How to Choose the Right Size Christmas Tree for Your Home

Christmas is just around the corner, and if you’re already thinking about decking your halls with a brand-new Christmas tree this year, you’re in the right place. 

But deciding on the right size Christmas tree is tricky business. Nobody wants the disappointment of buying a tree that accidentally takes over the whole living room or gets dwarfed by sky-high ceilings. There’s an art to choosing the perfect size Christmas tree for your space and home - and that’s where we can help. 

Here at NOMA, we’ve been giving the gift of Christmas lighting for over a century. No, really. With a heritage that spans generations, we’re proud to be the UK’s oldest Christmas company, meaning we know a thing or two about festive home styling. 

In this blog, we’ll pour our generations of expertise into one comprehensive guide, covering everything from measuring your room and calculating ceiling heights to choosing the right width and styles to find the perfect new seasonal centrepiece for your home. 

Ready to spruce up your space with a new Christmas tree? 

The Golden Rule: Calculating Ceiling Clearance

When deciding on the perfect-sized Christmas tree for your home, it’s essential to calculate the correct amount of breathing space needed between the top of the tree and your ceiling. Many people forget to account for the star or angel that sits atop your tree. As a general rule, leave between 1 and 1.5 feet (30 - 45 cm) of clearance above your tree. This allows enough breathing space for a tree topper, while ensuring your tree doesn’t look too cramped against the ceiling.

UK Standard Ceiling Heights

Pay attention to your ceiling height! The standard modern UK ceiling height sits at 8ft (approx. 2.4m), while period or Victorian properties often reach 9ft to 10ft+. So, the best thing to do is to get the measuring tape out and measure from your floor to the ceiling, to avoid any disappointment.

To help you decipher the ideal tree height for your ceiling, we’ve created a handy Christmas tree size guide:

Remember to check if your Christmas tree height includes its stand or not. Here at NOMA, all our tree dimensions are measured from the bottom of the base (including the stand) to the very tip of the top branch, so there are no surprises when you come to unboxing. Now that’s what we call pine perfection! 

Measuring Your Space: Height vs. Width 

Wondering how to measure for a Christmas tree? We’ve got you covered with these three easy checkpoints: 

1. Floor-to-Ceiling Measurement: First up, start with your tree’s potential height. As we’ve already mentioned, it’s important to account for the clearance space between your tree top and your ceiling. It’s equally essential to measure in the exact spot where the tree will stand. Take into account any unexpected bulky layers, such as a tree skirt, a new stand, or any thick rugs or carpet which may add to the overall height of your Christmas tree.

2. Checking the Footprint (Branch Diameter): Secondly, you must keep in mind the footprint (or branch diameter) of your chosen Christmas tree. Remember that when you fan out the foliage, the branches may spread further than you think. Make sure your tree won’t obstruct any walkways, radiators, or television screens, leaving plenty of room around it.

3. Choosing Profile Shapes: The final step is considering your tree silhouette. Do you prefer a tall and slender tree or something fuller and bushy? Each shape brings a different ambience and can completely transform your Christmas display. Here are some of our favourite styles and the rooms they suit…

• Full & Bushy Trees: Bushy Christmas trees are ideal for spacious living rooms and open-plan areas. They’re also great for creating statement displays in bay windows and large lounges. 

• Slim & Pencil Trees: Slim Christmas trees are best for smaller, compact rooms, apartments, studios, or hallways where floor space is premium.

• Tabletop & Accent Trees: Mini Christmas trees are perfect for desktop styling in home offices, kitchen counters, or dining room sideboards. They’re great as accent trees, bringing festive joy to the smallest of corners. 

Pre-Lit vs. Unlit Trees: What Size Lighting Do You Need?

There are plenty of benefits to choosing both pre-lit and unlit Christmas trees. With pre-lit and fibre optic Christmas trees, you have the convenience of built-in lights. No fuss, no frustration, and no wrestling with last year’s tangled string lights; a task that you promised the rest of the family you’d sort out before Christmas rolled around again…

What’s more, pre-lit Christmas trees feature perfectly distributed lighting throughout the branches. This eliminates the time spent rearranging your fairy lights to ensure there are no missing gaps or super dense clusters of LEDs, meaning you can skip to the fun decorating part far quicker. 

However, if you consider yourself a Christmas tree connoisseur and enjoy perfecting every detail, or perhaps you like to switch up your Christmas lights for a new look each year, then an unlit tree may be the better choice for you. This way, you have complete control over the look and style of your tree. 

To get the lighting density right for your unlit Christmas tree, we’d recommend matching your tree height to the appropriate light count, using the guide below:

Quick lighting density guide for unlit trees:

• 5ft Tree: ~240 string lights or 480 cluster lights 

• 6ft Tree: ~360 string lights or 720 cluster lights

• 7ft Tree: ~480 string lights or 960 compact lights

• 8ft Tree: ~720 string lights or 1500 compact lights

Psst! Do you love all things high-tech? Discover NOMA’s App-controlled Christmas lights; a modern way to illuminate your home. 

Choosing the Right Style of Artificial Christmas Tree for Your Home

Speaking of look and feel, have you thought about what kind of aesthetic you want from your new Christmas tree? With so many premium artificial designs available, the choices can feel overwhelming. From multi-coloured Christmas trees to snowy frosted trees, ideal for winter wonderland styling, there’s a tree to suit every home. 

For those searching for the most realistic Christmas tree possible, we’d recommend NOMA’s Arboretum collection. Crafted from Polyethylene (PE), these luxurious artificial trees feature innovative moulded branches that mimic the natural texture, colours and shape of real pine and fir trees. All the beauty of a North Pole tree, without the messy needles or need for an annual repurchase.

Christmas Tree Sizing FAQs

How far should a Christmas tree be placed from the wall?

While there’s no strict rule, it’s a good idea to leave a gap between your Christmas tree and the wall. This leaves space so that the branches don’t get crushed and can be fully fluffed to their fullest shape. It also helps protect your wall from being scratched or damaged by any ornaments, and vice versa. 

What is the most popular size Christmas tree in the UK?

Since the standard ceiling height for modern homes in the UK is 8ft, the most popular Christmas tree size is 6ft to 7ft. This allows for enough space between the tip of the tree and the standard ceiling height. Of course, every home is different, so check the exact measurements of your specific ceiling before committing to a new tree.  

Does tree height include the stand?

At NOMA, all of our Christmas tree heights are measured from the bottom of the base (including the stand) to the tip of the top branch. 

Finding the right Christmas tree for your space doesn’t need to be a headache. By measuring your floor-to-ceiling height correctly, checking your clearance space, and thinking about your tree footprint, you’ve got all the steps you need to find the perfect size tree for your home. With this expert guide, you’re sure to be rocking around the Christmas tree all festive season long. 

Shop NOMA’s exquisite Christmas tree collection and explore our seasonal home styling ideas to find glittering garlands, festive wreaths, and magical Christmas lighting to turn your home into a true winter wonderland this year.