ON THE COVER THE BIG CHRISTMAS TREE

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FAKING IT

If you’ve decided to opt for a faux tree to decorate your home this year (and beyond), you need look no further than these festive beauties picked by us at HB HQ

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1 Berries and foliage 7ft Mixed Cones and Berries pre-lit tree, £95, Wilko 2 Elegant shape 6ft Alpine Fir (with candlelight clear LED), £379, Balsam Hill 3 Hand-painted branches 6ft Grand+ Spruce, £195, The White Company 4 White Christmas 7ft Beauty Pine pre-lit tree, £180, House Beautiful at Homebase 5 Traditional style 7ft Forest Pine, £90, Next 6 A touch of sparkle 7ft Midnight Luxe Dream tree, £80, Wilko 7 Ready frosted 6ft Dusky Pine (with LED), £225, Cox & Cox 8 Potted and good to go 6ft pre-lit Balmoral Berry tree, £179, John Lewis & Partners

REAL TREES OR FAKE: WHICH ARE MORE ECOFRIENDLY?

If you’re dreaming of a Christmas that doesn’t cost the Earth, you’ll need to consider your choice of tree. Here’s why…

It may seem counter-intuitive that cutting down a living tree could ever be an environmentally friendly option. However, the verdict from the Carbon Trust is that a real Christmas tree can have a much smaller carbon footprint when compared with a similar-sized, artificial version.

GREEN CHRISTMAS

The smaller carbon footprint of a real tree vs an artificial one is partly down to the fact that living trees store carbon as they grow. If you opt for a cut Christmas tree and burn it at the end of the festive season (providing you can do so safely), the carbon stored in the tree is released back into the atmosphere. This means that the tree itself hasn’t added to the amount of carbon in the environment.

Chipping a cut tree to spread on the garden is another ecofriendly way of disposing of it. Trees can also be recycled (use the postcode checker at recyclenow. com/local-recycling to find out where you can recycle your Christmas tree). Whatever you do, don’t send a Christmas tree to landfill, where it will give off harmful methane gas as it decomposes.

If you have the space in your garden, you could buy a tree in a pot and reuse it. This way, the tree can keep on growing and absorbing carbon. You can even rent a potted one for Christmas through schemes such as rentalclaus.com. You’ll pay about £40 to rent a 5ft tree.

A FAUX TREE IS FOR LIFE

Artificial trees are seen as a less ecofriendly choice because of the carbon emissions that are produced when they are manufactured and also because they’re made from plastic, which has a large carbon footprint. If you already own an artificial Christmas tree, or if you’re thinking of buying one, you’ll need to use it for at least 10 years before its carbon footprint comes close to the total carbon footprint of buying, then burning, a real tree every year for a decade.

In addition, artificial Christmas trees can’t be recycled, so if you do opt to fake it, then it makes sense to buy the best quality tree you can afford and use it for as long as possible. HB

Festive flourishes

Go beyond just trimming the tree with these new ways to style up your whole space for the seasonal celebrations

COMPILED BY JAMES CUNNINGHAM IN THE FOLD

From oversized honeycomb fans to origami-style trees, paper decorations are having a moment. As well as being ecofriendly, paper gives shapes a lightweight structure so they can be displayed in interesting ways. Arrange them on a shelf, hang them from banisters or suspend them from a ceiling light above the dining table – the more the merrier. Try the great ranges at Dunelm, Ginger Ray and Pipii for myriad shape, size and colour options.

Paper trees, £8/three; paper fans, £8/seven; neon light, £15; all Dunelm

SHOW OFF

Even the smallest space can be transformed with some festive charm. Turn the functional into the ornamental by decorating your shelving. For a cosy but considered look, combine old favourites with contemporary pieces. Layer them together artfully by mixing heights and textures, but stick to a relatively tight colour palette so your display doesn’t become chaotic. Try Layered Lounge, H&M Home and the collections at Nordic Nest for seasonal decorations that place a premium on style and aesthetics.

Accessories, all from a selection at Layered Lounge