How can you tell it’s Christmas without a dressed up tree sitting pride of place in your home?
While a faux tree undoubtedly has its benefits - no debris to vacuum up, no needles catching on curious pets or infants - there are some who believe the look, feel, and more importantly, the scent, of a Christmas tree is unmatched by anything other than the real thing.
Setting up a tree indoors in the winter months is a tradition that harks back to 16th century Germany, although some say it can be traced even farther back to Pagan rituals. While those 16th century folk risked arson by decorating their firs with lit candles (the mind boggles), today we’ve adopted an alternative approach that satisfies health and safety criteria.
We’re talking tinsel - miles of the stuff - looped over and around branches, before finishing the look with an array of baubles, either perfectly coordinated or charmingly mismatched from Christmases past. Add some lights for enchanting twinkle and a fairy or gold star at the top, and your festive decor is complete.
We’re jumping the gun though. Before the fun of decorating can begin, you’ll need to find the best evergreen for your home first.
We know real tree buying is an exciting festive must-do all of its own (with trips bookended by mince pies and warming cups of mulled wine), but if you’d rather save yourself the effort of hauling it onto a car roof or navigating spiky branches into the back of an Uber, we’ve found online vendors who will deliver your Christmas décor centrepiece right to your door.
From ceiling-scrapers that’ll transport you to Lapland to sweet tabletop versions that arrive through a letterbox, we’ve gathered the nicest, leafiest versions below.
Pre-order now for delivery close to Christmas
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Bloom & Wild The Party Tree
You can’t accuse this Christmas tree of not knowing how to have a good time. Decked in jewel-tone decorations including lights and a tassel garland, the 44cm tall design is the perfect second tree to add to your festive set-up. It comes with everything ready to get it up and running, from batteries for the string lights to a red and pink patterned pot to keep the base safe. If it’s a gift, add a complimentary gift card with a lovely message.
Order now for delivery from November 7.
Find Bloom & Wild’s full Christmas collection here.
Buy now £33.00, Bloom & Wild
Gardeners Dream Nordmann Fir Pot Grown Christmas Trees
Starting from a teeny 2ft tall, this Nordmann Fir is available all the way up to 5ft high, making it the perfect buy for anyone with a small space to give a Christmas makeover. It’s the ultimate low-maintenance plant, requiring little in the way of water and feeding (although like humans, the occasional trim will help keep it looking sharp). Once Christmas Day is over, it can be happily replanted in the garden, there until next December when it can be reused. Win-win
Buy now £64.99, Gardeners Dream
IKEA Christmas Tree
The Swedish furniture giant has built its fan base from offering top quality products at incredible prices, and this December it plans to do the same with a deal that will see lucky shoppers walk away with a real tree for just £9.
All customers who buy a real tree between November 25 and Christmas Eve will receive the gift of a £10 voucher with their purchase. With prices thought to be £25 this year, that means you’ll effectively have £10 knocked off the RRP, safe in your back pocket to use in store between January 9 to February 12, 2023.
The deal has been popular for a few years now, and although it does mean you’ll need to sort delivery yourself, the unbeatable price is one way to guarantee Christmas cheer.
Buy now £25.00, IKEA
Flowerbx Traditional Fir Christmas Tree
You might know Flowerbx as your go-to destination for those last-minute, exeptionally high-quality, anniversary and birthday flowers. Luckily for all of us forgetful lot, they’ve also delivered on some beautiful Christmas trees that’ll be delivered right to your doorstep.
Starting at £85, you can choose between an approximately 5ft tree, or one that’s closer to 9ft. However, if either of those sizes are far too big for your liking, you can scoop up Flowerbx’s small potted Christmas tree for £40.
Buy now £85.00, Flowerbx
Nordman Fir Real Cut Christmas Tree 7 - 8ft
The Nordman Fir variety of Christmas tree is extremely popular for a reason. Not only does it have a fantastic bushiness and depth to it, but its pine needles are incredibly strong. Whether your baubles are homemade from papermache, or crafted from solid gold, the pine needles on a Nordman Fir will hold them.
This one from Wilco is between 7ft-8ft, but you can browse their website for a range of others, including this slightly smaller 5ft-6ft dream.
Buy now £75.00, Wilko
3.5-4ft Living Pot Grown Nordman Fir Real Christmas Tree
Looking for a way to be more sustainable this festive period? This small but sweet Christmas tree has been grown in a pot, which means it can be replanted once the 25th has been and gone - nothing kills the post-Christmas high than seeing trees abandoned in the street.
Buy now £33.00, Homebase
