YuleLog Ornament Collector's Bulletin Board Forums Discussion Ornament Collecting Discussion Best Artificial Christmas Trees: Looking for Expert Recommendations

I researched the best artificial christmas trees as I really wanted something low-maintenance this year because I’ve been super overwhelmed with work and holiday prep. i have been experiencing a lot of stress trying to deal with real trees every season — the mess, the needles everywhere, and the constant watering. i went through reviews from trusted sources like Good Housekeeping, Wirecutter, and Real Simple and after comparing many options these two kept coming up as the top choices:

[b]National Tree Company 7.5 ft Pre-Lit Dunhill Fir Artificial Christmas Tree, 700 LED Lights, 2,514 Tips, PowerConnect, Foot Pedal, 10 Light Functions, Includes Stand, Green

https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Artific...&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Puleo International 7.5ft Pre-Lit Aspen Fir Artificial Christmas Tree with 700 Clear Lights, 1319 Realistic Dense Branch Tips, Easy Setup Artificial Trees with Sturdy Metal Stand

https://www.amazon.com/Puleo-Intern...&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

however, i am having trouble deciding which one would be better for me and i would love to get your expert advice and hoping maybe some decorators or people who’ve actually used these trees on this forum can also share their advice.

i usually prefer something that looks full and realistic but also easy to set up and store, so i’m not sure which one would be more recommended for me? any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance

I can't help you much with pre-lit artificial Christmas trees. All of our trees (9 of them) have no lights installed. We like to string the lights on the trees ourselves.

Most of our artificial trees were bought at Walmart. Most trees sold today are pre-lit. Walmart typically has 1 or 2 non-lit trees. By the time we put on lights, ornaments, and garland (some trees get popcorn strands that my wife makes every fall), our inexpensive trees look great.

Also, we have many Hallmark magic ornaments that require Magic Cords, Keepsake Power Cords and Legacy Cords. When we put up the tree, before fluffing out the branches, I install all the Hallmark cords that each tree will need (I keep a spreadsheet for each tree as to how many and which cords go on each tree) so I can get the cords right next to the tree trunks. And, these cords require power, so I install special power cords in the trees with multiple outlets from top to bottom. We use Google Home devices throughout our house. The trees are plugged into Smart outlets. So, if I want to turn on the Christmas tree in the Living Room, I just say "Hey Google, turn on Living Room tree."

I've been using the same artifical tree for over 30 years,, so I'm not up on the more modern trees and companies.

I prefer the Balsam Hill Vermont White Spruce with no lights. We put the lights on each year.