Artificial Christmas Trees

Choosing the right artificial Christmas tree is about more than simply choosing a height. The best tree for your home should fit the space comfortably, have the shape and level of realism you prefer, and give you the choice between built-in lighting or decorating completely from scratch.

Newlands Home & Garden Centre has been selling National Tree Company artificial Christmas trees for over 30 years, giving us extensive experience in helping customers choose trees for different homes, spaces and decorating styles.

Use this guide to compare tree sizes, shapes, foliage, lighting and construction before choosing the right tree for your home.

What size Christmas tree should I choose?

Start by measuring both the height and width of the space where your tree will stand.

Measure from the floor to the ceiling and remember to leave enough space above the tree if you plan to add a Christmas tree topper. Around 15–30 cm of clearance is a useful allowance, depending on the size of the topper you intend to use.

Width matters just as much as height. Check the base diameter or width shown on the individual tree before buying, particularly if your tree will sit between furniture, beside a fireplace or in a smaller living room.

As a general guide:

Under 4ft – compact freestanding trees for smaller rooms, bedrooms, hallways and spaces where a full-sized Christmas tree is not practical. Browse our artificial Christmas trees under 4ft.

4–6.5ft – a practical size for apartments, smaller living rooms and rooms with lower ceilings.

7–8ft – a popular choice for living rooms where the Christmas tree will become the main festive focal point.

9–12ft – statement trees for rooms with high ceilings, entrance halls, larger homes and commercial displays.

If you are choosing a tree as part of a hotel, retail, office or event installation, explore our Large Christmas Display Props collection for larger trees and other oversized pieces for high-impact festive displays.

Whatever height you choose, always check the individual tree's width as well as its height before ordering.

Full or slim Christmas tree?

A traditional full-width artificial Christmas tree creates the classic broad Christmas-tree silhouette and provides plenty of space for decorations, but it also requires more floor space.

A slim tree retains much of the height and visual impact of a traditional Christmas tree while reducing its footprint at the base. This makes it particularly useful for apartments, hallways, corners and living rooms where furniture limits the available space.

If floor space is important, browse our slim artificial Christmas trees.

When comparing full and slim trees, don't look at height alone. Always check the widest diameter or base width shown on the individual product.

What is the most realistic artificial Christmas tree?

If realism is your priority, one of the most important things to look at is the material and construction of the foliage.

PE foliage is moulded to create three-dimensional needles and branch tips that more closely reproduce the appearance of natural evergreen foliage.

PVC foliage uses more traditional flat-cut artificial needles. PVC is durable and is particularly useful for creating density and fullness within a tree.

Many premium artificial Christmas trees combine the two materials. Realistic PE tips are positioned on the more visible outer branches, while PVC foliage further inside the tree helps provide depth and fullness.

For trees selected specifically for their natural appearance, browse our realistic artificial Christmas trees.

What does Feel Real mean?

Feel Real branch-tip technology is found on selected National Tree Company trees and uses moulded branch tips designed to reproduce the appearance and texture of natural evergreen foliage.

Rather than relying entirely on traditional flat PVC needles, these trees incorporate detailed PE foliage in the areas of the tree that are most visible.

The proportion and construction of realistic foliage can differ between individual trees, so we recommend comparing each tree's specifications rather than relying on one description alone.

Some of the most realistic National Tree Company trees at Newlands Home & Garden Centre use this construction. Browse our realistic artificial Christmas tree range to compare suitable styles.

Does the number of branch tips matter?

Branch-tip count can help indicate how full a Christmas tree is, but it should never be considered in isolation.

Generally, more tips can contribute to a fuller-looking tree, but its final appearance also depends on its height, width, shape and foliage construction.

For example, a slim 7.5ft tree and a full-width 7.5ft tree should not be compared purely by their tip counts because the wider tree has a much larger area to fill.

The type of foliage also matters. A tree containing highly realistic moulded PE tips can look very different from a tree using predominantly traditional PVC foliage.

Use branch-tip count as one part of your comparison, alongside foliage type, tree width and overall shape.

Pre-lit or unlit Christmas tree?

One of the biggest decisions when choosing an artificial Christmas tree is whether to buy a pre-lit or unlit tree.

A pre-lit artificial Christmas tree has its lights already distributed throughout the branches. This is a convenient option if you want a consistently illuminated tree without positioning separate sets of lights every Christmas.

Once the tree sections have been assembled and the branches properly shaped, the lighting is already positioned throughout the tree.

Browse our pre-lit artificial Christmas trees.

An unlit artificial Christmas tree gives you complete control over your lighting. You can choose your preferred light colour, quantity, cable colour and lighting effects, and you can change the lights in future without replacing the tree.

This is particularly useful if you enjoy changing your Christmas decorating style from year to year.

Browse our unlit artificial Christmas trees.

If you choose an unlit tree, complete it with lights from our wider Christmas Lights collection, where you can compare different light types, colours, cable colours and power sources.

How many lights should a Christmas tree have?

There is no single correct number of lights for an artificial Christmas tree.

A larger or fuller tree generally requires more LEDs to create dense, even illumination, but the finished appearance also depends on factors such as LED spacing, tree width and the lighting effect being used.

When comparing pre-lit trees, consider the number of lights alongside the height and width of the tree rather than assuming the tree with the largest number of LEDs is automatically the best choice.

Some people prefer a softer traditional glow, while others prefer their Christmas tree to be much more heavily illuminated.

If you're lighting an unlit tree yourself, browse our Christmas string lights to choose the effect that suits your tree and decorating style.

What does hinged construction mean?

Many larger artificial Christmas trees use hinged branch construction.

Rather than requiring every branch to be attached individually, the branches remain connected to the centre pole and fold down into position as each section of the tree is assembled.

This makes annual setup and dismantling considerably easier.

Once the sections are assembled, each branch and individual tip should still be opened and shaped to create the finished appearance of the tree.

Why does shaping an artificial Christmas tree matter?

Even a premium artificial Christmas tree will not look its best immediately after being removed from its box.

Branches and individual tips become compressed during storage and transport. Once the tree is assembled, take time to separate and position the individual tips so they point in different directions rather than sitting flat against one another.

Work gradually around the tree, paying particular attention to visible outer branches and any obvious gaps.

The first setup will usually require the most shaping. Once you become familiar with your tree, the process generally becomes quicker in following years.

Correct shaping can make a substantial difference to the fullness, symmetry and realistic appearance of an artificial Christmas tree.

Should I choose a green or snowy Christmas tree?

A traditional green artificial Christmas tree offers the greatest decorating flexibility because you can completely change your Christmas colour scheme from one year to the next.

A snowy or frosted tree creates a stronger winter appearance before any decorations have been added. These trees can work particularly well with white, neutral, woodland and traditional Christmas schemes.

If this is the look you prefer, browse our snowy and frosted artificial Christmas trees.

Snowy and frosted finishes are primarily a style choice rather than an indication that one tree is necessarily more realistic or higher quality than another.

What about a small artificial Christmas tree?

A smaller tree can work as the main Christmas tree in an apartment or compact living room, or as a second tree elsewhere in the home.

Smaller trees are particularly useful for bedrooms, hallways, home offices and other areas where a traditional 6ft or 7ft tree would take up too much space.

Our artificial Christmas trees under 4ft collection is intended for genuine freestanding trees, including selected 2ft and 3ft trees, rather than decorative Christmas table centrepieces.

That distinction makes it easier to find a true smaller Christmas tree rather than a tabletop decoration.

How long should an artificial Christmas tree last?

A well-made artificial Christmas tree can be reused for many Christmas seasons.

Its lifespan will depend on the construction of the foliage and frame, how carefully it is assembled and dismantled, and how it is stored during the rest of the year.

Avoid forcing your tree into a box or storage container that is too small, as this can unnecessarily compress and damage branches.

Store the tree in a clean, dry location, and take additional care with electrical connections and wiring when storing a pre-lit tree.

Correct storage also helps preserve the shape of the branches and reduces the amount of reshaping required the following Christmas.

How should I decorate my artificial Christmas tree?

Once you've chosen your tree, it is usually easiest to decorate it in stages.

If you've chosen an unlit tree, begin with your Christmas lights. Positioning the lights before adding decorations allows you to distribute them properly throughout the branches.

Next, build your decorating scheme with Christmas Baubles and Christmas Hanging Decorations. Use larger pieces first, then add smaller decorations to fill gaps and create depth.

Position statement decorations where they can be seen clearly, then repeat smaller baubles and ornaments across the remaining branches for a balanced finish.

Finish the upper section with a Christmas Tree Topper, choosing a style and size that suits the height and proportions of the tree.

At the base, a Christmas Tree Skirt can disguise the stand and create a more finished setting for presents. If you need a replacement or additional support, browse Christmas Tree Stands & Storage.

If you want to continue the same festive style beyond the tree, coordinate it with Christmas wreaths and garlands on doors, mantels or staircases.

Which artificial Christmas tree is right for me?

If convenience is your priority and you want the lighting already positioned throughout the branches, browse our pre-lit artificial Christmas trees.

If you want complete control over your lighting and the freedom to change it in future, browse our unlit artificial Christmas trees.

If creating the most natural-looking tree is your priority, start with our realistic artificial Christmas trees.

If you want the height and impact of a Christmas tree while taking up less floor space, browse our slim artificial Christmas trees.

If you're looking for a tree for an apartment, bedroom, hallway or other smaller space, browse our artificial Christmas trees under 4ft.

Whatever style you choose, always compare the height, base width, foliage construction and lighting specification of the individual tree with the space available in your home before ordering.