year, an artificial tree may be the choice for you. It's convenient, maintenance-free

and as you can see, a great way to get creative with your holiday decorating. Let's take a

look. When choosing an artificial tree, the first thing to think about is size. The box

is almost artificial trees; list the total height including the stand. But don't forget

about the additional that topper will add. You may be overwhelmed by the number of artificial

Christmas trees you encounter, so try to focus on three assets- shape, needle size and density.

Tree shapes range from full to slim. Full trees are traditional cone-shaped trees. They

have a wide face that tapers up to a single branch on top. Slim trees, sometimes called

Pencil trees are much narrower at the bases. You can find all sorts of shapes between full

and slim, so pick one that fits your available floor space. Now that you've chosen your favorite

tree shape, it's time to take a closer look at the tree needles. There're 2 main types

of needles on artificial trees- molded plastic and shredded plastic. Thousands of shredded

plastic needles are woven into wire branch frames, sometimes the shredded plastic needles

are trimmed to give a more natural appearance. Molded plastic needles mimic clusters of real

branches and can appear remarkably life-like. Some trees combine needle types with shredded

needles on the dense interior areas, and molded needles on the tip. Now when choosing the

right tree branch density, think about what's more important to you- lights or ornaments.

Trees that are smooth and dense resemble cone-shaped pine trees. They're great for covering with

loads of lights. Trees that are layered or have an in-and-out profile feature lots of

pockets for showing off ornaments. Whatever type of artificial tree you pick, choose one

that's flame retardant. Another important aspect to consider is tree construction, and

how the branches attach to the trunk. Most new artificial tree branches permanently attach

to the pole and fold up like an umbrella. Who says Christmas trees have to be traditional?

There're so many beautiful and unique options available. Artificial trees let you get creative.

Look for trees with block needles, accents like berries or pine cones. Go for a tree

in a totally unique color, or even fiber optic elements. And of course, one big benefit of

an artificial tree, you can buy it pre-lit with hundreds or even thousands of lights,

saving you the time and stress of untangling and letting you get right to the fun part,

decorating. Here's a pre-lit tree with 750 lights, after we add in more with 1,600 lights,

and now with 2,500 lights. All 3 look good. It really comes down to personal preference.

Here's one more thing to think about when purchasing your tree- getting it back into

the original box after Christmas can be a challenge. Do to make it easy, purchase one

of these canvas or heavy duty tree carriers to protect it during storage. Whatever type

of artificial tree you select, you're sure to enjoy of this holiday season and for years

to come. For more holiday ideas, visit bhg.com/holidays.