DECEMBER is fast approaching and it’s time to get decorating for Christmas – and the most important part is a tree.
That’s why I’ve been looking for the best artificial trees for under £100.
If you are planning to upgrade your artificial tree this year, the time is now.
The best ones often sell out well before December.
Fake trees are a great option with Polyethylene (PE) moulded branch tips often looking just as good as the real thing.
You can expect to pay anything from £50 to £500 for a decent tree, with pre-lit and snowy options on offer.
I’ve been testing products for The Sun for years, so I know where to look and I’ve found some corking bargains:
Christmas Tree World Arbor Vitae Fir Tree (4ft)
Lynsey says: “Small, but perfectly formed. This 4ft tree is a festive delight!
“It is small but ideal for those who only have a tight space or don’t have much room to store a tree the rest of the year.
“It’s a lovely, two-tone green colour which creates a lovely inviting ambience and it’s very bushy.
“It oozes quality and has a very realistic appearance.
“As an added bonus, it was easy to assemble with colour-coded hook-on branches. The base was sturdy.
“There are bigger 6ft and 7ft options available if you want something a little taller.”
- Appearance: 5/5
- Value: 5/5
- Total score: 10/10
Dunelm 6ft Snowy Blue Spruce Christmas Tree
Lynsey says: “If it’s a snowy tree you want, this is a great option.
“It’s one of the only snow-flocked trees that doesn’t drop snow all over the place.
“It was super easy to put up as it, coming in three parts which you simply had to slot together before fanning out the branches.
“The base is sturdy. Once up, it looked fab with plenty of branches and for less than £100, I thought it was great value.
“In fact, I thought it was as good as trees on sale for twice the price. It really brought a snowy winter forest vibe indoors.”
- Appearance: 5/5
- Value: 4/5
- Total score: 9/10
Green 7ft Flocked Pre Lit Christmas Tree
Lynsey says: “This George tree didn’t look as full as it did in Asda’s promotional photos but it’s still a nice tree for the price.
“The lights are warm white and give a nice festive feel and the snowy tips look pretty too.
“My only complaint is the fake snow which went everywhere as I put it up and made me sneeze. I was hoovering it up for days after I put this up so might not be the best choice if you have allergies.
“The base was also larger than expected. But overall, once erected, this tree did look fab and made a real statement in the room.
“The pre-lit option was great and saved the hassle of wrapping around lights.”
- Appearance: 3/5
- Value: 4/5
- Total score: 7/10
Argos Home 6ft Fashion Pink Christmas Tree
Lynsey says: “A bold, show-stopping and totally fabulous Christmas tree in neon pink that is sure to add festive delight to any room.
“It comes in three parts with hinged branches that you have to pull out and it’s light and easy to maneuver around.
“I was worried it wouldn’t look full given the great price but it was very plump and looked gorgeous.
“Not the best value, but a lovely option for someone who prefers something a little alternative or wants to add some colour for 2025.”
- Appearance: 4/5
- Value: 3/5
- Total score: 7/10
Charles Bentley 6ft Faux Nordic Spruce Hinged Christmas Tree
Lynsey says: “A realistic looking tree, with hinged branches that was quick and easy to assemble.
“Its conical-shape looks like a real Nordic spruce and it looked perfect in my living room. It had different green colours through it which made it look more authentic.
“Plus, with 859 branches there was plenty of room for decorations and once up it looked very full.
“It did take a while to fan them all out but the end result was more than worth it.
“Festive, brilliant and decent value for money.”
- Appearance: 5/5
- Value: 3/5
- Total score: 8/10
Robert Dyas 6ft Premium Snow Filled Grand Fir Full Artificial Christmas Tree
Lynsey says: “This 6ft tree is a little underwhelming. Even though it’s the same size as some of the other trees in this test, it didn’t look as big.
“It comes in three parts and you push the branches down to set it up, which makes it harder work to set up, and there were no instructions in the box.
“Even after a lot of fluffing it still looked a little sparse.
“It’s lightly flocked for a snow-dusted look and the ‘snow’ didn’t go everywhere like some of the others, so that was a plus.
“The metal stand provides a sturdy base.
“Whilst cheap, it didn’t make me feel cheerful.”
- Appearance: 3/5
- Value: 3/5
- Total score: 6/10
How to save money on Christmas shopping
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping.
Limit the amount of presents – buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb.
Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you’re not having to buy multiple presents.
Plan ahead – if you’ve got the stamina and budget, it’s worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales.
Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you’re not forking out more than you should though.
Buy in Boxing Day sales – some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25.
Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent.
Shop via outlet stores – you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts.
They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.
