The Great Christmas Tree Debate: Real vs Artificial and Everything In Between
The festive season presents homeowners with the annual challenge of transforming their living spaces into magical winter wonderlands, with the Christmas tree standing proudly at the centre of this decorative spectacle. As the focal point of holiday interior design, getting your tree right is absolutely crucial to the overall festive atmosphere.
Interior design specialists Benji Lewis, Kunal Trehan of luxury Touched Interiors, and award-winning designer Katie Malik recently shared their professional insights with the Daily Mail, revealing both their top recommendations and the decorating mistakes that could make your tree appear disappointingly common.
The Real vs Artificial Tree Dilemma Solved
According to Benji Lewis, the age-old debate between choosing a real tree versus an artificial one ultimately comes down to personal preference rather than any hard and fast rules of style. The key consideration should be how messy either option might become in your home.
"I love the smell of pine but needles that drop are a nuisance," Benji admitted, though he noted that certain varieties like the Fraser Fir tend to be low shedders when it comes to needle drop.
For those leaning toward artificial trees, Benji suggests embracing the artificiality rather than trying to disguise it. "If I was going to fake my tree, I think I'd go for a mid century glam vibe with one of those silver tinsely numbers," he explained, recommending loading it with vintage-style baubles and multiple strings of fairy lights for maximum impact.
He even proposed creating a theatrical scene with a red fabric circle edged with fake white fur beneath the tree to suggest Father Christmas might have left his cape behind.
Colour Schemes: Moving Beyond Traditional Red and Green
When it comes to colour coordination, the experts suggest venturing beyond the conventional festive palette. Katie Malik recommends moving away from traditional red and green to achieve a more contemporary and elegant aesthetic.
"For a refined and modern Christmas, opt for jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, burgundy, or earthy tones, and incorporate sophisticated pinks," she advised, emphasising that these colours should complement your home's existing colour scheme.
Kunal Trehan offered a word of caution about certain colour combinations, particularly stark monochromes. "White and black can feel stark and joyless if they're used in isolation," he warned. "If you love a monochrome look, it needs softening, layered with natural greenery, candlelight, or warmer metallic accents."
Benji Lewis suggested that blue and silver, while popular, can appear artificial and unfriendly, while multi-coloured schemes should avoid matt finishes to prevent accidentally creating maximalist vintage chic.
Decorating Do's and Don'ts from the Professionals
The experts were unanimous in their advice to avoid taking Christmas decorating too seriously. Benji Lewis warned against making your tree look "too tasteful", suggesting that overly coordinated tops like stars or velvet bows can make things appear unnecessarily serious.
Instead, he recommended embracing personal touches, sharing anecdotes about his father's handmade ping pong ball fairy and a friend who tops her tree with a photo of her husband in ABBA Voyage regalia.
When it comes to specific decorations, the designers had strong opinions. Fairy lights, while potentially tacky, can add sparkle to seasonal merriment if used enthusiastically. Tinsel, however, received a less favourable review.
"Tinsel is my biggest bugbear," Kunal Trehan admitted. "For me, it instantly tips a space from chic to tacky." He noted a shift toward nature-inspired luxury featuring deep forest greens, muted golds, and textures like velvet ribbons and hand-blown glass ornaments.
Benji Lewis emphasised the importance of going all out with decorations, warning that a poorly decorated tree with minimal effort appears worse than one with enthusiastically chosen, if slightly tacky, ornaments.
When selecting baubles, he recommended embracing novelty shapes that celebrate Christmas commercialism while avoiding robins, bells, Scandinavian styles, or anything with Liberty print. Metallic finishes were universally recommended to maximise sparkle when combined with fairy lights.
Kunal Trehan's approach focuses on layering texture and light rather than overwhelming the tree with baubles. "I focus on natural elements, such as winter foliage, eucalyptus, pinecones, even bowls of clementines, paired with warm candlelight or subtle fairy lights," he explained.
This method, he believes, creates a sophisticated and inviting festive mood without resorting to gimmicks, while also aligning with the growing trend toward sustainable decorations that can be reused year after year.
