How To Choose the Perfect Christmas Tree Size

A Christmas tree is more than a vehicle for your holiday lights and decorations. It’s a wondrous seasonal centerpiece that serves as the cornerstone for many family traditions.

From decorating, to gift-giving and unwrapping, to selecting the tree itself, the Christmas tree is the heart of the holiday season. So, make sure it is featured prominently in your home.

If you’re a new homeowner or a first-time tree-buyer, you may not have a firm grasp on what size tree to choose. Before you settle on a preferred height and shape, you need to figure out where to display your Christmas tree.

Considerations for Christmas Tree Placement

Sometimes it’s obvious. A well-lit corner of your living room. An unobstructed picture window at the front of your house. An empty wall a few feet from your fireplace. These are all good spots for a Christmas tree. 

But maybe it’s not that obvious. Fortunately, we have a few tips to narrow down where your tree should live for the holiday season.

First, you’ll want to decide on a room. We recommend a living room or family room — these are spaces where family members frequently gather during the holidays. A tree can even be placed in a dining room so it can be enjoyed during meals throughout the season. Don’t hide it in a room that doesn’t get much use. Remember, you want to show off your Christmas tree to both family and guests!

Once you’ve settled on a room, here are several things to consider when determining optimal tree placement.

Safety

Safety should be top of mind when figuring out where to put a Christmas tree. If a real Christmas tree dries out it can become a fire hazard, so avoid placing it near heat sources, such as radiators, fireplaces, or windows that get an abundance of direct sunlight. If you have small children, try to avoid areas where they tend to play and roughhouse — Christmas trees can topple, especially if the tree stand isn’t sturdy.

Also, you may assume that all of the floors in your home are flat, but it’s worth double-checking to ensure the floor under your tree is smooth and balanced.

Existing furniture and fixtures

Are you willing to move or rearrange furniture to make room for a Christmas tree? If the answer is no, you may need to opt for a smaller, slimmer tree so it can fit in your available space.

End tables and accent chairs can be maneuvered to make way for a tree, but larger furniture pieces, such as sofas, sectionals, and entertainment centers, may not be easily moved. It’s probably best to work around your larger pieces, instead of altering an entire room’s layout.

Speaking of immovable items, certain room fixtures, such as a fireplace or built-in shelves, must be taken into account when planning your Christmas tree placement. You probably don’t want to block these types of fixtures, especially if you plan to decorate them for the holidays. In fact, a Christmas tree placed close, but not too close, to a festively decorated fireplace mantel can create an eye-catching, holiday-themed focal point for your living room. 

If you’re struggling to work around existing furniture or fixtures, look to the corners of a room for some potential free space. 

Sightlines

Visibility is important for two reasons when it comes to a Christmas tree — you want to establish clear views of the tree and you don’t want it blocking anything in the room.

What is the natural focal point of the room? For a living room, it’s typically a television, fireplace, accent wall, or a piece of artwork. You don’t want your tree blocking any of these items, but you also don’t want it placed behind your seating, leaving it out of view. Give your tree the attention it deserves by placing it in a central location so it can be enjoyed from all angles.

Make sure you consider a Christmas tree's width when mapping out a spot for it. Blocking windows or sightlines to a television are visibility issues you want to avoid. You also don’t want to block out a chair or loveseat from the other seats in the room — that could make it awkward at a holiday party, especially if seated guests can’t see one another.

Foot traffic

There may be a lot of movement around your Christmas tree, especially if it’s in a heavily trafficked area or where people tend to congregate. Generally, you want your tree clear of any doorways. You also want to ensure there is at least 3 feet of space between the tree and furniture pieces so individuals can comfortably move around the room. Finally, you probably have a good idea of how many presents will be placed under the tree. If you’re expecting a large haul from Santa, you don’t want gifts to spill out into walkways so plan for some extra floor space around the tree. 

Outlets

Naturally, you’ll need a power source for all of those dazzling Christmas lights that encircle your tree. You don’t want to be running extension cords all over your home — which is also a safety concern —  so make sure that a Christmas tree is situated near an electrical outlet.

Christmas Tree Size Guide

There are two main determining factors when choosing a Christmas tree size — room size and ceiling height.

Generally, you’ll want to select a Christmas tree that is proportionate to the size of the room. A small tree in a large room can get lost, while an oversized tree can overwhelm a smaller space.

Still, don’t discount your personal preferences. If you favor a taller tree, ensure you have enough vertical space and that it is in a safe spot in your home. Maybe you want a Christmas tree to make a big impact. That’s fine! Buy a fuller tree; just make sure people aren’t bumping into it and that it isn’t obstructing sightlines or pathways.

Also, keep in mind that most trees 7 feet or taller have a diameter of at least 5 feet. Christmas trees can extend further into a room than you may realize. So when you find the right spot in your home, make sure you measure the space, both vertically and horizontally, to ensure you have plenty of room. You’ll want a firm understanding of the maximum diameter and height for your Christmas tree before you chop one down or purchase one. 

How Tall Should a Christmas Tree Be?

We recommend a foot of space between the top of your Christmas tree and the ceiling. This allows for the addition of a tree topper, as well as a stand that will stabilize and slightly elevate your tree.

With standard 8- and 9-foot ceilings, you’ll likely be in the market for a Christmas tree that is 7 or 8 feet tall.

If you have cathedral ceilings, don’t feel that your tree must extend to within 12 inches of the ceiling. A 7- or 7.5-foot tree may feel big enough. Or, you may want to go all out with a 10-footer. This is where your personal preference comes into play. If you have plenty of space to work with, select the tree shape and size that is most appealing to you.

Small Christmas Tree Placement

Some people choose to place a secondary Christmas tree in a bedroom or child’s playroom. Or maybe they don’t want a full-size tree that takes up too much space in a small apartment or dorm room. 

In these cases, we recommend trees under 5 feet tall that can be placed in almost any room, or even on a tabletop. These miniature Christmas trees can add to your festive decor and are much easier to decorate, move, and care for.