Next, lower the hinged branches and spend some time tweaking and teasing them so they're thick and bushy. If the item comes direct from a manufacturer, it may be delivered in non-retail packaging, such as a plain or unprinted box or plastic bag. We all love the idea of a real Christmas tree, from the beautiful scent to the joy of heading out to select your chosen pine each year. A mini tree can be a great option for a secondary room: “I love to place a smaller sized tree on my kitchen windowsill – or they are great for a child’s room, guest bedrooms, bathrooms, or downstairs cloakrooms, as well,” The White Company’s Chrissie Rucker says.

Look out for Christmas wreaths with golden foliage that you can hang outside the door for a luxe look. It comes in a galvanised steel pot which works with modern or traditional gardens and is surprisingly heavy - meaning it won’t blow away. It's generously bushy with eight different light settings so you can find the right ambience for you.

More realistic trees (like those from John Lewis, The White Company and Balsam Hill, above) have more branches and, importantly, more branch tips. The branches are uneven in length and texture (as in nature) and range from a deep emerald green which graduate to lighter tone at the tip. Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. The cashmere one gives your tree a soft-blurry feel whilst the twig trees are ideal for a minimalistic look.

This very sweet 90cm high tree has realistic-looking silvery-green branches, pre lit with warm-LED bulbs on a six-hour timer and can be kept outside. Get a full front luxe look of a traditional 6ft Christmas tree but only take up half the floor space. When space is at a premium, a slim Christmas tree or pencil trees are ideal for bringing in the Christmas cheer whilst saving your floor space. Habitat is a trading name of Argos Limited who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a credit broker (713206), and works exclusively with the lender, Home Retail Group Card Services Limited, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide credit (716148). It's the perfect size for smaller living rooms, entrance halls or porches, ready to welcome family and friends in festive style.So, enjoy decorating your new favourite purchase; some of the artificial Christmas trees in our edit even come pre-lit, meaning no faffing around untangling strings of lights (even more of those this way). I spent some time trying out all this year’s best artificial trees and you can read my reviews further down, followed by some advice on how to tell a good artificial Christmas tree from a bad one, as well as a guide to size, weight, materials and tip count. Choose from rustic wicker stands to stylish steel tree skirts—they're great for adding a touch of glam and giving your tree the support it deserves. Remember that you don’t have to plump for the most realistic artificial Christmas tree; twig trees, which were hugely popular last year, look set to be again this Christmas.

You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. Plus, if you don't have easy access to a nearby Christmas tree allotment or much space for a real tree in your home, it's just not a viable option. We think it looks perfect as it is but, if you prefer your trees bursting with baubles, there's plenty of room for additional decorations.But, let's face it, the reality can be less than magical – namely, constant needle dropping can be a nuisance to clean up.

While I felt this was among the best of John Lewis offering, the brand has a huge array of choice, including the cheaper Petersberg and Fireside ranges, which have fewer tips. Read more about the condition New: A brand-new, unused, unopened and undamaged item in original retail packaging (where packaging is applicable). It is easy to assemble but be warned: the branches take quite a while to unfurl and twist into shape.It is charming enough to be left bare or hung with a few Christmas decorations - but you wouldn’t want to overdo it.