It is impossible to imagine a New Year's holiday without a fluffy elegant Christmas tree. If earlier many preferred to put a living beauty from the forest at home, now artificial varieties are increasingly being bought. Among the wealth of choice, it is difficult to dwell on one thing: all the trees are beautiful in their own way, so you need to know some of the nuances in order for the product to show off in the house for more than one year. We will tell you how to choose an unnatural tree below.
And in this article we talked about how to choose a living tree, as well as which tree is better to buy - live or artificial, about the pros and cons of both options.
Pros of an artificial Christmas tree
Among the advantages of a synthetic tree are the following:
- Buying artificial fir trees will save the life of coniferous forests. A living tree will stay in the house for two weeks, and then go to the landfill. For a coniferous aroma, it is enough to arrange spruce legs in vases, and place an artificial elegant Christmas tree in a prominent place.
- A Christmas tree is purchased once, now you do not need to go to the Christmas tree markets or to the forestry for a living tree every year.
- If allergy sufferers or small children live in the house, a high-quality artificial spruce is the only right decision, because a coniferous tree can cause a strong allergic reaction.
- The structure is easy to assemble and disassemble, and after the New Year and Christmas holidays there will be no problems with the disposal of a living tree.
- The artificial Christmas tree does not crumble, so the hostess does not need to vacuum the carpets and sweep the floor several times a day.
- A high-quality product in appearance is not inferior to live spruce, and often surpasses in beauty.
- A strong, reliable structure will not let the tree fall, as often happens with living trees, if they are not sufficiently strengthened.
- The artificial herringbone does not require complex maintenance: before placing it, it is enough to wipe the paws with a damp cloth.
- The festive tree can be purchased at any time of the year, for this you do not need to wait for the opening of the Christmas tree markets.
Obviously, artificial spruces have a lot of advantages, except for the absence of a coniferous aroma. So that the New Year's smell of pine needles soars in the house, you can use a special fragrance or arrange compositions from live Christmas tree branches. The legs look beautiful when laid out on a flat plate, tray or platter. As a decoration for homemade compositions, it is permissible to use Christmas balls, tinsel, tangerines, nuts and cones covered with golden paint.
Main varieties
The first artificial Christmas trees were made from goose feathers and animal hair, and then dyed green. Over time, the manufacturing technology has changed a lot, modern high-quality artificial spruces are almost indistinguishable from living trees. Various materials are used in production: from cheap, accordingly, products are not made of the highest quality.
What are the varieties of artificial spruce:
- cast construction;
- fiber optic;
- from PVC film;
- from the fishing line.
When buying an artificial Christmas tree, pay attention not only to the appearance, but also to the quality of the material. A low-grade product can be harmful to health, so it is best to avoid buying too cheap items.
Cast construction
For the manufacture of molded artificial fir trees, soft plastic is used. New Year's trees made from this material are considered the most expensive, but outwardly it is difficult to distinguish them from living trees. The needles of cast Christmas trees are no more than 3 cm long.Plastic legs are heavy, so long needles can simply break.
Combined models of PVC and plastic are on sale. The branches of such trees are not the same; such specimens look very original.
Fiber optic design
In the production of fiber-optic Christmas trees, LED strip is used, and pollination in the form of snow can be applied to the legs as a decoration. Such an instance looks amazing: you just need to connect the Christmas tree to the network, and it will shine with colorful lights. Among the advantages of fiber optic trees, it is worth noting economical energy consumption, fire safety and long-term operation.
PVC film
Before choosing an artificial Christmas tree for your home, you need to determine the budget for the purchase. PVC film is an inexpensive material, but, nevertheless, products made from it look very similar to living trees. The needles of a tree made of PVC film are soft, flat in shape. You need to carefully handle the branches: they are easy to crumple, but it is not always possible to return the previous look.
Manufacturers are trying to meet the demand of buyers before the New Year holidays and release a variety of modifications. Some PVC-film trees have needles that are long, like pine, and they are always in demand.
From fishing line
Fishing line is a more expensive material than PVC film, but products made from it bear little resemblance to living conifers. However, the appearance of Christmas trees made of fishing line is quite spectacular and mesmerizing. For the manufacture of twigs, a fishing line with a diameter of 0.1-0.3 mm is used. The needles bristle in different directions, resembling a brush. As a rule, fishing line models are made prefabricated.
Selection advice when buying
There are basic criteria for choosing artificial trees, if you know how to do it correctly, the tree will bring joy to the house for more than one year. What to look for:
- Fluffiness. Every family wants a lush beauty to become a New Year's decoration, and not a product with rare branches and gaps between needles. Take a good look at each branch - they should be covered with needles evenly. Also pay attention to the durability of the artificial needles. Swipe your hand against the "growth" of the needles: the soft ones will return to their original place, and the hard ones will not start to spill out.
Stiff needles can be tugged slightly - they will not crumble in a good quality product.
- The size. Many families would love to stage a gorgeous beauty on New Year's Eve, just like in American Christmas movies. But still, you need to rationally approach the choice and really evaluate the parameters of the room in which the Christmas tree will stand. The top should not rest against the ceiling, and too lush legs may clutter up the room. It should be borne in mind that a festively decorated tree will stand for several weeks, so it should not create inconvenience. Another nuance is subsequent storage. After the New Year and Christmas holidays are over, the tree is disassembled and folded for the whole year. Copies that are too large, even when disassembled, can take up a lot of space.
- Material. The most important thing when choosing an artificial tree is the quality material from which the herringbone is made. An inadequate quality product can be harmful to health and make you feel unwell. The manufacturer must indicate the safety information on the box, and all the necessary information can be read in the quality certificates, which the seller is obliged to provide upon request.
- Manufacturer. High-quality, inexpensive products can be found from Russian manufacturers. Chinese Christmas trees are often made from toxic materials, but European ones, as a rule, meet all quality standards. But the price of trees from Europe is much higher.
- Color. A wide range of artificial Christmas trees of various colors is on sale: green, white, blue, golden, silver, pink.Original colors, built-in LED lights, snow-covered legs will help create a real New Year's atmosphere in the house. Before purchasing a Christmas tree, imagine how the tree will look in your home. Perhaps a classic green beauty, decorated with traditional glass balls, will fit into the interior. Or an unusual golden Christmas tree with lighting will become an ornament for several years.
- Manufacturer's warranty. Choose an artificial Christmas tree with a long service life, so that after a few years you will not have to go in search of a new beauty. Reliable manufacturers give a guarantee for PVC Christmas trees - about 10 years, cast structures - 50 years or more.
Artificial pines are in high demand, and this is understandable. Trees with long, fluffy needles look luxurious and truly festive. Usually artificial pine trees come in three basic colors:
- green;
- snowy;
- white.
The tree often contains decorative elements: cones, lanterns, light bulbs, artificial snow, glowing needles.
More on the topic: How to decorate a Christmas tree beautifully and stylishly?
Tips on how to choose synthetic pine:
- First of all, you need to pay attention to the country of origin. The safest option is European Christmas trees, since they meet the accepted quality standards, which is confirmed by the necessary documentation.
- Pull the needles lightly - they should adhere firmly to the branches and not crumble. Branches when bending / unbending - return to their original position.
- Quality pine has no unpleasant chemical odor.
The cross-shaped plastic stand is only suitable for small trees with light decorations. In other cases, it is better to purchase a reliable wooden or metal structure.
Testimonials
Alena, Cherkasy
Before the New Year, we decided to buy an artificial Christmas tree for the first time. Every time they put a living tree, but this is a constant cleaning of needles, especially when it comes time to take the tree out of the house. I read the advice of those who have already bought artificial spruces, and purchased a product measuring 120 cm, with 13 tiers and a service life of 6-7 years. Many people refuse to buy artificial Christmas trees because of the unpleasant plastic smell. Our beauty does not have this. We are glad that we saved at least one living tree.
Christina, Moscow
I am in favor of artificial Christmas trees, and every year I put a few things in the house. For the living room I bought a large, fluffy tree with built-in light bulbs. It looks beautiful, and the children are just delighted with the tree. In the hallway, we usually put a small pine tree with artificial snow. I see no point in buying live trees so that they can show off in the house for two weeks. Another positive point in buying artificial Christmas trees is cost and time savings. There is no need to go to the market before the New Year, choose a suitable tree, then take it home, and after the holidays there are no needles left on the floor and upholstered furniture. For the scent, I decorate the rooms with spruce twigs with tinsel and toys. Sometimes I use essential oil - just a couple of drops helps to create a festive atmosphere. For those who are going to purchase an artificial Christmas tree for the first time, I advise you to read the recommendations of professionals who will tell you how to choose a good tree.
Olga, Sochi
From childhood, there are memories when my dad and my sister went for a live Christmas tree on New Year's Eve. When I had children, this tradition was preserved: every year my daughters and my husband went to the bazaar for a Christmas tree. But one day before the celebration, the whole family fell ill, then it was decided to order an artificial Christmas tree in an online store in order to create the illusion of a holiday. We chose a tree with a height of 1.5 m - I wanted it not to be too big, but also not miniature. It took a few minutes to assemble the tree.The manufacturer indicated that the needles are made of PVC - a safe material, next to which it is not scary to light candles and sparklers. We will be putting this Christmas tree for the seventh year. From time to time it has been slightly wrinkled, but still has quite a pretty look.
Artificial Christmas trees are gaining popularity due to their long lifespan and the ability to preserve coniferous forests. But it is better to choose a quality tree to be sure of its safety. Since the tree is purchased for a long time, it is better to choose responsibly so that the synthetic beauty decorates the house for more than one year.
More on the topic: How to decorate a house or apartment for the New Year to create a festive mood for each family member?
