I tried five artificial Christmas trees (Image: Getty)
Choosing the perfect artificial Christmas tree can be surprisingly overwhelming. With countless options varying in realism, shape and price, it’s hard to know which ones are truly worth the price. In light of this, I recently tried out six different artificial Christmas trees, assembling them, fluffing them, checking their lights and living with them long enough to see how they actually look.
Whether you’re looking for a tree that mimics the look of a fresh-cut pine, something quick and convenient or a budget-friendly option that still looks the part, I’ve got something for every budget. However, I did opt for a pre-lit tree, which is becoming increasingly popular. It takes the hassle out of putting up a tree, and I truly found it was completely worth it, although you do pay a premium for this luxury.
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Royal Blue Spruce reNEW from Balsam Hill (£439 for 7ft, usually £639)
Currently on sale for Black Friday, this Royal Blue Spruce reNEW is part of Balsam Hill’s reNEW collection, which prioritises sustainable materials.
The True Needle tips are made from plant-based plastic, and each design is crafted with the planet in mind, focusing on renewable sources.
It features dense foliage and lifelike grey-green needles, and its slim shape is ideal for tight spaces.
It’s professionally hand-strung with clear LED lights, and it’s designed with Easy Plug technology, where light strings are connected inside the tree’s patented trunk design and instantly light up with a single plug.
That was such an exciting feature, because connecting pre-lit tree plugs together in each section can be a little hassle, and sometimes you can see the connecting plug.
Inside the box is a premium tree stand that folds up flat to save on space, a handy storage bag, protective gloves for use while shaping the tree and extra bulbs.
You could definitely tell it was a premium tree, and not one part of me would’ve known it was made using plant-based plastic; it looked just like a real Christmas tree.
I thought the 700 light count was plenty, and I didn’t feel like any part of the tree was missing a light, which can often be the case on pre-lit trees. I did find this tree heavy, which made it hard to put it in the loft, but I think that just shows the quality of tree more than anything.
An artificial tree can last a lifetime if properly cared for, and I think it’s totally worth the investment. Balsam Hill has a range of trees to choose from, depending on your style, height, and colour.
The Balsam Hill tree was full and dense (Image: Sophie Harris)
Luxury 6ft Pre-Lit Faux Hinged Christmas Tree from Charles Bentley (£179.99)
Currently available for £179.99, this artificial Christmas tree felt incredibly realistic and resembled a real tree. Crafted with specially designed PE and PVC branches, it mimics the look of a real tree without the waste at the end of the festive period.
It came pre-assembled with hinged brackets and included 340 warm LED lights, making setup extremely easy. The hinged branches mean you don’t need to individually slot branch sections, which is a very user-friendly feature now commonly found in pre-lit trees.
I think this was definitely one of the more realistic-looking trees I tried, with a classic Nordic spruce shape.
It was super easy to assemble, taking around 20 minutes to put it up and fan out the needles to achieve my desired look, which is less than half the time it took to set up my old artificial tree. It definitely needed a few adjustments to get it right, so I stood back and viewed the tree before going in and fluffing up where needed.
It had enough lights on it, too, but I did move a couple around very slightly to fill the odd gap. But overall, it looked great, and I loved the traditional look it gave.
Compared to super high-end trees, this is fairly affordable yet still offers very strong features. I think the price is definitely worth it if that’s in your budget, and you can currently get £15 off a £150 order on the Charles Bentley website. They also have a range of trees to choose from, depending on your style, height preference and colour.
The Charles Bentley tree was realistic (Image: Sophie Harris)
7ft Benmore Plain Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Tree from Dobbies (£249)
This traditional-looking artificial Christmas tree features realistic-looking tips and branches, making it perfect for medium to large-sized rooms.
This fitted the best in my space out of all the ones I tried, despite being the same height as a few of the others.
Complete with a metal base, the tree is packed with dense green foliage and features warm white LED lights. These gave a cosy, traditional glow that I love over the festive period.
It didn’t take long to put up, as it arrived in three separate parts that easily connected together.
It took a little more fluffing up than some of the others, but the end result was brilliant, and it looked great even without any baubles.
My hands were a little sore after fluffing it up, so I would recommend wearing some gloves while doing so, but they don’t come in the box like Balsam Hill’s. It also took a little while to take it down as I tried to make sure it was as compact as possible, but I don’t think I managed to get it quite as compact as when it arrived.
Compared to premium brand trees, this feels like a very balanced option in terms of quality versus price, and I highly recommend it.
Currently retailing for £249, Dobbies Garden Centres also offers a range of artificial Christmas trees, including lots currently on sale.
The tree from Dobbies was full and realistic (Image: Sophie Harris)
7ft Dewdrop Mixed Tipped Christmas Tree from Habitat (£145)
This artificial tree, which I purchased from Argos, featured a combination of upwards and downwards tips, along with 800 multi-functional warm white lights. There were eight light settings to choose from, including a gentle twinkle and static. Complete with its own green metal stand, I was impressed that it blended in with the tree, rather than one which came with a black stand.
It had hinged branches, which made it quick to put up, and it was very dense, which didn’t leave it with many sparse areas.
It had a beautiful natural shape, but I was slightly disappointed with the look of the branches; up close, it did look quite plastic and didn’t feel as nice as some of the others I had tried. It’s also rated F in terms of energy efficiency, so not the most energy-efficient tree on the market. I wouldn’t recommend leaving this on for lengthy periods of time.
However, it was also one of the cheapest trees I tried, so if I take that into consideration, I think it had some great features, especially being pre-lit.
It’s currently available for £145, but customers can get 30% off using code XMAS30 on a variety of trees.
All of the trees were quick and easy to assemble (Image: Getty)
7ft Pre-Lit Dew Drop Christmas Tree Green from Laura Ashley (£270)
One of the most expensive trees I’ve tried, the Laura Ashley Dew Drop tree comes pre-lit with 450 warm-white LED lights and branches adorned with faux pine cones. The branches are hinged, like many of the others, making setup easier, and they also look realistic.
The dewy droplets on the tree give it a refined, delicate aesthetic, one that is definitely not one I’ve seen on many trees.
It was easy to set up and quite easy to adjust, too, and it didn’t require much rearranging once it was in place to look good. There were plenty of lights on the tree, and I moved a couple around to get the desired look I was after.
It didn’t look very realistic compared to a real tree, like a couple of the others I’ve tried, but not everyone is looking for that when shopping for a faux tree.
Whilst I loved the look of the tree, I don’t think it was worth £270. That price point is quite high, especially compared to more budget pre-lit trees, which I think looked more realistic. The faux pine is also tasteful, but it may not match the aesthetic you’re trying to achieve in your home.
Saying this, if you’re after a stylish, decorative tree rather than a hyper-realistic one, this could be a great one for you if it fits in your budget.
The tree is currently available from Next, which also offers a variety of pre-lit trees.
I don’t think there was a clear winner for me, as they all varied in shape and colour, and each offered something great. I think Balsam Hill is a clear standout for me due to the luxurious feel and experience, but Dobbies’ realistic shape was something to be desired.
The Charles Bentley tree was also incredibly realistic, while the Habitat tree offered something a little more budget-friendly. I think it’s clear that the quality of artificial trees has grown in recent years, but one thing remains certain for me, and that is I’ll never go back to a non-pre-lit tree.
