A Christmas tree forms the centre of the home during the festive period. Getting a real Christmas tree to decorate your home could be costly, especially since you have to replace it yearly. Because of this, many people opt for artificial Christmas trees.

 

You might find it challenging to know which tree is perfect for your home with many exciting choices. Artificial Christmas trees come in all shapes, sizes and colours, and it is important that you understand the different options and how they will compliment your home before you buy. 

 

This guide will explore the most popular Christmas tree shapes and how to decorate your chosen artificial Christmas tree for the festive season.

 

What are the different shapes of artificial Christmas trees?

 

Luckily, artificial Christmas trees come in a vast range of sizes and shapes, making it easy to find the right one for whichever room you want to decorate. Some of the most popular artificial Christmas tree shapes include:

 

  • Full and bushy Christmas trees: Bushy trees are great for making a real impact and are ideal if you love realistic Christmas trees. 
  • Slim and pencil Christmas trees: These narrow trees are a great option for smaller spaces like flats or small houses. 
  • Wide Christmas trees: If you have plenty of floor space, wide Christmas trees are the perfect choice.
  • Tall Christmas trees: If you're not short on space, a tall Christmas tree is undoubtedly the way to go. These trees make a significant impact and stand tall in any garden or commercial space. 
  • Half Christmas trees: Sometimes called flatback or corner Christmas trees, this Christmas tree shape is great if you're short on space. 
  • Upside down Christmas trees: If you're looking for a unique option, the upside down Christmas tree is a wonderful choice. 
  • Mini or small Christmas trees: Not everybody has loads of space, which is where mini and small Christmas trees come in. 

 

The overall diameter of each of these tree shape types will depend on the height of the tree you buy. For example, the diameter of a 4ft bushy Christmas tree will be smaller than the diameter of a 12ft bushy Christmas tree. 

 

If you want to find out the estimated diameter of a tree you're interested in, make sure you read the product page details for more information. 

 

How can you tell the difference between Christmas tree shapes?

 

It's relatively easy to tell the difference between the different shapes of Christmas trees. Each artificial Christmas tree shape is unique and can be identified by its profile. 

 

You can primarily determine the tree's shape by measuring the diameter or by looking at the slope of the tree from the tip to the base.

 

Pencil and slim Christmas trees

 

A pencil or slim Christmas tree will usually be narrow and tall in stature. Usually, these thin but joyful trees are around half as wide as a more traditional Christmas tree. 

 

Bushy Christmas trees

 

A traditional or bushy Christmas tree is what you would imagine when you think of real Christmas trees growing in the forests of Germany! These trees are dense and have a gradual widening slope towards the bottom. 

 

Tall Christmas trees

 

Nothing says Christmas more than a showstopping tall Christmas tree! These trees make a real impact and sit above 9 feet, with some reaching heights of up to 40 feet. 

 

Half Christmas trees

 

Half Christmas tree shapes look like traditional trees when you're standing in front of them. However, the back is flat so it can stand neatly against a wall.

 

Upside down Christmas trees

 

An upside down Christmas tree is a quirky addition to any home's festive decorations. This tree is a full Christmas tree shape, but the entire tree has been turned on its head! This means the diameter base is near the ceiling, while the tip is on the floor.

 

Small Christmas trees

 

Mini and small Christmas trees can fit almost anywhere! They could be used to decorate living rooms, offices, bedrooms, or even windowsills. These beautiful trees might be smaller but pack the same punch as their larger siblings. 

 

Where to put your artificial Christmas tree

 

Now that you know the different shapes of trees available, you're probably wondering where each tree would look good in your home.

 

The first thing to do is to measure the space where you want to place your brand new tree. Fortunately, you don't have to be concerned with any new growth popping up with your artificial Christmas tree! Once you decide on the location, you can start planning the rest of your Christmas tree decorations around it.

 

Where to put a pencil or slim Christmas tree

 

If you live in a smaller apartment or home, a pencil or slim Christmas tree is a great idea. These Christmas trees look similar to traditional trees but take up much less space. 

 

A slim tree will look good in smaller rooms with less floor space, like a dining room or an entrance hallway. These narrow, tall trees also work in small areas with high ceilings.

 

Because of their slim diameter, they work well in children's bedrooms, the study, or as a secondary tree that will fill in an area without Christmas decorations.

 

Where to put a bushy Christmas tree

 

Bushy Christmas trees come in a wide range of heights and you can choose the right size depending on the width and the height of the space you have available. However, larger versions of these trees will probably not work in small rooms with lower ceilings as they take up a lot of space. 

 

These trees would look great in any spacious living room, a large kitchen, or an open-planed living space. Many households display full Christmas trees in front of a large window in the sitting room for all to see.

 

Where to put a tall Christmas tree

 

It may seem obvious, but you'll need a large, open space to place a tall Christmas tree in your home. Tall Christmas trees are best suited to areas with a high ceiling, such as open hallways or entranceways. 

 

Alternatively, you could choose a tall outdoor Christmas tree to sit outside of your home in your garden.

 

Where to put a half Christmas tree

 

Half Christmas trees are great if you want the appearance of a full tree but don't have the space available. Although these trees stand tall, they sit flush against the wall, taking up only half the space of a full Christmas tree. As a result, these trees work great in hallways, small living rooms or smaller kitchens.

 

Where to put an upside down Christmas tree

 

An upside down Christmas tree is the same size as a full tree, except that it is upside down! Because these trees have a narrow base and wide top, they don't take up as much space on the floor and can fit into almost any room. Since they are a fun object to look at as part of your decorations, you can pop them in any room where you have space available. 

 

Where to put a small Christmas tree

 

As these delicate trees are small in stature, you can put them almost anywhere. Small Christmas trees could be used to decorate other rooms in the house, such as the office, bedrooms or even the kitchen. 

 

Alternatively, you could use a mini Christmas tree to sit on either side of your home's main entrance to emphasise your other decorations. 

 

How to decorate your Christmas tree according to its shape

 

Once you've selected your Christmas tree shape and know where to place it in your home, it's time to consider how you'll decorate your tree. Below we've provided ideas for how to decorate your Christmas tree to complement its unique shape.

 

How to decorate bushy and tall Christmas trees

 

Tall and full Christmas trees have a lot of branches and foliage to carry strips of ribbon, tinsel, ornaments and Christmas tree lights.

 

Although you can go overboard when you decorate these tree shapes, it's essential you remember to give the tree a balanced look. Natural elements complement these trees, so try decorating with pine cones, twigs of pine and fir, or other natural materials. Also, try to use different shapes of Christmas baubles to bring your tree to life.

 

How to decorate pencil and slim Christmas trees

 

A slim or pencil Christmas tree may be more narrow, but they have a lot of design potential! This type of Christmas tree lends itself to a minimalistic style, and only a few statement ornaments will be needed to have a big impact and give the bare tree a Christmas feel. You can spruce up the tree by adding tinsel around the base or a statement tree topper at the tip.

 

How to decorate half Christmas trees

 

You can decorate your half Christmas tree in the same way you would a full or slim Christmas tree shape. Start with a few basic ornaments and develop the decorations until you achieve the desired look. The benefit of these Christmas tree shapes is that you'll require fewer baubles and decorations as a portion of the tree is tucked against the wall!

 

How to decorate upside down Christmas trees

 

Because of the wide top of an upside down tree, you can get creative while decorating this unique tree shape. With strong support at the base of the Christmas tree, start browsing for chandelier-type decorations that will hang down from the wide top.

 

You can also hang additional decor from the ceiling (like empty boxes that look like gifts) around the tree to give it a completely upside down look!

 

How to decorate small Christmas trees

 

Many small Christmas trees won't need a lot of decoration, which is why these mighty little trees are great for those who don't enjoy decorating. Some mini Christmas trees may even come with their own decorations! If not, you could always hang a few miniature decorations to add your style. 

 

What about Christmas tree lights?

 

Christmas lights are just as important as your tree, which is why it's worth considering how these will work alongside your tree shape. Some artificial Christmas trees, like pre-lit Christmas trees and fibre optic Christmas trees, come with built-in lights, making the decoration process as easy as possible. 

 

But if you choose an unlit Christmas tree, here are some things to consider when decorating your tree with Christmas lights.

 

How many lights do you need?

 

Denser trees will need more lights, while slimmer trees like pencil trees will require fewer lights.

 

It's also important to remember that half Christmas trees require much fewer lights than a full tree, despite looking similar from the front.

 

If you need any help with how many decorations or lights you need, use our Christmas tree decorations calculator. 

 

How to shape your Christmas tree

 

When you order your artificial Christmas tree, it will arrive in a box and you'll need to assemble it each year. It's up to you to adjust the branches in such a way that your tree begins to take shape and resemble a realistic Christmas tree.

 

No matter the tree's shape, you should take your time to carefully unpack it and fluff up the branches so the tree looks even - this will also make hanging the decorations easier. Read our branch fluffing guide to find out the best way to shape your Christmas tree.

 

FAQs about Xmas tree shapes

 

Which is the easiest artificial Christmas tree to set up?

 

Most artificial Christmas trees are easy to assemble and shape. However, those with hinged branches or of a higher quality will be easier to set up and shape. Many of our trees are designed to be easy to assemble.

 

Are there different types of branches?

 

PVC Christmas trees have branches made from PVC strips. This gives the Christmas tree a traditional look and feel, almost like you have a real fir tree in your home!

 

Other Christmas trees have PE branches, moulded to look like real-life branches. You can also find trees that combine PVC and PE branches.

 

How should I store my artificial Christmas tree?

 

Since we only use our Christmas trees for a couple of months each year, it's important that the tree is safely stored throughout the rest of the year. You can purchase a Christmas tree storage bag to fit your tree shape, which will keep the tree free from dust and damage when not in use.

 

Another way to store your Christmas tree is to return the tree to its original box so as not to damage the branches and help reassemble it when Christmas comes around again.

 

Discover our range of Christmas trees 

 

With so many Christmas tree shapes, you can get creative with where you want to put the tree and how you want to decorate it. 

 

Using the guide above, we hope that you can find the perfect Christmas tree shape for your home at Christmas Tree World so you and your family can have a cosy Christmas around your tree centrepiece!Explore our Christmas tree shop online to find your dream Christmas tree this year.