Choosing the best faux Christmas tree for your Omaha home comes down to five key factors: height, shape, lights, realism, and density. Today’s artificial Christmas trees range from budget-friendly options to incredibly lifelike designs, so knowing what to look for can make the decision much easier. Here’s how Mulhalls breaks down each detail, along with answers to the questions our team hears most from those deciding between a real Christmas tree and a faux one.
What Height Should Your Faux Christmas Tree Be?
The perfect tree fits the scale of the room – which is largely determined by the height of the ceiling. A tree that scrapes the ceiling is an obvious problem, but a tree that’s too short can look awkward or underwhelming in the space too. As a general rule, a Christmas tree looks best when it tops out about 6” below the ceiling. If you plan to use a tree topper, you’ll want to increase that clearance to 18”. The ceiling height won’t be the only factor to consider, but it’s definitely the first place to start.
Choosing the Right Shape
While you’re measuring the height of your ceiling, take a minute to consider how wide the base of the tree should be as well. A suitable width depends on the amount of floor space you want to devote to the tree – and all the presents – as well as the decorative style you want to achieve. We group our faux trees into three general categories for shape – full, slim, and pencil. A full tree has the classic cone shape of a traditional Christmas tree. It’s noticeably wider at the bottom than the top, with an average diameter of 64” at the base. Slim and pencil trees have slimmer profiles and narrower bases which allow these shapes to fit into tighter spaces. They’re great complements to more contemporary décor themes too.
The Difference in Lights
Once you’ve narrowed your selection down to trees with the perfect height and shape, it’s time to decide how you’d like your tree to shine. Tree lights fall into two main categories – incandescent and LED. For a warm, nostalgic glow, incandescent lights are the classic choice. But, if you’re looking for a more modern look with a brighter, focused light, then LED is the way to go. With either type of light, you can choose a tree that glows in all white or a mix of bright colors. And, if you’d love a tree that really dances, we have choices with adjustable light effects as well.
Of course, a tree with no lights at all is an option too. An unlit tree provides flexibility – if you’d like, you can change the color and style of lights from year to year as technologies and your own style changes.
Finding the Right Level of Realism
If you’re looking to create a nostalgic Christmas, you might choose a tree with the traditional tinsel-like foliage of the classic artificial trees. Or maybe you want something that looks even more like the evergreens you love outdoors. In our collection, you’ll find faux trees with branching, needles, and pinecones that mimic those of living trees like fir, pine, or spruce. Some of our trees are even created using molds from real tree branches – for our most lifelike option.
Finding the Right Balance of Branch Density
By now, you may have whittled your list to just a few potential trees. Your personal style and how you plan to decorate the tree will help you make the final decisions.
For instance, if you love covering your tree with lots of large ornaments, floral stems, ribbons, and more, look for one with a more open branching structure – these trees have lots of big spaces to accommodate all your favorite decorations.
Or, maybe the tree itself is the decorative focus, and you’d prefer a simpler approach to the decorations. In this case, look for a more densely branched tree. These trees are beautiful even on their own and may work perfectly in your décor plans as a secondary tree in a den or bedroom. This year, our tree collection includes an expanded assortment of novelty trees – featuring frosty flocking, colorful lights and effects, or specialty bulbs – that can stand beautifully in your home without much additional décor needed.
We’ll Help You Find the Perfect Tree
Stop by our 120th & Maple location to explore our Christmas tree collection in person. Our team will be happy to help you find the perfect tree for your home.
