Real vs. Artificial Christmas Trees: Pros, Cons & How to Choose

Every year, as mid-to-late November approaches (okay, early October if you’re anything like me), you’re faced with one of the most dreaded decisions of the holiday season: spring for the real tree or stick with artificial?

Ah, yes—the age-old debate. Pine-scented chaos or manufactured convenience?

Sure, it sounds simple—until you factor in budget constraints, limited storage, devious pets, and the risk of hitchhiking critters. Not to mention your own emotional stability.

Suddenly, it’s the kind of painstaking decision capable of putting a damper on the Christmas cheer faster than Ebenezer Scrooge himself.

But don’t worry, bestie—call me Santa, because I’m making the list, and you’re checking it twice.

Together, we’re breaking down the pros, the cons, and how to choose the tree that fits your budget, vibes, and mental bandwidth this holiday season.

Because whether you’re Team Real Tree or Forever Faux, we’ll figure out exactly which suits you best.

Real Christmas Trees

Trust me when I say I understand the magic and nostalgia of a real Christmas tree.

I mean, my mom having a real tree might’ve been the closest thing to a Hallmark movie moment my family ever had (things in my house had a tendency to be more reminiscent of the Lifetime Network, if you catch my drift).

There really is just something about a real tree that adds a dash of holiday magic. But for all that magic and wonder, there are definitely some cons. So let’s spill all the tea.

Pros:

• Opportunity to create traditions and seasonal core memories.

  Let’s be honest—I’ve never heard anyone reminisce fondly about being volunteered to finagle an oversized tree out of the attic. Shimmying down a rickety ladder one-handed while balancing a 10’ tree on your head is how stories of emergency room visits start, not how traditions are made.

  Now, heading to a Christmas tree farm to pick out the perfect Blue Spruce while you sip cocoa and someone else does all the work—that’s the stuff Hallmark movies are made of.

• That authentic pine smell.

  Listen, even if you’re not the outdoorsy type, there are a few signature scents that just spark nostalgia in all of us: the smell of a campfire in the summer, apples and cinnamon in the fall, and the scent of fresh pine at Christmas.

  And of course, manufacturers try to bottle it up and sell it back to us—one overpriced candle at a time. But something about that lab-created signature pine scent just never hits quite like the real thing.

• Variety of shapes, sizes, and species to choose from.

  Whether you’re looking for something so massive it’s worthy of a place in Times Square or a bit more Charlie Brown-modest, real trees offer everything from the dramatic to the wonky charm you’re looking for.

  No viral cookie-cutter trees here.

• No post season storage.

  I get it—it’s all fun and games playing my tree’s bigger than yours with the neighbors. Until Christmas is over and you’ve gotta figure out where to stick it for the next nine months. (But why does that sound so dirty?)

  Little to no storage can become a real problem when that post-holiday cleanup hits—especially if you’re like me and live in an apartment where storage is more than limited.

  There’s just something freeing about being able to drop the tree like a bad habit as you ring in the new year.

  And I gotta say, the minimalist in me seriously loves that for you, bestie.

• Environmentally friendly.

  Okay, talking about the environmental impact of consumer behavior is one of those highly debated topics that’s so far outside my realm of self-proclaimed expertise. But I will say that things are a lot more nuanced than most of us realize—or care to admit.

  That said, purchasing real trees is more environmentally friendly in the sense that they’re biodegradable and compostable. (Just be aware that flocking can impact this, depending on the ingredients.)

• Can support local tree farms and seasonal businesses.

  Listen, in today’s economy, we’re all out here trying to spend intentionally while stretching every dollar. It’s a delicate balance between the ultra-affordable, mass produced overseas options and the budget-breaking urge to support local communities.

  There are still a lot of seasonal businesses and local tree farms genuinely dependent on community support through the holiday season. So if you’re in both a financial and practical position to do your part, that’s absolutely amazing.

Cons:

• Creates decorating delays.

  A sad reality of the real tree adventure is that farms and third-party sellers usually wait until after Thanksgiving to open up shop. Which is totally valid, because the delay helps ensure you tree maintains it’s bright, bushy magic through Christmas and into the new year.

  But I mean seriously—wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate?

  Oh, bestie, I could never!

  You’d be hard-pressed to find me waiting until October 31st, if I’m being honest.

• Requires repurchasing every year.

  Listen, I’m all for creating those core memories, but purchasing a new tree every year? That just isn’t the most budget-friendly option—and in this economy? Girl, please.

  Seriously though, if I had kids, I’d admittedly feel more inclined to put an emphasis on creating the core memories over the budget—as long as it was actually financially feasible, of course.

• Some trimming required.

  Okay, we all have a tendency to misjudge sizing—especially when the female version of a tape measure is the arm-span method.

  So don’t be surprised if you get home and have to start sawing the trunk, snipping the branches, and using some strategic rotating to get your tree to fit like it should.

• Bugs.

  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I’ve seen some horror stories on social media about bug infestations coming from real trees.

  Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely not in the business of shelling out free room and board—no matter how small the house guests. Uh-uh, absolutely not.

  And sure, I’ve seen some recommendations to help mitigate the risks—like giving it a vigorous shake, busting out the leaf blower, or hosing it off.

  But let’s be real. I live in an apartment, and my lease prohibits me from using my balcony to shake out a rug. I’m not trying to get served an eviction notice all because I felt the need to embrace my inner exterminator just to have a real tree.

  Now, if you’ve got the luxury to implement those aforementioned methods, then by all means, bestie, have at it. Just consider yourself warned.

  As for me, it’s definitely a hard pass.

• Requires consistent watering.

  I swear it never ends—first the bugs, and now the water.

  But what can I say? Real trees just don’t have the same set-it-and-forget-it perk of their faux counterparts.

  Seriously, if you don’t want a Charlie Brown tree by Christmas, you’ve got to keep up with the watering schedule. And it’s a pretty rigid schedule, by the way—we’re talking once to twice a day, every day.

• Shedding pine needles.

  As if all the flocking and glitter fallout aren’t enough, now you’re talking about pine needles too.

  You’ll need a Roomba running 24/7 to keep those floors clean (especially if you don’t keep up with that watering schedule we just talked about).

  An even more unfortunate reality: even if your post-holiday cleanup has the skill of a forensic crew, you’ll still be pulling pine needle stragglers from the deepest recesses of your home for months to come.

• Highly Flammable

  Unfortunately, most real trees aren’t treated with a flame retardant like artificial ones (some are). So, as they dry out, they become more and more prone to catching fire.

  Get a little too lax on your watering schedule or wait a little too long to take it down, and you’ve got yourself a matchstick with lights. Definitely not ideal.

• Problematic for pets.

  Let’s be honest—a real Christmas tree paired with a pet or two is a recipe for disaster. I’m so serious when I say it’s a combination that can wreak havoc faster than the Grinch in Whoville.

  Nothing invites chaos for a cat quite like a giant tree in the center of your living room: branches doubling as a jungle jim and pine needles looking like a snack.

  In all seriousness, real trees can create a series of issues for pets—and not just cats. So if you’ve got furry little friends, it might be wise to consider skipping the real tree magic.

• End of season disposal

  It’s all fun and games until the end of the season rolls around, and you realize it’s your responsibility to coordinate the disposal. Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as tossing it on the curb whenever you feel like it.

  Some communities offer complimentary pickup, while others provide drop-off locations.

  Regardless, if you choose to have a real tree, then proper disposal becomes your responsibility—in which case, shoving an artificial tree back in the attic or dropping it off at Goodwill doesn’t seem half bad, if I’m being honest.

Artificial Christmas Trees

Okay, can we take a moment to appreciate how far some of these artificial trees have come over the years (even if we can’t afford them)?

I mean, seriously—some of them are out here looking so realistic that I’d consider watering them just in case. They’re certainly a far cry from those Charlie Brown-lookin’ tinsel trees circa 1970, that’s for sure.

Pros:

• No decorating delays.

  I realize not everyone can get on board with decorating for Christmas in October. (Though from the looks of things, they would—if retailers had their way.)

  Some people are perfectly happy to wait for tree farms to open in mid-to-late November. And I love that for them.

  But I’m a rebel and I live for Christmas—which means relishing the fact that I can pull an artificial tree from storage and start decorating the moment impulse strikes. And you can too.

• Tons of shapes, sizes, styles, colors, and even themes.

  Okay, sure—real trees have versatility in shapes, sizes, and styles. But they’ve got nothing on the customization of their faux counterparts.

  Artificial trees can pretty much match the aesthetic of the decorator diva in all of us. Want to get crazy with an inverted option? Done. Merry pinkmas, anyone? Sure . Green with a lean like the grinch? Absolutely.

  The only limit to the artificial tree aesthetic is the imagination within us. If you can dream it, you can make it.

• Reusable year after year.

  Okay, we’re kind of living in a throw away culture—where holiday decor gets tossed faster than fruitcake at Christmas. I mean, seriously, every year it’s onto the next viral trend.

  But for those of us budget-conscious girlies, we’re here for it. It saves money, time, and effort. Because honestly, the idea of lugging a Christmas tree (real or fake) around every year is just not it.

• Prelit options available.

  Seriously—who’s even out there manually stringing lights onto a tree anymore?

  Okay, okay, I know some people are, and bless their hearts. Because I don’t think my patience could survive tracking down the burnt-out bulbs and the never-ending tangled mess.

  Not to mention the all-out physical assault on your hands and arms by branches so sharp you’d swear they were designed to kill a man.

• All around convenience.

  Okay, artificial trees are your ultimate seasonal low-maintenance bestie. Just pull it out, set it up, fluff the branches, plug it in, and you’re good to go.

  There’s no strapping it to the roof of your car, meticulous watering schedule, or endless duty on pine needle cleanup.

  Just effortlessly gorgeous holiday vibes.

• Safer option for pets.

  Listen, I’m not going to pretend artificial trees can’t still create some chaos with your furry friends—because where there’s a will, there’s a way.

  But it might minimize piquing the interest of your pets. There’s no water inviting them to take a drink, no smells of other animals engaging their curiosity, and nothing seems to invite cats to chew more than living plants.

  So while your artificial tree is still likely to be a point of interest, hopefully it’s not quite so interesting.

• No end of season disposal required.

  Maybe it’s because I start decorating so early, but by the time the new year rolls around, I’m pretty over it.

  When the new year hits, who wants to be checking community pickup schedules or planning drop offs for proper tree disposal?

  It’s a lot more convenient to pack everything up and shove it into storage. I’m just sayin’.

Cons:

• Upfront cost can be expensive.

  I mean let’s be honest—the price point on some of these trees has gotten absolutely insane. And nothing burns by biscuits quite like hearing someone talk about their favorite budget-friendly Christmas trees, only to drop a link to something that costs $300-$400 on sale.

  And maybe it’s just me, but I’m always left thinking: One, we’re clearly in different tax brackets if that’s your budget friendly recommendation. And two, I just assumed that if I’m ever in a position to shell out $400 on a Christmas tree, I won’t be looking up budgeting advice online.

  I guess I probably shouldn’t be assuming—I mean you know what they say…

  Anyway, don’t worry—because even though costs can be expensive, there are still budget-friendly shopping options for those of us falling into the lower tax brackets.

• Look too perfect.

  Speaking of price points, the more you spend, the more flawless those artificial trees tend to look—a little too flawless sometimes.

  They just don’t possess the same quirky individuality of a real tree. No crooked branches or truly unique shapes—just the same old mass-produced vibe.

• Prone to wear and tear.

  Well, they look pretty perfect until they’ve been manhandled in and out of the box a few times.

  Even artificial trees don’t last forever. You can only smash, fluff, and bend the branches so many times before they start looking a little ragged and worse for wear.

  All of a sudden, you’ve got branches falling off, and you’re stuck trying to fill the bald spots. It’s like the Christmas tree equivalent of a bad hair day.

• Requires long term storage.

  One of the really annoying things about artificial trees is that after the holiday season’s two months of magic fade, you’re still stuck storing a tree for the other ten months of the year.

  As someone who’s been living in apartments for the past six years with little to no storage, this one really sucks. It means stuffing it under the bed, awkwardly wedging it into a closet, or even hiding it in a mini pantry if you have to.

  Low-maintenance during the season sure does translate to a lot of commitment afterward. Just sayin’.

• Not biodegradable.

  Unfortunately, the worst thing about artificial trees is probably that they aren’t biodegradable.

  We don’t like to think about it, but all of these artificial trees will still be sitting in a landfill long after we’re dead and gone—which kind of makes you think twice about letting some viral trend convince you to trade up for a new model every year.

What Christmas Tree Is Right For You?

Okay bestie, now that we’ve gotten into the nitty-gritty of your options, it’s time to decide: Team Real Tree or Forever Faux?

But how do you choose?

At the end of the day, it comes down to what fits your life, budget, and—dare I say—your tolerance for chaos.

If you live for a good holiday tradition and would gladly sacrifice a little mess for some serious holiday magic, then a real tree might be perfect for you.

But if the thought of daily watering and a potential bug infestation makes your eye twitch, then by all means, go artificial and never look back.

Because whether you’re Team Real or Forever Faux, the best Christmas tree is the one that doesn’t cost your sanity (or your deposit). There’s no pressure or judgment here—just twinkling lights and Christmas cheer.

So tell me,bestie, which team are you—cast your vote in the comments and bonus points if you let us know why.