Opinions needed about fake xmas trees...

ccdaisy

This is the first year FI and considering a fake tree..we moved into a third floor apartment and it may just be easier than trying to deal with a real one. I  have only ever had real trees and am a bit lost when searching both in stores and on line for a good artificial one. Any one got one they can vouch for how "real" it looks or any to avoid? Is the old saying- its cheap means it will look cheap, ring true?  Thanks ladies.

LesPaul

I have a 7 foot faker from Hobby Lobby.  It looks real when I take the time to set it up properly and fluff every branch (visitors have asked if it's real or not).  They are often on sale for 50% off, and some are now prelighted.  I say go for it.  JoAnn and Michael's have good fake trees too.

[Deleted User]

I got a cheap one from Kmart one year and it looked like shiit. You definitely get what you pay for.

marriedfilingjointly

I did the fake tree when I lived on a 3rd story apartment, too.  My theory is, no matter how "good" it is, it's still a fake tree, so why not embrace it.  I got a white Christmas tree.  That's just how I roll.

I paid $50 for mine at Kmart (it was on sale, regular price $100).  They had other trees that were green in that price range that were acceptable. 

Also, I'm not a fan of the ones with the lights already on, but maybe that's just me.  And they are significantly more expensive, or at least they were 5 years ago when I was in the market for a tree.

SarahPLiz

In my experience, with only fake trees forever, its the decorating that makes a difference. If you end up with a tree that has a lot of open space, try hanging reflective ornaments closer to the base, so they reflect the lights. 

marriedfilingjointly

Oh yeah, they require a lot of fluffing.  By some green garland to fill in the gaps if you still have any after fluffing.

beatlesgirl25

We've been 3rd floor dwellers for years and have a cat that likes to chew trees, so we got a nice big, pre-lit Fraser spruce from Sears. I think it actually looks pretty damn good. I take lots of time to fluff out each branch though.

tidetravel

IMO, if you put enough decorations on a cheap tree, you won't really notice.  However, the REALLY GOOD fake trees are REALLY nice.  My MIL has a 7 1/2 foot prelit tree with fake pinecones on it.  It's beautiful.

ccdaisy

I've been searching Amazon..and just came across a Black tree...something I have never seen before.

Night_Sprite

The fluffing and lights are key.  With a fake tree, shove lights down into the boughs as well as around the outside.  Fluff each layers as you put the branch groups in.  Put in a ring then fluff, a ring then fluff all the way up.  Then when it's together do hole filling fluffing.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

Also - if you're gonna go fake, go all out.  Get one that's pre-lighted.  Takes a lot of bullshit work out of decorating the tree.  I like hanging ornaments but I've always found stringing lights to be a pain in the ass.

Night_Sprite

Prelit makes me nervous because they'll crap out eventually and you'll have dead bulbs.

shaydenise

Growing up we always had a fake tree because of my mom and brother's allergies.  Don't buy cheap and make sure it's full.  We always got ours at Lowe's.  Plus if you buy a quality one you can use it for more than one year.

ccdaisy

Thanks everybody! I did see some nice ones at Lowe's and Home depot. I've looked at a few other places too. FI just wants me to get one, as long as he can avoid going shopping..but he's the picky one. I may have to force the issue of looking together. 

marissa_claire

We bought one last year after Christmas - half off.  My family at home hasn't had one in a long time because we had a dog who would drink the water, which is not good for her and it would run out often.  

I think if you take the time to do the "fluffing" - spreading out the branches and bending them to fill out the tree, it usually looks fine.

Night_Sprite

Also, fluff out and up, not down.  They don't grow down.

K&J64

My parents have an 8 foot prelit tree they got from Sears I believe, it was expensive, but it's lasted several years and people often mistake it for a real one. My mom also decorates the crap out of it  so that helps.

I refuse to let go of getting a real tree every year. We'll see how that goes with the puppy this year...

jessienjeremy

We have a really nice fake one from Wal Mart. Got it after christmas 70% off so it was only about $80 . Its huge and looks real. I am deathly allergic to Pine trees. But agreed It will look as nice as you make it look

kpwedkk

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_opinions-needed-fake-xmas-trees?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:ba1b7c0b-c350-470c-a9d3-94ae1cb0a12cPost:e53cc72f-2e9d-4800-b81f-2eba64076d4a">Re: Opinions needed about fake xmas trees...</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>We have a really nice fake one from Wal Mart. Got it after christmas 70% off so it was only about $80 .</strong> Its huge and looks real. I am deathly allergic to Pine trees. But agreed It will look as nice as you make it look
Posted by jessienjeremy[/QUOTE]


We have a 9 foot tall faker, and got it on Black Friday After Thanksgiving about $50!... it's really pretty, and worth it, since it fits back into the box when done!

We got a bunch of bulbs from a Sam's Club pack - Red and Gold :) 

BecW2be

I LOVE the black Christmas tree. I want one for silver glass ornaments to decorate it so badly!

I have a 7.5" pre-lit that I just bought at Hobby Lobby for 50% off last week. It was breathtaking in the store, so I hope I can get mine to look like that when I decorate it.

vegasgroom

FI and I are going to get a nice fake one; our first xmas together, neither one of us wants to deal with a real one lol.  I honestly haven't put up a tree in probably ten years since I'm lazy.

zippityb

It makes me sad to see all of the tree carcasses out on the curb after Christmas.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

We got ours at Target last year. They have them all out on display, so you can check them out. It's totally worth it. We aren't very DIYish people and lugging a whole tree home and cleaning up the needles isn't something I want to deal with. My dad always had a real one because he was morally opposed to fakes, but it was a PITA. My grandparents eventually went with a fake as they got older because it was easier.

Loopyseven

I do two fakes and one real.  We just did the 2 fakes last year b/c we were so busy we just never got out to get a real one, and it didn't feel like Christmas without that pine smell.  We agreed we'd always have a real tree from now on.  My fakes were cheap.  one was an after Christmas sale for $35 and one was a Wal-mart special for like $30 in early November another year - but once I get them fluffed (they are prelit) and decorated they look pretty good I think.