Artificial Christmas trees are undoubtedly one of the most practical solutions of the season. They come out of the closet ready to use, take just a few minutes to assemble, and with a few ornaments and lights, they quickly create a cozy atmosphere. The only problem? Many of them still look… too artificial.
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According to Real Simple, interior designer Orlando Soria may have found exactly why so many artificial Christmas trees end up looking unnatural — and, more importantly, a simple trick capable of completely transforming the final result.
The flat branch trick
For a long time, the goal when assembling an artificial tree was to make it look as “full” as possible, creating that classic triangular shape. However, according to Soria, this logic is outdated. For him, overly fluffed branches pointing in every direction are precisely what makes an artificial tree look unconvincing.
As the designer explained in an interview with Real Simple, real trees have space between the branches, creating a lighter, more elegant, and natural structure. By gently flattening the branches — instead of spreading them out in all directions — the tree begins to better mimic the organic growth of a real tree.
From an aesthetic point of view, Soria emphasizes that very bulky branches look manufactured, while flatter branches create a more authentic and sophisticated appearance.
Not every tree calls for this style
The designer makes an important observation: some artificial trees are intentionally stylized to look decorative and unrealistic, and that is perfectly fine. However, according to Real Simple, many of today’s most popular trees combine dense interior branches with tips shaped to look natural.
In this case, Soria says that styling the branches in a flatter way is not just an option — it is how these trees were designed to be displayed.
The charm of a light and airy look
In recent years, there has been a growing preference for Christmas trees with a lighter, almost “designer” look. This shift reflects the desire for more natural and less rigid decor.
According to Soria, very full Christmas trees do not allow ornaments to hang properly — they end up resting on the branches instead of hanging freely. In trees with adequate spacing, ornaments gain movement, depth, and elegance.
As he highlighted to Real Simple, there is something visually more interesting about a tree where light filters through the branches, creating a sculptural and architectural feel, rather than that compact, topiary-like appearance.
How to disguise the central pole
One of the biggest challenges of artificial Christmas trees is the central pole, which can become visible when the branches are styled more naturally. To solve this, Soria recommends a simple and effective solution.
According to him, glass ornaments are ideal for placing closer to the interior of the tree, near the pole. Distributing them at different depths creates visual dimension, reflects light, and helps disguise the central structure — something that, it is worth remembering, also exists in natural trees.
Even if the pole is still visible from some angles, Soria notes that when the tree is well decorated, this detail stops drawing attention.
In the end, as Real Simple summarizes, the secret to a more realistic artificial tree is not in exaggerating volume, but in respecting space, structure, and the natural behavior of the branches. A small adjustment that makes a big difference in the final result.
Source: Real Simple. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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