The tree is the one decoration everything else takes its cue from. Its colour decides the palette, its shape decides how much space the rest of the room has, and its lights set the mood every evening from December to the New Year. Choosing well means a tree you are pleased to bring out every year; choosing in a hurry usually means a tree that is the wrong size, the wrong white, or a fight with tangled lights.
This guide covers the decisions in the order that matters: the look you want, whether to buy pre-lit, the size your room can take, and then how to set the tree up, decorate it and store it so it lasts. You can see the full range in our Christmas trees collection.
Start with the look: four styles of artificial tree
Most artificial trees fall into one of four looks. Each suits a different kind of room and a different kind of decoration, so it is worth deciding on the look before anything else.
Frosted tip: green with a light dusting of snow
A green tree with white tips looks as if it has caught the first frost. It is the most traditional of the snowy looks and the easiest to decorate, because the green does most of the work and almost any ornament sits well against it. It suits classic, country and traditional rooms, and it looks best with gold, bronze, red and natural wood.
Snow-flocked: a deeper covering of snow
Flocking is a soft white coating applied to the branches so they look as though they have been snowed on. Green still shows through underneath, which gives a flocked tree depth and a layered, natural look. It is the most romantic of the four, and it makes warm lights glow particularly softly. Flocking is delicate, so a flocked tree needs a little more care when you shape and store it.
White: clean, bright and modern
A fully white tree is a design choice rather than an imitation of nature, and it works best when you treat it that way. White makes metallics look crisp and colours look brighter, so it suits gold, champagne and silver for a calm, pale scheme, or strong red for a striking contrast. It is a natural fit for cream, neutral and modern rooms.
Twig: light, airy and sculptural
A twig tree is made of fine bare branches rather than dense foliage. It has an open, graphic outline that reads almost like a sculpture, and it takes up far less visual space than a full tree. It suits modern and Scandinavian interiors, a bay window, or any room where a full tree would feel crowded, and it needs very little decoration to look finished.
The Mikolia Christmas trees
Our range includes one tree in each of these styles. All four stand 7ft (2.1m) and are for indoor use:
- White Frosted Twig Pre-Lit Christmas Tree: fine bare-branch twigs frosted in white, with lights woven through the branches and white baubles included. The most distinctive tree in the range, and the one that looks finished with the least effort. Best for: modern and Scandinavian rooms, hallways and bay windows.
- Snow-Flocked Pre-Lit Christmas Tree: green PE branch tips dusted with white flocking, with lights woven through. Best for: a living room or beside the fireplace, dressed in gold, cream or natural wood.
- Frosted Tip Christmas Tree with Pine Cones: full green branches with white frosted tips and natural-look pine cones, lightly snow-dusted rather than fully flocked. Lights not included. Best for: classic, country and traditional rooms.
- White Artificial Christmas Tree: a full, natural-shaped fir in white. Lights not included. Best for: cream, neutral and modern interiors, dressed in gold and champagne or in red.
Each tree page includes a short video of the tree, so you can see its shape and colour in real life before you order.
Pre-lit or unlit?
Lighting a tree is the slowest and most fiddly part of decorating it, so the choice between pre-lit and unlit is really a choice about time and control.
- Pre-lit trees have the lights already woven through the branches, so they light evenly from the inside and there are no strings to untangle each year. They are the easiest way to get a tree that glows properly, and the best choice if you want to set up quickly.
- Unlit trees let you choose the lights yourself: warm or cool white, coloured, twinkling or steady, and as many as you like. They suit anyone who already has lights they love, or who likes to change the look from year to year.
If you light a tree yourself, a common rule of thumb is around 100 bulbs per foot of height for a full, bright look, so roughly 700 for a 7ft tree. Use fewer for a softer glow. Warm white lights flatter the red, cream and gold palette best, and suit both green and white trees.
What size Christmas tree do you need?
Height is the measurement most people get wrong, usually by buying a tree that looked modest in the shop and touches the ceiling at home. Measure before you buy:
- Ceiling height. Most UK homes have ceilings of around 2.4m. A 7ft (2.1m) tree leaves enough room for a star or other topper above it, which is why 7ft is the most popular size for a living room.
- Floor space. A tree is widest at the bottom, so measure the floor area where it will stand and leave room to walk past it without brushing the branches.
- What is around it. Keep the tree clear of radiators, fires and wood burners, out of doorways and away from anywhere it might be knocked. A corner or the space beside a window is usually the easiest spot.
If the room is small or the ceiling is low, choose a slimmer or more open tree rather than a shorter full one. A twig tree, for example, has the presence of a full-height tree without filling the room.
How to set up an artificial Christmas tree
Our trees come in three sections with the branches already attached, so putting one up is quick. A few minutes of shaping afterwards is what makes the difference between a tree that looks flat and one that looks full.
- Unbox it where it will stand. A 7ft tree is much easier to assemble in place than to carry across a room.
- Set the stand on a level floor and open it fully before slotting in the first section.
- Slot the sections together from the bottom up, making sure each one is pushed fully home.
- Shape from the bottom up. Starting with the lowest branches, pull each one out and spread its tips in different directions, some up, some out and some to the side, so there are no gaps. Work from the inside of each branch outwards.
- Step back as you go. Look at the tree from across the room every so often and fill any obvious gaps before moving up.
Flocked and frosted trees need a gentler hand when shaping, as the coating is delicate. Flocked trees may shed a little flocking when first set up, so it is worth laying down a sheet while you work.
How to decorate a Christmas tree
Decorating in the right order saves time and gives a more professional result. Each layer goes on before the next so you never have to reach through finished branches:
- Lights first. On an unlit tree, start at the trunk at the bottom and work up, wrapping lights along each main branch towards the tip and back, rather than simply winding them around the outside. This makes the tree glow from within.
- Topper next, while you can still reach the top without knocking anything off.
- Ribbon or garland, draped loosely in diagonal swags or tucked into the branches in short loops.
- Baubles, largest first. Place the biggest ones deep inside the branches to add depth, then fill in with smaller ones towards the tips.
- Picks and sprays last, tucked in where the tree still looks thin.
Keep to two or three colours and finishes. A tree with red, cream and gold looks richer and more considered than one with ten colours, even with fewer decorations on it. For more on choosing a palette, see our guide to elegant Christmas decorating ideas.
Styling ideas for each tree
- Frosted tip: red and gold baubles, a few natural pine cones and red berry sprays tucked into the branches. Classic and warm.
- Snow-flocked: gold, cream and natural wood, with a soft ribbon. The white branches do a lot of the work, so keep ornaments simple.
- White: either gold and champagne for a calm, pale scheme, or bold red baubles and red berries for a contrast that makes the red stand out more than it ever could on green.
- Twig: the included white baubles and the lights are often enough. If you add more, choose a few pieces in one colour and leave space between them, so the outline of the branches still shows.
Using Christmas sprays and stems on the tree
Christmas sprays, also called picks or stems, are the quickest way to make a tree look fuller and more expensive. Tucked into the branches, they fill gaps, add texture and carry colour deep into the tree in a way baubles alone cannot.
Tuck each stem into the branches at an angle, so the berries or fruit sit on the surface and the stem disappears behind the foliage. Space them evenly around the tree, then add a few more on the side that faces the room. On a 7ft tree, around ten stems makes a noticeable difference, and more makes a lush, generous look.
- For a green or frosted tree, red brings warmth and contrast. The Red Apple and Berry Christmas Spray has glossy apples and berries for a full, country look, the Red Berry Christmas Spray is simpler, and the Frosted Red Berry and Holly Spray has a touch of frost to match a snowy tree.
- For a white or flocked tree, the White Frosted Pine Stem and the White Frosted Pine Stem with White Berries add texture without adding colour, for a calm, wintry look. Mix in a few red berry stems if you want a hint of red.
Use the same stems around the room to tie the scheme together: a tall vase of Red Berry and Holly Christmas Stems on the mantelpiece or console echoes the tree without repeating it. Our guide to styling a vase covers how many stems to use and how to arrange them.
Around the tree
The space at the foot of the tree is part of the display. A large figurine on the floor beside it, such as the 54cm Tree Hat with Wreath nutcracker, balances the height of the tree and gives the corner a focal point before the presents arrive. Our guide to Christmas nutcrackers has more ideas for placing them.
Gifts wrapped in plain cream or brown paper with red ribbon look elegant under any tree and keep the palette consistent; see our Christmas gift ideas for the home for what to put inside them. If you want candlelight close to the tree, use LED candles such as the Cream LED Pillar Candle with Fairy Lights rather than real flames.
Caring for and storing your tree
A good artificial tree can be used for many Christmases if it is looked after:
- Dust it with a soft, dry cloth or brush, or a hairdryer on a cool setting. Do not use water, especially on a flocked tree.
- Take decorations off carefully, and remove any stems and picks before folding the branches.
- Fold the branches in and store each section in the original box, which is designed to fit it.
- Choose a cool, dry place. Damp lofts and garages can damage flocking and lights, so a cupboard inside the house is better if you have the room.
Safety with lights
Our trees are for indoor use only. Check the lights and cable for damage before each season, keep the lights away from water, and switch them off when you go out or go to bed.
Frequently asked questions
What size Christmas tree is best for a UK living room?
A 7ft (2.1m) tree suits most UK living rooms, which typically have ceilings of around 2.4m. It is tall enough to make an impact while leaving room for a topper.
Is a pre-lit Christmas tree worth it?
For most people, yes. A pre-lit tree saves the slowest part of decorating, lights evenly from inside the branches, and avoids untangling lights every year. An unlit tree is better if you want to choose or change your own lights.
What is the difference between a flocked and a frosted Christmas tree?
A frosted tree has white tips on green branches, like a light frost. A flocked tree has a fuller white coating across the branches, like a covering of snow, with green showing through underneath.
Do flocked Christmas trees shed?
A flocked tree may shed a little flocking, mainly when it is first set up. Shaping the branches gently and storing the tree carefully keeps shedding to a minimum.
What colour decorations go with a white Christmas tree?
Gold, champagne and silver suit a white tree for a calm, elegant look. Red makes a striking contrast and looks more vivid against white than against green.
Which Christmas tree is best for a small room?
Choose an open or slim tree rather than a short full one. A twig tree has the height and presence of a full tree but takes up far less visual space.
Can an artificial Christmas tree go outside?
Our trees are designed for indoor use only, and the pre-lit trees should be kept away from water.
Where can I buy an artificial Christmas tree in the UK?
Mikolia offers a curated range of 7ft artificial Christmas trees, including pre-lit, flocked, frosted, white and twig designs, online at mikolia.com with fast, fully tracked UK delivery.
Mikolia is a UK based home décor brand. Alongside the Christmas collection, the range includes vases, soft furnishings, gifts and decorative accessories, all at mikolia.com.
