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Real or fake Christmas tree? Share your opinions with Homebase for a chance to win a £300 Homebase voucher. NOW CLOSED

722 replies

AngelieMumsnet · 10/11/2015 14:53

‘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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marriednotdead · 10/11/2015 23:38

I was put off of having a real one as a child- pine needles and bare feet is not a good combo!
My first tree was a little tinsel one when I left home and moved into a bedsit. The paper angel from the top now sits in DDs tree Smile

Have had the same fake one for a number of years now, not prelit but is quite bushy, has pine cones on and seems to be pretty good quality. I toyed with the idea of replacing it a couple of years ago and discovered that an upgrade from what I had would cost over £100 so I've stuck with it.
I buy a couple of new glass ornaments each year, and have already got two (from Homebase funnily enough) Smile

Real or fake Christmas tree? Share your opinions with Homebase for a chance to win a £300 Homebase voucher. NOW CLOSED
Real or fake Christmas tree? Share your opinions with Homebase for a chance to win a £300 Homebase voucher. NOW CLOSED
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putthePuffindown · 11/11/2015 00:03

Fake. We always had a real one when I was
a kid, but our living room is just too small and with the multifuel stove the needles would drop instantly.

We're due an upgrade soon though, ours is 10 yrs old and was a mere £7.97 according to the Tesco value packaging! I keep trying to spot one in the Jan sales, but haven't found one yet.

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chumbler · 11/11/2015 03:39

Fake! They look so realistic these days

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Hurr1cane · 11/11/2015 05:21

Artificial, just because of money, time and space, I'd love a real one though

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pnutter · 11/11/2015 05:56

I have to have a real one. I love the smell and I love going to pick one with the kids. I don't drive so ds has to carry it home on his shoulder luckily he's a big ds . Little dd then gets to put on the first decoration.
I like plain ish decorations some white lights but dd likes the full works so we normally start simple and end up with the Blackpool illuminations Grin

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wannabestressfree · 11/11/2015 06:05

We have a fake tree and as much retro tat as we can! I have a tree up in the living room and hallway and decorations everywhere. Takes me back to being a really young child and having loads of tinsel and silvery ceiling decorations. Reminds me of my lovely grandparents, excitment and being allowed a tot of sherry. The drinks cabinet, long holidays and watching the raccoons movie......
Take me back......:)

If buying a new fake tree I like the plain not pre decorated jobbies. I know some people like order and matching colours but I do not. My tree symbolises the journey I have made and features all the decs I have gained along the way.....

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Thegentlemonkey · 11/11/2015 06:10

We're very happy with our fake tree - funnily enough first carted home from Finchley Homebase on the tube in about 2005, & still going strong after two house moves! No needles dropping, no extra expense, & you can angle the branches just right for decorations Grin

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CheeseAtFourpence · 11/11/2015 06:28

We love a big tree and for a few years had a real one, but they're so expensive! So two years ago we splashed out on an artificial one in the sale. It was quite expensive but we figured that we would have spent that on two real trees.

It's my job to decorate it - I do it when everyone is out or DD is asleep so she can come in to see it all done (and not cause chaos whilst I'm decorating it!)

It's a bushy, very natural tree which we put white lights on and the current theme is very traditional.

We don't have many indoor decorations but I love my tree.

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Toraleistripe · 11/11/2015 07:04

I love real trees but worry about the environmental costs of buying a tree just to chuck it a couple of weeks later. So we have an artificial one which is nice but I also bought a small potted fir tree that lives outside all year round but comes inside at Xmas. At the moment it is small enough to sit on the dining room table. It adds the pine smell to proceedings but it means I don't have to throw it out at the end of festivities.

I like the choice available in artificial trees and am looking for a new one. john Lewis ( can I mention them!) had a great, realistic looking woodland pine, a few years ago but it was over £100 so a bit expensive. I would love something similar to that.

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HapShawl · 11/11/2015 07:04

I would love a real tree but the shape means they take up more floor space and my house is small, so I have a fake one instead. It's not quite the same but it is a nice one and does the job

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Callmecordelia · 11/11/2015 07:14

Fake - we have a twig tree with LED lights that fits our small space perfectly.

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MagicAlwaysLeadsToTrouble · 11/11/2015 07:39

I can't be doing with the hassle of a real tree, the hoovering even with dropless needles and the collection and then recycling it afterwards.

We have a beautiful 'investment' fake tree. It's lovely. I really like being able to remove some of the back branches to push it into a corner but still have the front looking all full!

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TeaPleaseLouise · 11/11/2015 07:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eltsihT · 11/11/2015 08:09

When we got married we got vouchers for b and q we spent them one a Christmas tree stand and on a fake tree.

The years we go away for Christmas (so won't be in the house enough to enjoy a real one) we put our fake one up.

The years we are at home for Christmas we enjoy a real tree, as we can water it and keep it going.

This is the first year we have been home for 3 years so I am looking forward to having a real tree again.

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SpottyTeacakes · 11/11/2015 08:12

Definitely real! We've always had a real tree which my dad chops down himself. Not so keen on the bugs and sap Hmm love the smell though. I find that the spikiness stops the children from touching it Xmas Grin

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Spidertracker · 11/11/2015 08:16

We have always had a fake since we had my son, we always had real before that but when my cousin was a toddler he got a pine needle stuck in the end of his little boy bits and had to have it removed at the hospital so I didn't want to take the chance.

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strawberrypenguin · 11/11/2015 08:18

Real! We always have a real tree, love the smell and we get a non drop so we don't get as many needles on the floor. And it's great fun going and choosing 'our' tree as a family - a nice Christmas tradition.

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throwingpebbles · 11/11/2015 08:20

I love real trees, we always had them growing up. But DS is very allergic to them, so have bought an artificial tree and actually it's nice not having annual expenditure (especially since ex decided not to bother paying maintenance...)
My parents even bought an artificial tree, they spent a lot of money on theirs and actually it looks amazing.
I still prefer real trees but it hasn't really taken anything away from Christmas, and ultimately it showed me and my boy how much my family care as they all switched their trees to artificial ones for him.

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booksrock · 11/11/2015 08:32

Fake with lights for us.

Three cats mean that a real was a bad idea (we were left extra presents) and a pre lit on means no more untangling fairy lights.

Win all round.

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turkeyboots · 11/11/2015 08:35

I love a real tree, it smells like Christmas. DH grew up with artificial trees, and to him Christmas smells of attic damp. Which is just wrong.

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Cremo · 11/11/2015 08:43

I prefer a real one, for the scent, the look and depending on space available , a choice of size.
We have two artificial ones in the attic which give me the rage, as only Dh and his master brain is able to put together. Still they are a useful back up for when like last year , I was too late to get a decent tree, as work was full on.Smile
I do however admire some of the new fake ones, especially with the lights. And my dmum has a slim one that fits easily into a small space.

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thinkingoutloud2 · 11/11/2015 08:57

Id love a real tree but the heateing in my house dries them out within days and the needles drop! So it's been a fabulous fake dripping in snow and all the trimmings ever since I admitted defeat and gave up the battle. I do miss the wonderful scent of fresh pine though!

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TattieHowkerz · 11/11/2015 09:12

I really love a real tree. The smell just brings back great childhood memories. DP used to try to persuade me to consider a fake one, but I think I've converted him now too!

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HippyChickMama · 11/11/2015 09:32

Had a real tree once, the first year dh and I were living together, as we always had an artificial one growing up. Never again! It was too much hassle and mess, plus the impact on the environment bothers me as we don't have room to plant it out afterwards. We used to have a beautiful 7ft slim artificial one but couldn't get another one like it when it fell apart after 10 years of use. We now have a plain 7ft one that we decorate with white lights and green and gold baubles, I'm thinking about red, white and green this year though.

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Ladygaggia · 11/11/2015 09:41

I love the smell and the transient nature of a real tree. However, I'm very practical and know that I'm not the type of person to cope with anything other than a fake tree!
In fact this year I've been googling artificial trees with led lights built in!

Although I am picky, the tree needs to look real - fat, bushy and the right colour green.

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