It's almost time to start preparing our Christmas decorations, which means figuring out where to put the tree. This seems simple enough right? Wrong. Placement is more crucial than you think when you have a real tree.
While you might have already chosen your Christmas tree theme for this year, finding a place to put a real tree in your home can prove challenging. It's not all about aesthetics, either; you need to consider what spot will keep your tree lasting as long as it should.
So what makes for a good place to position your tree and more importantly what makes a terrible one? One gardening expert reveals the one spot you should always avoid and why.
Common Christmas tree placement mistake
Once December arrives our focus is on finding the best Christmas food and ensuring we remember all the essential hosting tips to keep guests happy. This often means the smaller things, like where you're going to pop the tree, can fall to the wayside.
But even this seemingly inconsequential choice is hugely important, especially if you're a household that opts for a real tree. And certainly, like my house, you always place your tree in your living room bay window.
"A bay window is often known as the best place to position a Christmas tree," says Craig Wilson, gardening expert and Founder of Gardeners Dream. "And rightly so, it keeps it tucked out of the way, not taking too much space away from the room and on full display for nosey neighbours. For an artificial tree, it is perfect, but for a real tree, it can be detrimental."
So what makes the bay window such a terrible spot for our real trees? Craig explains that if you have a south-facing house then placing your tree in front of the window can leave it vulnerable to the outside elements.
He says, "This placement then means it's open to sitting in the direct sunlight from those crisp, sunny, winter mornings, which can cause real trees to dry up faster."
Even the best Christmas tree decorating ideas won't even be able to mask a scorched-dried tree, no matter how much tinsel is used.
Even if you don't mind having a slightly crispy tree, Craig points out that dried needles will become a nightmare to maintain and keep tidy.
"Whilst, if left alone a dried tree can still look beautiful, you run the risk of knocking it often when opening and closing bay blinds and curtains, or opening windows meaning you’re likely to lose loose needles multiple times a day," he says.
This will also lead to you having a rather bare tree before old St Nic has even had a chance to visit your home and no one wants that.
Instead, opt for a less sunny spot in your living room. One that isn't too close to a radiator as the heating can be just as detrimental to a real Christmas tree.
Products to keep your tree happy this festive season
RRP: £5.16 | Keep this useful yet compact watering can nearby this Christmas to make sure your wonderful tree lasts all season. Once the holidays end you can use the can for your houseplant watering routine.
RRP: £16.99 | If you're still in need of a tree stand this one from B&Q has everything you need for a super affordable price. With four legs, four screw clamps and a water tank, this stand will ensure your tree stays straight and hydrated all Christmas long.
RRP: £14.99 | It's inevitable that your tree will shed a few or a lot of needles as the holidays progress so having a dustpan and brush handy is a good idea.
Once you've found the perfect, and safe, place to put your tree this year why not try out sprucing up your front door with Dunelm's new Christmas collection? Their range of charming seasonal doormats is sure to put a smile on your guest's faces before they even get inside.
