Artificial Christmas Trees: What to Consider Before Buying One

Most Filipino households have a Christmas tree in their living rooms during the holidays. Whether buying a tree for the first time or replacing an old one, here are some points to keep in mind before purchasing a Christmas tree.

Consumers should take note of the appropriate tree size that can fit inside their house. The height and width should both be considered. Walkways should still be accessible and left with enough leeway. The buyer should also be aware of the height of the tree.

In general, Christmas trees come in different shapes and sizes. They also come in three types of widths: full, slim, or pencil. The height range of the trees is usually between two to twelve feet. Buyers should measure the area that the tree will cover to make sure that there would still be enough space for passage and for other items in the house.

Before making a purchase, the buyer should also have an overall style they want to achieve for their tree ornamentation. Fake trees have a vast variety in design in terms of the branches, leaves, and foliage. Some Christmas trees also come in unusual colors such as blue, pink, red, yellow, and purple. Other artificial tree manufacturers also produce metallic trees and glittered trees.

Other trees are also pre-lit—meaning that the bottom tips of their fibers are implanted with lights already. These trees can be an alternative for those who don’t want the hassle of putting on Christmas lights. However, these kinds of trees are more expensive and their lights can’t be changed as desired. Replacing burned-out lights can also be challenging. When choosing a pre-lit tree, consumers should choose ones that are labeled with “with burn-out protection” or “continuous on”—meaning, if one light burns out, the other remaining lights will not be affected.

Another design that is popular among the holidays is the flocked or accented fake tree. These trees are embedded with fake snow or glitters. Other accents can be pinecones and/or berries. Buyers that will choose this kind of tree should keep in mind that the embedded accents cannot be removed—hence, it might be hard to match with any future decorative styles in the future.

There are two types of branches among Christmas trees: hook-in or hinged. Between the two, experts recommend the hinged branches. Hinged fake trees have permanently attached branches and are easier to set up, while hook-in branches take much more time to set up and can’t be pre-lit as each branch is already hooked separately on certain spots on the tree pole. However, Christmas trees with hook-in branches are less expensive.

The buyer should also check the sturdiness of the tree’s branches to see if it can hold the ornaments.

Most fake trees are made of either of the two types of plastic: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene (PE). These two materials vary on how they can affect the appearance of the trees. PE trees have a better resemblance to real trees because the needles are attached to the branches by wires. On the other hand, PVC trees look more artificial when viewed closely due to the rectangular shape of the tree needles.

The prices of the trees should reflect their quality. Simple trees are relatively cheaper than those that are accented. Custom fake trees can also be considered, but the price for those trees depends on the customization.

It is important to consider buying trees that can be used in the long run. In general, the life span of fake trees takes up to 10 years. Some trees even come with warranty. Instead of buying a tree because of its cheap price, consider buying something that can be quite pricey but is definitely of a high quality to prevent buying on a regular basis.

If the consumer plans on putting many ornaments, they should consider choosing a tree with a very sturdy base to support the weigh. Taller trees need more durable bases. Lastly, the tree should also be fire- and fade-resistant to avoid unwanted accidents.