - but it is really lovely six footer and must have saved us a fortune over the years!

We always have a fake tree. We have 4 cats and a dog so a real one wouldnt be safe, we also have a toddler so we dont want pine needles sticking in her skin or being eaten! (by her or the pets). Also I have quite severe allergic reactions to many plants and grasses so wouldnt like to risk having one to the Christmas tree.

Also I think the fake ones look better and are better for the environment. I have had my fake tree for around 15 years and it still looks as good as when I first got it. I steam clean it when I put it up with a few drops of Zoflora disenfectant in the steamer so it smells really good and is dust free and clean too.

Real tree for us, I love the smell though I do hate the mess of all the needles :-)

Fake. We have a 6ft green with snow-effect tree which we actually put onto a table so it looks larger in the corner of the room! My family used to have a white fake tree when I was younger, so the white trees always make me feel nostalgic :)
I think I'll always choose a fake tree - they last ages (cost effective) & probably don't make as much mess, plus the varied colour and light options are an added bonus.

I much prefer a fake tree! much more managable, no needles, easy to put up and relatively cheap