The thing about Christmas trees is that it’s the result that’s the best bit.
No one is sitting there, counting down the days until they can venture up to the dusty attic or squeal at the shed’s spiders so that they can reprise their artificial Fir. Similarly, taking down the centrepiece of your festive decorations is the moment when the Yuletide bubble well and truly bursts for another year - a task few of us approach with glee, especially in the depths of January.
Setting up an artificial tree is easy enough once you’ve done it for the first time but it can still be a cumbersome job wrestling all the branches and trunk into the submission of its box, which seems to become more tattered with every passing year.
Yet a new invention means setting up and taking down a faux tree has never been easier. Welcome, folks, to the concept of a pop-up Christmas tree.
What is a pop-up Christmas tree?
It’s a good question and one we asked ourselves when they first appeared on the scene. Without seeing one, one might imagine a tree that bounces out of its box, much like a pop-up tent. And it’s not that dissimilar, although there is a tiny bit of set-up on your part.
How to set up a pop-up Christmas tree?
A pop-up tree arrives flat-packed with a stand and central pole that must be erected before the ‘tree’, a colourful flat disc with a holder in the middle goes on. Secure the pole to the holder, slowly unravel the disc down towards the floor, a bit like a dress, and watch your Christmas tree appear before your eyes! It’s a far more serene experience than having the tree jump out of the box at you like a tent would - and makes dismantling and storage a simple task too.
There are pop-up designs complete with twinkly lights, tree toppers and decorations, making the whole set-up experience less of a faff. If you’re feeling robbed of the experience of dressing the tree with your favourite ornaments, why not festoon a smaller, potted version instead? That way you’ll enjoy the look and smell of a live tree without anywhere near the faff - and potted ones have the extra benefit of being able to be replanted afterwards.
Pop-up trees may not be for everyone, but if you live alone or don’t have the dexterity needed to haul a traditional artificial tree up and down stairs, it’s a good alternative you might love.
To show you the scope of designs available, we’ve rounded up the top of the pop-up trees, ready to rock around.
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Dunelm 6ft Pre Lit 110 LED Pop Up Christmas Tree
Not wild about the idea of being unable to roll out your treasured baubles this year? We can't bear your pouting, so we've found this nearly naked pop-up design at Dunelm. The branches are bare except for 110 LEDs, which saves you the bother of untangling balls of string lights. Simply set it up, plug it in, and decorate your heart out.
Buy now £50.00, Dunelm
We R Christmas Pre-Lit Decorated Pop-Up Snow Flocked Christmas Tree, 6 ft
Complete with baubles, 150 LED lights and even a touch of frost, there’s no way friends or family will guess that this six-foot beauty is a pop–up marvel. It offers a picture-perfect arrangement in just minutes, ready to play its role as the backdrop to your annual family picture.
Buy now £86.95, We R Christmas
We R Christmas Pre-Lit Pop-Up Decorated Christmas Tree, Red/Gold, 6 ft
Traditionalists will be delighted to hear a classic look is in the pop-up offering too. This red, green and gold tree strews decorations evenly across its six-foot frame. Complete with tartan bows, it's a look that could have walked straight off the Highlands. The 500 PVC tips are highlighted with 100 warm white LEDs too so you can continue basking in its glow well into the evening.
Buy now £104.34, We R Christmas
Coopers of Stortford Store Pop-Up Christmas Tree with Decorations 4ft/5ft/6ft (4FT)
A pop-up tree doesn't have to be the main attraction. For Christmas obsessives who want nothing more than a tree in every room, a pop-up makes it oh-so-easy. This design comes with a 'skirt' that hangs from the midway point to the base and a traditional branched top half that slots into the top. With gold baubles, lights and red velvet bows it's a look straight out of that Christmas film favourite, Home Alone.
Buy now £99.99, Amazon
Habitat 6ft Snowy Pop Up Christmas Tree
Slim enough to bring festive cheer to hallways, and a compact size to suit small flats, Habitat's tree looks like the real deal - until you reach out to touch its 'snow-dusted' tips, that is. It's compiled with a mix of flat and 3D needles to make it look as realistic as possible and comes without light so you can add the ones you've probably already got in a drawer somewhere. Set up is easy: the bottom branches pop up and hang from the base, while the top branches come pre-fixed and slot neatly in on top. Add your Christmas baubles and you're ready to rock. An evergreen version is also available.
Buy now £36.66, Argos
Christmas Tree World 7ft Pre-Lit Ultra Pop Up Tree
An unexpected benefit of a pop-up tree is that, as well as saving you oodles of time, it's no biggie if giddy guests, pets or children accidentally knock it over. Everything is stitched into one piece, minimising injuries and mess if things get a bit wonky after a few brandies. Unless you looked really closely, few would guess that this seven-foot ceiling scraper was a pop-up design. From the branches and tips to the beautiful forest green colour, it all looks very convincing. It's fitted with 240 warm white LEDs in evenly spaced intervals to dispense a warm glow.
Buy now £199.99, Christmas Tree World
Christmas Tree World The 6ft Slim Gold Tinsel Pop Up Christmas Tree
There's no way anyone is missing this gold tinsel tree which measures six feet tall but only 45cm in diameter. The pop-up design can be set up in moments and makes the perfect extra decoration for Christmas parties, carol-singing and, of course, the big day itself. It's best kept for indoor use, as all that tinsel will not fare well outside, especially if it's raining. Find an eye-catching red version here.
Buy now £29.99, Christmas Tree World
Snowtime Pre-Lit White Holly Pop Up Tree
If this is the year you're planning to take some risks with your Christmas tree look, an all-white pop-up will do the trick. The pre-lit design is studded with 200 LEDs to heighten the effect and just like its traditional artificial tree sisters, is made with fire retardant plastic to stop mishaps in their tracks.
Buy now £67.49, The Range
Verdict
Tall and with a life-like look, We R Christmas's pop-up tree is a sight to behold, especially with all those decorations included. While we appreciate the straight-out-of-a-magazine look, there's something about not decorating the tree with treasured baubles that harms the Christmas spirit.
Dunelm's pop-up offers the happy ground of lights in place and minimal set-up time but with the flexibility to decorate it in your style too. For less than half the cost of many competitors, it's a no-brainer.
