Artificial Christmas trees: what are and how to choose?

 Artificial Christmas trees: what are and how to choose?

No New Year is complete without an elegantly decorated Christmas tree. The tradition to decorate spruce or pine before the holiday came to us from ancient times. However, on the eve of the celebration, each person faces a difficult choice: which tree to choose, real or artificial? Both options have both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages and disadvantages

Of course, a live tree, bought shortly before the New Year, literally fills the whole house with a sense of celebration thanks to its fragrance. For many, the smell of real needles is the smell of the New Year itself.Indeed, the fluffy green beauty is a real, living tree, which spreads around itself a pleasant characteristic aroma, and in addition, useful phytoncides.

Unfortunately, sooner or later, such a tree dies, and this is its main drawback. Gradually, the tree begins to turn yellow and lose its needles, this process can take from one to several weeks - it depends on the initial freshness of the felled spruce or pine, as well as on the conditions of stay in the house (for example, near the battery or the fireplace it dries out before from heating elements). In any case, a month later, only a dry column remains of it.

There is a category of people who are allergic to pine needles: the volatile substances secreted by the plant cause red eyes, swelling and itching. In addition, phytoncides secreted by coniferous trees can drive off drowsiness. This, of course, is good in the afternoon, but in the evening it can be a problem, especially for families with small children. On the other hand, it is a completely natural New Year's attribute, which does not contain any synthetics, and, therefore, environmentally safe.

Well, another important advantage of living pine is its low price. In the last couple of days before the New Year, prices for holiday trees fall sharply and you can buy pine and spruce, even for 200-700 rubles.

The artificial Christmas tree is not alive and one cannot argue with this statement, connoisseurs of the original New Year traditions claim that this is not at all like that, however, there are some advantages in its use. This tree is very beautiful, and its rich color does not turn yellow and does not tarnish over time, it does not crumble, and besides, it can be used for many years. In addition, most of the trees, produced in our days, are made of non-combustible materials, which means they are absolutely fireproof.

However, all these advantages relate only to high-quality Christmas trees, so if you decide to give preference to a synthetic product, do not try to chase for cheapness: at best, you will get a Christmas tree that quickly breaks, and at worst, you will get an element of festive decor made from materials unsafe for human health. Many users say that plastic Christmas trees look much more beautiful than living ones.

Of the minuses, you can note the high cost (you will have to pay at least 2.5 thousand rubles for a plant) and the need to store it somewhere throughout the year. However, having bought a similar tree once, you will be able to save a lot of money and time, which is spent each year on the search and selection of a living tree.

Kinds

Nowadays, the assortment of Christmas trees is different in breadth and diversity, each tree has its own design, color and can be made of different materials according to its technology. Let us dwell on the varieties of such trees.

Cast

This type of fluffy beauties is molded in special forms, then all the elements are put together. A plastic Christmas tree, made in this way, most closely resembles a natural one, its needles do not prick, which is quite important for families with young children. As a rule, manufacturers give a 10-year warranty on their products, but as practice shows, they serve much longer.

Typically, synthetic Christmas trees are produced by European manufacturers, however, in recent years, domestic analogues have appeared. In stores it is almost impossible to buy them, the main implementation takes place through Internet sites, while they are quite expensive.

PVC

This is another attractive option for trees that have soft needles and look very stylish. Such trees are made of solid polyvinyl chloride film; therefore, they are characterized by low fire risk and environmental friendliness. Christmas trees made of PVC can serve faithfully for up to 5-7 years, over time they do not deform, do not rot and do not decompose. They can be safely installed in homes with young children.

Most often such trees are produced in China, but Thai products are also very popular. PVC products are distinguished by the optimal price / quality ratio.

From fishing line

These models were very popular during the USSR, purely visually they resembled enlarged brushes for washing bottles, however, since then the design of Christmas trees has been significantly improved, and Christmas trees have become more attractive and realistic. The Christmas tree, made of fishing line, is quite strong and practical, but at the same time it is extremely prickly. When storing its branches do not crumple and do not lie down. Products can be used up to 15-20 years and belong to the average price group. In most cases, such products are made in Russia.

Fiber Optic Christmas Trees

These are artificial plastic trees, in the branches of which optical fiber threads are passed, a flickering light passes through them and you can see that the tree begins to glow from the inside. Due to this effect, garlands are not required to decorate a fluffy beauty. The service life of such products is 10 years, the manufacturer in most cases is China. Prices for such trees are slightly higher than average.

Dimensions

Artificial pines are produced in a wide variety of sizes. Like the living, they are high and low, narrow and raspalisty, thick or with a rarer arrangement of branches. In most cases, the height of the plant is from 60 cm to 2.2 m, however, very small models and quite high ones can be found on the market. Before buying a Christmas tree, it is necessary to measure the room in which it will be installed.

One of the most common mistakes when buying is the lack of knowledge of the parameters of the free area and features of the place allotted for the tree. As a result, either a tree that is too low is bought, or, even worse, too high. And if in the first case it is still possible to give it the desired look with the help of decorative tops or a star, then in the second case you have to return the purchase.

Ideally, the tree should be high enough to be 30-50 cm from the ceiling and wide enough to occupy part of the free space, but not interfere with movement around the room and block the passage to the necessary interior items.

Design

In the Soviet years, artificial Christmas trees looked quite primitive, however, today's choice allows you to find the New Year's beauty to your liking. Modern industry produces trees in a variety of designs. They can be very miniature (they are placed on the table) or, on the contrary, have a height of 5 meters or more to decorate squares and courtyards, as well as large areas. The palette is also characterized by a smaller variety: Christmas trees are bright green, with a bluish or silver hue, etc.

Color is one of the defining parameters when buying an artificial Christmas tree: Unlike living trees, the color range here is much wider and more diverse. Naturally, shades of green prevail: from light to brilliant green. At the same time, white models are very popular, as well as products of unusual shades: pink, blue or even transparent.

Incredibly attractive looking green trees, in which the tips of the needles are shaded in white, as a result they take the form of trees slightly sparkled with sparkling snow. As for the trunk, as a rule, in synthetic trees it is painted in the color of ordinary needles, but the premium segment products are distinguished by maximum realism and the trunk is brown. If you prefer not pine, but other conifers, then you can buy a synthetic snow fir, for example. In addition, on sale there are decorated Christmas trees in wooden barrels, with cones and berries, etc.

Depending on the design, Christmas trees can be:

  • Canadian type;
  • with snow-covered branches;
  • flickering;
  • imitating natural wood, etc.

In addition to traditional trees, Christmas trees with flickering lights, which are both monochrome and multi-colored, are very popular. And the LEDs are attached in different ways: either built into the branch, or hang like a garland. Thus, the choice of synthetic trees is quite wide and everyone can choose a model that will best fit his aesthetic preferences.

By the way, many manufacturers have established the release of thematic trees, which may have some one main feature. However, such options are short-lived and live no more than one season. For example, about 10 years ago, inverted Christmas trees came into vogue, with broad branches at the top converging to the top from the bottom. These trees were a real hit one winter, and a year later they were nowhere to be seen.

When buying a Christmas tree, designers recommend sticking to the traditional classic style and purchasing a standard tree of natural colors and natural sizes - such a model will always be in trend.

How to choose?

Choosing a Christmas tree, you must take into account a number of important criteria.

  • Pomp. If you prefer elegant Christmas trees, richly decorated with toys, then you should stay on the lush, razlapistyh options to the branches was quite convenient to hang the balls. If you like minimalism in the New Year's décor, then it is possible to dwell on narrower models.
  • Dimensions. A standard room has a ceiling height of 2.5 meters; in this case, a tree with a height of not more than 1.9 meters is optimal: when a tree top rests against a ceiling, it looks quite ugly.In addition, keep in mind that part of the distance between the floor and the ceiling will be occupied by the stand and the top of the fluffy beauty, so measure their height, and then calculate which tree you should buy.
  • Material. It is very important to purchase a high quality Christmas tree, only in this case it will be safe for children and adults.
    1. The product must not have any extraneous odors. The presence of chemical aromas should be the reason to immediately abandon purchases.
    2. You need to make sure the strength of the needles, for this you should hold your hand from the edge of the branch to the trunk, slightly pulling the needle. If you still have needles in your hand, feel free to go to another seller. Ideally, the needles should straighten and not crumble.
    3. Particular attention should be paid to the wire, with which the spruce branches are fixed on the trunk: it must be strong, and the branch itself in no case should not hang and hang out.
  • Tint. It all depends on your personal preferences. Fans of naturalness can always buy a Christmas tree with green shades of needles, and for supporters of the exotic it is worth picking up a model of some more bright and extraordinary tone.
  • Rack. The choice of the rack largely determines the strength of the whole structure, this is especially important for families with small children or pets. A cruciform stand made of metal is more stable, plastic options are allowed for small Christmas trees installed outside the zone of access for children and animals.
  • Fire resistance It is important that the plastic Christmas tree is fireproof. If possible, give up products made of tinsel, they quickly light up and can burn out in just a few minutes. Plastic trees do not flare up, but at the same time they melt, and PVC models emit a rather sharp smell at the moment of decay and smoke strongly.

And, of course, do not forget to require from the seller a hygienic certificate for the products offered. If he refuses you, turn around boldly and leave. Remember, a good Christmas tree cannot be cheap. If you have a product in front of you, the price of which is lower than the market average, most likely it is a fake made of low quality materials.

Manufacturers

Nowadays, quite a lot of companies are involved in the production of artificial Christmas trees on the New Year products market. Consider the most popular ones.

  • Plastindustry (Morozco) - This is a Russian manufacturer that offers Christmas trees of various designs, sizes and shades. The company offers a range of pine and spruce trees, and there are low-budget options and trees in the premium segment.
  • Ate peneri - another domestic brand, which for more than 10 years successfully takes one of the leading places in the Christmas tree segment. The products of this manufacturer are characterized by high quality and a wide variety of models from 20 cm to 14 meters in height. The company uses in production only highly environmentally friendly technologies.
  • “Tsar-Yolka” - an enterprise that sells its products not only in Russia, but also far beyond its borders. The assortment line assumes availability of models from 20 cm to 25 meters long. These are frost-resistant outdoor products that can withstand long-lasting low temperatures, so you can decorate balconies with these trees, as well as the porch of a private house and yard.
  • National tree co - This is a manufacturer from the USA who has been working in the Christmas tree market for over 60 years. The brand’s card is considered to be the exceptional design of Christmas trees and decent quality, thanks to which the prices for these products are set at a fairly high level.
  • Kaemingk - A Dutch company that offers Christmas trees with a classic design: here you can find the usual green beauties, and trees with snowy or icy branches.
  • Triumph tree - Another Dutch brand that represents premium segment on the market. Especially popular are models that imitate pine needles with transparent, frozen droplets. The color palette is characterized by a great variety: here you can find products of all shades of green, as well as white and blue trees. Fir-trees are issued in room option with sizes from 1.5 to 2.5 meters.

The products of Victoria and Cleopatra are also very popular.

How to do it yourself?

If desired, an artificial Christmas tree can be made by hand. Of course, it will not look as naturalistic as it is finished, but it will certainly turn out to be stylish and very creative. The easiest way is to use ready-made conifer branches. In this case, it is necessary to make a wire frame and wind it with branches, securing them, if necessary, with a cable tie. Many people prefer simpler options.

For example, Christmas trees made of tinsel and cardboard.To do this, make a cone of the required size from thick paper, and then with a hot glue or double-sided tape carefully wrap it with tinsel. Thus, you can arrange a small Christmas tree and decorate it with tables, shelves and even windows.

If you wish, you can make a Christmas tree in vintage style. For this purpose, the cone should be wrapped with jute thread and decorated with lace and coffee beans. Christmas tree can be rubber, paper, foil - fantasy in the manufacture of artificial Christmas tree is not limited. Have a good mood and start creating.

How to store?

That the artificial Christmas tree will serve you and your home as long as possible, her need to properly care.

  • Before the holidays and after them, it should be cleaned, while washing with water is not allowed, as the wire on which the branches are wound can rust. It is necessary to use a vacuum cleaner, after which you can wipe each branch with a cloth with a minimal addition of shampoo or other cleaning agent.
  • Trees are stored only in a dry room at room temperature so that they are not exposed to direct sunlight.
  • Particular attention should be paid to the packaging of the Christmas tree.It is important that for the year it is not creased and does not lose its appearance. Most often for this, each branch is put on a plastic bag and pressed to the base, after which the whole tree is wrapped with cling film.

Beautiful examples

  • Modern artificial Christmas trees are often superior to living ones.
  • As a rule, they are performed in green. Such a Christmas tree with lights creates a fabulous and magical atmosphere.
  • Models of white color very stylishly and effectively look.
  • High trees for the street can decorate any local area.

For information on how to make artificial trees, see the following video.

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Information provided for reference purposes. For construction issues, always consult a specialist.

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