Where to Buy the Best Artificial Christmas Tree + $25 off
A few years ago we left team real Christmas tree. We loved real trees – we still love real trees. Buying hot chocolate and heading out to the tree farm to pick and cut our Christmas tree was a family experience that brought us a great amount of joy. The smell of the pines in the early morning before everyone else woke up was my favorite. So, what made us switch over to team artificial Christmas tree? It came down to mainenance, cost and the big debate but one was the real deciding factor.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliated links that will not change your costs but will provide me with a referral fee.
The Maintenance
I was pregnant the last Christmas we had a real tree. Being pregnant really changes your perspective on houseehold chores and keeping up with a Christmas tree. From the initial install that causes approximately 20% of it’s needles to fall to the constant cleanup of needles that shed daily – it was giving me a different vibe. Then there was the watering – crawling under the tree with a baby belly about to pop just to fill the tree holder with water was no easy feat. I was going to work with pine needles in my hair all the time. With an artificial Christmas tree, you don’t need to water it or clean up pine needles. But honestly, I don’t think this was my breaking point. Afterall pregnancy is temporary and you can always get a robot vac to do the pine needle cleanup. So what was it?
The Big Debate
Some people will argue that getting an artificial tree reduces your carbon footprint. But, I just don’t think it makes that much of a difference for it to sway me one way or the other. I think carpooling or downsizing to one family car (if it fits your lifestyle) will have far more of an impact than whether or not you get a real or fake Christmas tree. I read somewhere that your choice of a real or faux tree only accounts for 0.1% of your annual carbon footprint. So, for that reason that wasn’t exactly a deciding factor for me. So, what was it?
The Cost
Every year the cost to buy a real tree was increasing. Our family was bigger and the number of people we needed to by gifts for and on behalf of had also increased. In my family, I am the budgeter and the financer. But wait, isn’t your husband an accountant? Yes, but his strength is checks and balances. He has the true personality of an accountant. If I buy something he wants to know how much it was and where the money came from. Me on the other hand – my wheels spin differently. I believe we can have anything we want if we plan for it. But, I’m frugal by nature. When the price for trees kept going up, I decided it was time to look at something that allowed that money to be better spent. For the record, I’m not saying one is better than the other. If having a real tree matters to you then by all means get the real tree. Everyone is different and things matter differently to different people. For me, a faux tree suits me. The money we saved allowed us to take the kids to go to Six Flags Christmas in the Park. This year we’ll probably do it again. It was such a fun night, we made s’mores, played games, and drank plenty of hot chocolate as we took pictures by Christmas lights. I still have my mug – money well spent.
Now, let me be totally upfront with you, a good artificial tree may initially cost you more than a real tree. The savings come over time when you reuse your artificial tree in subsequent years. You can reuse your tree for up to 10 years which makes artificial trees more budget-friendly than purchasing a real tree each year – cha-thing!
What Matters Most
It really just came done to what matters most to me and my family. My kids love going to the tree farm but they loved going to Six Flags Holiday in the Park more. It’s such a fun experience. Going to the tree farm is a nice experience but my kids are young and fun trumps nice if you know what I mean.
Where to Buy an Artificial Christmas Tree
For a long time I was eyeing King of Christmas trees. They were all over Instagram and I just thought they looked amazing. I’ll be honest the price was a little out of my comfort zone. I spent weeks trying to find out what exactly made King of Christmas trees beautiful and looking for comparable trees. I kept returning to the beautiful trees from King of Christmas. They had the most tip count, more lights than any other company on their pre-lit trees and their flocking is thick – which I love. In addition, shipping is super quick and their customer service is A++. This company strives for customer satifaction. I had one minor issue and they went above and beyond my expectation to resolve it. I highly recommend shopping at King of Christmas. Whether you are looking to replace a worn tree or jumping on the artificial Christmas tree express – here are some tips I learned from my buying experience.
How to Buy an Artificial Christmas Tree
#1 Determine Height
No matter how beautiful your tree is it will not look right if it is too small or too tall. A short tree will make your tree look like you bought it from the Seven Dwarfs. Having an overly tall tree will make your room feel you set up your tree in the home of the Seven Dwarfs. And unlike a real tree you can’t cut the top or bottom to make it shorter. A good rule of thumb is to measure from floor to ceiling then minus one foot for your perfect tree size. For example if your floor to ceiling measures 9 feet high (like mine) you want to go with an 8 foot tree. This works with most standard toppers but if your topper is elaborate then take that into consideration when measuring. This is a big investment you want to do this right the first time.
#2 Select the Width
Just like real trees, artificial trees come in different widths. There’s full, medium and slim. The full is most realistic, but the medium fits in most average places. For spaces that are tight or apartments with little space then a slim tree may be more fitting.
#3 Needle Type
There are two types of plastic needles when it comes to artificial trees, PE and PVC. The most realistic trees are made from PE that has a high density with rounded points that make it look and feel like a real evergreen. PVC is a classic and affordable option cut into fine strands to resemble evergreen needles.
#4 Species
Artificial trees come in a variety of species such as spruce, fir, and pine. Spruce tends to have sharper points. Fir has rounded needles and dense branches. Pine branches are more sparse and needles are attached in clusters.
#5 Pre-lit or Unlit
This really just comes down to preference – pre-lit trees are easier to set up but sometimes they aren’t what you’re looking for. For example, I bought a lit Queen tree from King of Christmas and it was beautiful but there’s a setting that makes me feel anxious. It blinks so fast it’s crazy. I prefer twinkling over blinking and warm white over bright white light but that’s just me. Also, the number of lights per strand makes a huge difference. The 7.5′ Christmas tree from King of Christmas as 800 warm white LED lights. So if you bought or looking to buy the unlit tree keep in mind for it to look as stunning as the King of Christmas ones you see on IG you’ll want to buy a strand that has at least 800 micro lights. I did find a few places that sold trees with a high light count. But what the other places had in light count they lacked in other areas that mattered to me.
#6 Flocked or Unflocked
This is also a matter of preference. A flocked tree has a snowlike appearance. Unflocked is just a green tree without the fake snow. Some people hate flocked trees because they are messy and stay in the air and hard to clean when spreading out tree branches. Many influencers boasted that King of Christmas trees were mess-free. My experience wasnt messy but it wasnt exactly mess-free. I had flocking all over my sweater from spreading the inner branches (maybe wear a t-shirt) . On a good note the little bit of flocking that did come off didnt stay in the air and dropped to the floor for easy clean up. It also wasn’t a continuous dropping. Once the tree was set up it was very little clean up.
I hope this guide helped you and that you find your perfect tree. Feel free to share a pic of your tree – I’d love to see it!
Where’s the best place to buy an artificial Christmas Tree?
If you haven’t guessed it by now – the best place to buy an artificial Christmas tree is King of Christmas. With beautiful trees to fit every style from natural, flocked to even pink or blue and exceptional customer service, King of Christmas is a great option.
Common Questions
When is the best time to buy an artificial Christmas tree? King of Christmas offers sales on their artificial trees throughout the year. I know they have a Christmas in July Sale, Halloween Sale and a January Clearance sale. You can also get $25 off your first King of Christmas Tree order by clicking here.
Can artificial trees be recycled? No, they cannot be recycled because they are made with PVC and other non-recyclable materials but they can be sent to goodwill for another family to enjoy.
Where to store artificial Christmas trees? King of Christmas includes a storage bag with their trees.
Are artificial Christmas trees flammable? Yes, they are just as flammable as real trees. Anything can burn, with enough heat, and artificial trees are no different. But, they’re a lot less likely to catch fire than a real tree.
All Wrapped Up
Did this post answer all your questions regarding artificial Christmas trees? I certainly hope so but you can always let me know in the comments what questions you still have.
Okay, I guess that is it my friend! But before you go, I want to leave you with some hopes and intentions. My intention was to answer all your questions in hopes that you feel more confident with your decision. I hope that you make the decision of real or faux based on what matters most to you and not by what is trending. And regardless whether you decide a real or artificial tree this year – may your Christmas be filled with what matters and matters most to you. That you value the presence of family and friends over the presents and that you have the merriest Christmas ever. I am so honored that you have taken the time to sit and read this post till the end. I appreciate you!
