Another reason why more people each year hesitate to get a Christmas tree is the perceived impact on nature. Most people are unsure whether the greener choice is a real tree, or an artificial one that saves another tree from being cut down.

It turns out that environmental organizations don't recommend contributing to the manufacturing and shipping of plastic products by getting an artificial tree. (Of course, if you already have an artificial tree, you should make the most of it and use it for at least 10 years.)

Real trees provide all the oxygen-producing benefits of any tree while they are being grown, and can be disposed of by composting, so they are actually recommended over artificial trees.

But if you still can’t stand the thought of cutting one down as a decoration, and you're not prepared to maintain a potted tree, assembling a creative “tree” out of whatever you have lying around might be the solution you’re looking for. Try using things that you already have a lot of, and preferably that you can use again for their intended purpose after you disassemble the tree.