topic Re: Tree Suggestions in Home

Tree Suggestions

caf in va — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 17:00:44 GMT

I wanted to get some suggestions on a new artificial tree. I have had some from QVC in the past, but they don't last long with each time you put them up and take them down, it takes its toll. I am at the point of wanting to get a really good tree to hold up well.

I love Balsam Hill, and Frontgate,, but they are way to expensive. I have looked at Santa's Own (they get good reviews) and the Santa's Best here. I want a tree that looks real and holds up well. Anyone have a tree they are really satisfied with? I want one in the 7.5 range.

Thanks for any suggestions. By the way has anyone used Wayfair for this?

Hope this doesn't get poofed.

Re: Tree Suggestions

stevieb — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 19:32:13 GMT

Personally, I'd go to a local shop so I could see them in person. Many local garden and outdoor furniture stores stock these things for the winter months, but you probably pay more for them there. More than likely, I'd just take a trip to Lowe's, Home Depot and Target and see them in person. I happen to be convinced that no matter how 'high end' a tree is supposed to be or how much you spend, an artificial tree is going to have a limited span of time before it starts to look a bit rough around the edges. That's why I usually go the middle of the road route, price-wise, and expect to replace them every so often.

Re: Tree Suggestions

PamelaSue72 — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 19:35:44 GMT

Balsam Hill is expensive, but they're really good trees. Our tree in the bedroom is from Balsam Hill. We have six cats and that tree withstands everything those cats can dish out, including one of them sleeping in the back of it every year. It is still a gorgeous tree.

Re: Tree Suggestions

gardenman — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 00:50:06 GMT

I bought an $88 tree from Walmart last year that's pretty nice. It's the Duncan Fir (now at $89) with multi-colored lights. I've already got it up this year and it still looks and works great. Granted it's only the second year, but it's fine for me. I can pop up a photo of it if you're interested. I find that by the time I get all of my ornaments, beads, and other stuff on the tree that whatever tree you have under the ornaments pretty much disappears. I like this tree as it comes in three pieces. I set up the bottom piece open it up and start adding ornaments (primarily silvery/reflective ones) deep inside the tree working my way out and then when that's pretty much full I add the second layer and repeat the process then the tree top. After that the glass beads go on and then the fancy ornaments, then the smaller fill-in ornaments. There's not a whole lot of tree left to see by the time I'm done, but I like my trees decorated like that.

I have a rotating stand for it (actually a rotating display stand that's designed to be used for store merchandise that a regional Christmas store sold me nearly twenty plus years ago) and then I tape up crumpled Mylar emergency blankets on the wall behind it to reflect the lights more and it's a good look. (Especially at night when the Mylar pretty much disappears and all you see are the reflections.)

At under $90 it's not a big deal even if it should somehow fall apart, but it seems pretty well made to me and very solid. I'm already on my second year with it and I suspect I'll still be using it many years from now. I've got my LightKeeper Pro handy if the lights should fail, but so far I haven't needed it. It's been pretty much a perfect tree for me at a bargain price.

Re: Tree Suggestions

caf in va — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 03:35:51 GMT

I would love to see a picture of it. I can't believe the price!

Re: Tree Suggestions

desperate-housewife — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 03:51:00 GMT

I bought a $400+ tree from QVC a few years ago, and I'll never buy another tree I can't touch in person first again. This tree scratches my arms like crazy just when setting it up and taking it back down because the tips on one type of the simulated branches are very stiff plastic. I had to get some long suede work gloves to wear when dealing with the tree each year. I'm just waiting a few more years to justify having used this one enough to replace it.

Re: Tree Suggestions

ECBG — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 03:59:00 GMT

Go to Mr Rebates.com and see if the .coms you mention are in agreement with them. Then you can set up a free account (never a cost to you-ever!) and get a percentage back from of every vender they represent. You get to choose when they send you the check. Q is on it! Wouldn't you like a check for a percentage every time you place and keep an order here?

Re: Tree Suggestions

gardenman — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 04:18:09 GMT

On 11/19/2014 caf in va said: I would love to see a picture of it. I can't believe the price!

Here's a shot of the tree taken just a few minutes ago. It's not an exceptionally sharp photo as the tree was turning, but you can get a good idea of how it looks. Like I said, I use enough ornaments that the tree pretty much disappears under them.

Re: Tree Suggestions

Kachina624 — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 04:24:20 GMT

On 11/19/2014 ECBG said:
Go to Mr Rebates.com and see if the .coms you mention are in agreement with them. Then you can set up a free account (never a cost to you-ever!) and get a percentage back from of every vender they represent. You get to choose when they send you the check. Q is on it! Wouldn't you like a check for a percentage every time you place and keep an order here?

How did an advertisement for Mr. REBATES get in a Christmas tree discussion?

Re: Tree Suggestions

Lynnj — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 04:31:53 GMT

I just got a beautiful tree from Home Depot this past Sunday. $99, it's from the Martha Stewart Collection. Already had pine cones and berries placed throughout. White lights are the only option, but I like that color anyway. The tree is sort of slim, but works well for the corner that I have it in. I think it is 61/2 tall, maybe 7. I've spent hundreds in the past on trees,,from the Q and other places. They just don't last- no more. I expect this one to last 2 years (hopefully more) but if only 2 then $50 per year would be the cost for this tree and I think a fair price. The tree is really, really beautiful.

Re: Tree Suggestions

Lynnj — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 04:35:10 GMT

On 11/19/2014 Lynnj said: I just got a beautiful tree from Home Depot this past Sunday. $99, it's from the Martha Stewart Collection. Already had pine cones and berries placed throughout. White lights are the only option, but I like that color anyway. The tree is sort of slim, but works well for the corner that I have it in. I think it is 61/2 tall, maybe 7. I've spent hundreds in the past on trees,,from the Q and other places. They just don't last- no more. I expect this one to last 2 years (hopefully more) but if only 2 then $50 per year would be the cost for this tree and I think a fair price. The tree is really, really beautiful.

I forgot to add that this tree has a urn pot base, not that standard 4 leg metal base things. I like this look because I don't need to deal with a tree skirt around the bottom. I don't really like the tree skirt look, but...with those metal legs you need to do something to cover that up. This urn pot look is very nice.

Re: Tree Suggestions

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 05:23:22 GMT

I went totally retro this year. I've wanted a vintage silver aluminum tree for a long time, but prices on eBay are outrageous. I compromised and bought a slim style silver tree and rotating stand from Wayfair. I bought gold and red glass bulb ornaments from Hobby Lobby, and found an old-fashioned color wheel on eBay. I can't wait for it all to be assembled either tomorrow night or Saturday!!

Re: Tree Suggestions

stripyfax — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 05:38:41 GMT

Your tree is very pretty gardenman.

Re: Tree Suggestions

whitelinen — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 06:21:18 GMT

Is this your tree Lynnj? Very nice!!

Re: Tree Suggestions

Mayfayre — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 06:41:13 GMT

On 11/19/2014 gardenman said:
On 11/19/2014 caf in va said: I would love to see a picture of it. I can't believe the price!

Here's a shot of the tree taken just a few minutes ago. It's not an exceptionally sharp photo as the tree was turning, but you can get a good idea of how it looks. Like I said, I use enough ornaments that the tree pretty much disappears under them.

Lovely tree, gardenman! I load my tree down with decorations like that, too, though I'm still getting real trees. I do the silver/reflective balls in the inner portion of the tree too.

Re: Tree Suggestions

Lynnj — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 07:18:59 GMT

On 11/19/2014 whitelinen said:
Is this your tree Lynnj? Very nice!!

Yes, that it the tree. Thanks for posting a pic, can't do that with a tablet. It's more beautiful in person. It also has different branch types throughout. Looks great in the area I have it. I may not even decorate it with anything, just leave it as is. Haven't decided yet?

Re: Tree Suggestions

CLEM — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 23:46:02 GMT

I had purchased a 5 ft Santa's Best tree from QVC this summer but returned it because the clear lights (the only ones I use) were very dull.

Went to the Balsam Hill website and ordered a 4.5 ft tree. I just put it up and fluffed all the branches. It's very beautiful and has a lot of lights 450 lights. Still have to decorate it, but it's very natural looking.

The only negative thing is that even though it comes in 2 parts, it's very heavy for someone my age. But I got it together and will ask someone to help me next year.

Re: Tree Suggestions

gardenman — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 23:59:03 GMT

On 11/19/2014 Mayfayre said:
On 11/19/2014 gardenman said:
On 11/19/2014 caf in va said: I would love to see a picture of it. I can't believe the price!

Here's a shot of the tree taken just a few minutes ago. It's not an exceptionally sharp photo as the tree was turning, but you can get a good idea of how it looks. Like I said, I use enough ornaments that the tree pretty much disappears under them.

Lovely tree, gardenman! I load my tree down with decorations like that, too, though I'm still getting real trees. I do the silver/reflective balls in the inner portion of the tree too.

Yes, burying silver/reflective balls deep inside the tree gives a tree the appearance of more lights as the lights are reflected back outwards. I'm now decorating trees from the inside out and the bottom up and it works very well. Many/most people just hang ornaments on the outside of the tree, but if you decorate the interior of the tree as well it can make a big difference. I don't use expensive/showy balls inside the tree but whatever ornaments I've scrounged in previous years in the 75-90% off after Christmas sales. They may not look all that impressive on their own, but buried in the tree, they look great!

I've done live/cut trees before, but I like my tree up early (it's already up) and live/cut trees don't like to spend that long up in the house. By adding Scentsicles to the tree my fake tree smells live, looks live (what you can see of it under all of the ornaments anyway) and doesn't have any of the drawbacks of a live/cut tree. And price wise, the artificial tree is a bargain. I'm on year two now and I expect to get quite a few more from it. For an $88 investment it was a good deal.

Re: Tree Suggestions

lilypadfrog — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 03:36:51 GMT

I picked out a tree from Target.com on Sunday. They are having a 50% off sale. I saw it in the store but it was 7.5 foot so I went to the website to get the 6.5 foot.