You've chosen your faux tree, assembled it and fluffed the branches, but what's the best way of disguising the unsightly base?You need a tree skirt! We've rounded up the best places to source one below: The best artifical Christmas trees don't come cheap, and noone wants to invest in a tree that looks so fake you can't wait to take it down. Here are our top tips for choosing an artificial Christmas tree that you'll be happy to pile up the presents under and bring down from the loft year after year. Branch tips Different tree varieties offer different silhouettes. Some trees will offer denser foliage, or a fuller shape than others. You'll also need to consider the footprint of the tree variety and think about the space you have available. The European Fir, for example, is much wider at the bottom and tapers towards the top of the tree.'

The best artificial Christmas trees can now truly give the real deal a run for their money, plus, you get the bonus of convenience and get to opt out of December-long pine needle hoovering. Full, dense foliage with highly realistic needles ensures there's plenty of visual wow-factor, but it's the hassle-free set-up that will really make your jaw drop –and justify its investment price tag.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a glorious, joyful tree. After all, isn't one of the core moments of the festive season lugging an enormous Scott's Pine or Norway Spruce through the snowy doorway only to find out it's several inches too tall for your living room? Or getting yourself frustrated because you can't find the one broken bulb that's stopping your LED lights from working? The thing is, it doesn't have to be quite like that. Whilst the smell of a real tree simply cannot be replicated, (though The White Company are giving it their best shot with their scented candles) there is something to be said for the no mess, no fuss option that an artificial tree brings. If you're willing to invest in an artificial Christmas tree that pulls out all the stops, then it's well worth considering a luxury option from artificial Christmas tree specialists Balsam Hill, and it doesn't get much more luxe than this innovative Flip Tree® design. The bonus with an artificial Christmas tree is you can choose exactly the right size to fit your room – as long as you measure up first – and as most are assembled in situ, there's no need to worry about getting a tree up the garden path or through the hallway.

If you want an artificial tree that's difficult to distinguish from the real thing then you need to look at the tree's 'tip count'. This is the number of branch tips a faux tree has been constructed with, and although the tip count will increase with the size of the tree, if you're comparing two options of comparable height, then the tip count is a good indication of its quality. Twig trees offer a contemporary and minimalist take on Christmas,” says Jason Billings-Cray, Christmas buyer at John Lewis. “They are also a great space saver for those with smaller homes, or those opting for more than one tree.” As the lights are already evenly distributed throughout the whole tree, opting for a pre-lit tree will save you the job of fiddling about and potentially getting in a tangle over the perfect arrangement, plus you don't have to guess just how long a string of fairy lights you need to buy, or have unsightly wires showing through the branches in the daylight.

How we tested the best artificial Christmas trees

Add a modern twist to your holiday celebrations with stylish ornaments for your dining table with our range of Christmas table decorations. Or embrace a rustic and wintry atmosphere and grab a garland for your mantelpiece or bannister from our range of Christmas garlands. Now that you’re done decorating your Christmas tree, let’s move to the rest of your home. Add some festive vibes to your rooms and garden with our selection of Christmas decorations. Red and gold Christmas decorations are a great way to give your home a mix of traditional and glam. Look out for Christmas wreaths with golden foliage that you can hang outside the door for a luxe look. And our berries and poinsettias are just the need you need to add a festive touch. Decorate your stairways and mantlepieces with Christmas garlands that come in a variety of styles. Choose from traditional berry and cone options to quirky styles like pom poms and beads. There’s a garland for every Christmas theme. If you prefer to add your own lights then Balsam Hill's Mac has the following top tip for getting the illuminations right, 'Lights bring your Christmas tree to life even without decorations.If you prefer to string your own lights,you needat least 100 lights per foot of the tree.Double or triple the amount if you love the look of brighter, more intense lights on your tree'. You would need to use an artificial Christmas tree for 10 years for it to be more environmentally friendly than a real Christmas tree. This is because of metal, plastic, energy and water used in its manufacture and export (usually from China). A real Christmas tree removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while it’s growing and usually has less far to travel. It causes one tenth of the damage to the environment that an artificial Christmas tree does – unless it is being imported from overseas, in which case the transport emissions have to be taken into account. We've probably all made the mistake of falling in love with the biggest real Christmas tree in the field, only to then have to saw sections off just to get it through the front door, let alone make it fit into the living room.

Our upswept Christmas tree with thousands of branch tips is designed to give a fresh and authentic look. Like you've just brought it in and layered it with lights. Yet totally faux, this tree is so simple to assemble and comes pre-lit with 200 warm white lights. Easy. And with 8 functions, make it wave, flash or twinkle. It's tree time. Complete the magic of Christmas in your home and kit out your Christmas tree with our Christmas tree decorations. Pair gorgeous blush baubles with warm white lights to create a decorative delight that's sure to add some festive ambience to your home.

I spent a week putting up a selection of artificial trees in my living room, at a range of price points. I wanted to see how closely they resembled real Christmas trees, judging them on the ease of assembly, safety features, durability (keeping an eye on any fake twigs breaking off), amount of branches, number of tips and detailing, as well as overall wow factor.