In 2024, traditional green trees shared the holiday spotlight with pastel colors, glam finishes, whimsical displays and decorative twig trees. But the available evidence does not establish a sales- or preference-based ranking of individual styles such as flocked, slim or pink trees. Treat these as visible trends reported in the U.S., not a numbered list of the year’s most popular styles.
What Christmas tree styles were visible in 2024?
Associated Press reporting on December 20, 2024 described some younger consumers moving beyond the familiar green-and-red palette. The looks it highlighted included pastel pink and blue, glam details such as faux fur, lamé and feathers, and whimsical outdoor displays. These are reported trends and retail offerings, not evidence that any one style led the market. Associated Press, December 20, 2024.
Pastel and colored trees
Colored artificial trees broadened the palette beyond green: AP reported that Michaels carried pink, blue, black and orange trees. That is an example of retail assortment, not proof of how many were bought or displayed.
Glam and whimsical decorating
Glam styling pairs a tree with tactile or reflective details such as faux fur, lamé and feathers. Whimsical displays take a more playful approach, particularly outdoors. Interior designer Eric Goranson, host of “Around the House,” described the appeal as “less about tradition and more about self-expression” for Gen Z and millennials, with “a thoroughly modern twist.”
#1 Best Overall
- CLASSIC PINE TREE: High-quality PVC needles recreate the dense foliage of the iconic pine tree to produce a simple yet elegant centerpiece for the holiday season
- DECORATE YOUR WAY: Grab the family and create your own holiday aesthetic as this tree provides a blank canvas for your favorite lights, garland, and ornaments to shine
- FULL APPEARANCE: Hundreds of tips create a full, yet tapered appearance with meticulously crafted branches that mimic the texture of an authentic pine tree; Number of Tips (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft): 400/ 1,000/ 1,346/ 2,028
- EASY ASSEMBLY & FLUFFING: Put the tree together in just three steps: simply unfold the metal stand and stack each section from largest to smallest, then fluff and enjoy!
- HIGH-QUALITY DESIGN: Crafted with durable metal hinges and flame-retardant PVC branches that stand tall with the help of a sturdy metal base, so your tree is ready to look its best for the season ahead!; OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 44"(Dia) x 72"(H) (including stand)
Twig trees with ornamented branches
AP also reported Balsam Brands expanding its artificial twig-tree offerings with fairy lights, faux-crystal and pearl garlands, and bows, including metallic and glitter versions. Their spare branch structure makes the decorations a prominent part of the look.
Traditional green trees remain part of the picture
The rise of expressive alternatives does not mean traditional trees disappeared. The American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) said 99% of consumers intended to display at least one Christmas tree in 2024. That figure concerns displaying any tree; it does not identify a leading color or decorating style. ACTA’s executive director, Jami Warner, put the association’s inclusive view this way: “Artificial, live, small, tall, flocked, you name it – there’s no such thing as a bad Christmas tree.”
Rank #2
- ARTIFICIAL SPRUCE TREE: High-quality PVC needles recreate the dense foliage of the iconic Spruce tree to produce a simple yet elegant centerpiece for the holiday season
- DECORATE YOUR WAY: Grab the family and create your own holiday aesthetic as this tree provides a blank canvas for your favorite lights, garland, and ornaments to shine
- FULL APPEARANCE: Hundreds of tips create a full, yet tapered appearance with meticulously crafted branches that mimic the color and texture of an authentic Spruce tree; Number of Tips (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft/12ft): 398 / 798 / 1,346 / 2,028 / 4,188
- EASY ASSEMBLY & FLUFFING: Put the tree together in just three steps: simply unfold the metal stand and stack each section from largest to smallest, then fluff and enjoy!
- HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS: Crafted with strong metal hinges and flame-retardant PVC branches that stand tall with the help of a sturdy metal base, so your tree is ready to look its best for the season ahead!; Overall Dimensions: 52"(Dia) x 90"(H) (including stand)
Did one style rank as the most popular?
No style winner is established by the available figures. The published numbers measure whether people intended to display a tree and whether they planned a live or artificial one—not preferences for flocked, slim, pink, twig or other designs.
ACTA’s 2024 Consumer Report said nearly 80% of consumers intending to display a tree planned to choose an artificial tree, while 22% planned a live tree. Those reported percentages total about 102%; they should be presented as ACTA reported them, not silently adjusted. ACTA is an industry association, not a government statistics agency. The Real Christmas Tree Board’s 2024 media guide notes that ACTA does not represent real-tree growers and that ACTA CEO Thomas Harman was also Balsam Hill’s founder and CEO at the time. ACTA’s 2024 release; Real Christmas Tree Board’s 2024 media guide.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- ARTIFICIAL SPRUCE TREE: High-quality PVC needles recreate the dense foliage of the iconic Spruce tree to produce a simple yet elegant centerpiece for the holiday season
- TWINKLING LIGHT FUNCTIONS: Illuminate your holidays with 3 captivating light modes, including the viral twinkle effect, lighting up your home with holiday magic; Number of lights (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft/12ft): 200/250/550/900/1,300/1,800
- FULL APPEARANCE: Hundreds of tips create a full, yet tapered appearance with meticulously crafted branches that mimic the color and texture of an authentic Spruce tree; Number of Tips (4.5ft/6ft/7.5ft/9ft/12ft): 763 / 798 / 1,346 / 2,028 / 4,188 / 5,476
- EASY ASSEMBLY & FLUFFING: Put the tree together in just three steps: simply unfold the metal stand and stack each section from largest to smallest, then fluff and enjoy!
- HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS: Crafted with strong metal hinges and flame-retardant PVC branches that stand tall with the help of a sturdy metal base, so your tree is ready to look its best for the season ahead!; OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 52"(Dia) x 72"(H) (including stand)
A separate YouGov survey of 4,187 U.S. adults conducted on December 18, 2024 found that 15% planned a real tree, 53% an artificial tree, 28% no tree and 4% were unsure. Its question and respondent base differ from ACTA’s, so the results should not be combined. Neither survey ranks decorative styles. YouGov, December 2024.
Choose a silhouette that fits the room
Tree shape affects both the visual profile and how much room the tree occupies. Balsam Hill’s buying guide describes full as the classic natural-tree silhouette and calls it the most popular shape within its own guide; that is a vendor characterization, not independent evidence of the most popular shape across the 2024 market. Balsam Hill’s guide to artificial tree shapes.
Rank #4
- This Dunhill Fir Full Pre-Lit Artificial Green Christmas Tree is 7.5 feet tall with a 59 inch base diameter. Featuring hundreds of individually crafted branch tips to create full bodied branches, this tree is designed to look and feel lifelike.
- Features PowerConnect system and 900 Dual Color LED bulbs that can switch between white and multicolor lights. This feature includes a switch to control ten different light functions, allowing the bulbs to twinkle, flash or fade on either color setting.
- This tree features pre-attached, hinged branches that drop down for a simple set-up and fold back in for quick and convenient storage. Set aside 45-60 minutes to properly shape the tree by peeling back the branches and pulling the tips apart.
- Constructed with sturdy, high quality materials, hypo-allergenic, fire-resistant needles, this tree is built to bring holiday cheer for years to come. Includes a durable metal base.
- At National Tree Company, we believe that special holiday memories don’t have to be far and few between. This Christmas season, let our decorations transform your home while you focus on creating more of those magical moments.
| Shape | What it looks like | Where it may work |
|---|---|---|
| Full | Classic, broad profile | Rooms with room for a traditional footprint |
| Narrow | A traditional full-tree look with less width | Compact spaces |
| Slim | Tall and slender | Tight spaces and corners |
| Wide | Especially full and broad | Larger rooms; the guide notes it can suit heavier ornaments |
| Sparse | Visible gaps between branches | A deliberately airy, branch-forward look |
| Flatback | Shaped to sit against a wall or in a corner | Where saving floor space matters |
Measure the available floor area and ceiling height, then check the tree’s actual dimensions before buying. “Slim,” “narrow” and “flatback” describe different ways to reduce or redirect the footprint; a label alone does not guarantee a fit.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare color, finish and decorating mood
Once the silhouette works, choose the look that suits the room and ornaments you want to use. Green supports a familiar, traditional palette; pink, blue, black and orange offer a more expressive starting point. Flocked trees bring a snowy finish and are available in more than one silhouette in National Tree Company’s collection. National Tree Company’s current collection.
Best Value
- Realistic Artificial Pine Tree Design — Features lush PVC branches with a full and natural look, creating a realistic mini Christmas tree display ideal for tabletops, desks, apartments, offices, and indoor holiday décor
- Compact 3FT Size for Small Spaces — The mini Christmas tree design fits perfectly on tabletops, corners, entryways, offices, apartments, classrooms, and other compact indoor spaces without taking up much room
- Stable 4-Leg Plastic Base Support — Equipped with an upgraded four-leg plastic stand for enhanced balance and stability, helping keep the tree upright during holiday decorating and daily display
- DIY Decoration Ready, Unlit Design — No pre-installed lights, allowing you to personalize with ornaments, string lights, ribbons, bows, tree toppers, and other Christmas decorations to create your own festive style
- Easy Assembly & Reusable Storage — Simple setup with detachable sections and foldable base for quick assembly, easy storage, and convenient reuse for Christmas parties and holiday seasons year after year
- Classic: A green full or narrow tree with familiar ornaments.
- Snowy: A flocked tree, with the silhouette chosen to fit the room.
- Glam: A colored or green tree paired with reflective or tactile details such as lamé, faux fur or feathers.
- Whimsical: A playful display, including unusual tree shapes such as the upside-down and Santa-shaped artificial trees AP reported at Michaels in 2024.
- Minimal: A twig tree with lights, garlands or a few deliberate accents.
Pre-lit versus unlit and tree height are practical product choices, but individual listings change over time; a current catalog should not be mistaken for a 2024 popularity measure. National Tree Company’s current catalog, for example, includes flocked artificial trees in pencil-slim and full styles. National Tree Company’s current collection.
Use popularity figures for the right question
ACTA reported that more than 80% of consumers who shopped early did so to secure better deals. That describes a reason for early shopping, not a preferred tree style. Retail assortments and vendor guides can show what was offered and how a company organizes its products, but they cannot establish which design Americans bought or preferred most without style-specific sales or survey data.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
