Testing an artificial tree was an accomplishment for me—I’m a total live tree devotee. I am crazy about smell. with after a few days Home Decorators Collection 7.5 ft Grand Duchess Balsam Fir, However, I’m totally on board with a fake Tannenbaum – although I’d still probably fall for it Balsam Fir Room Spray Or something like my house still smells like Christmas.
Home Decorators Collection Grand Duchess Balsam Fir: At a Glance
Rating: 4.1/5
specification
- Available Height: 7.5, 9, and 12 feet
- Tree Type: balsam fir
- Light: changing color of led
what we like
- Straightforward instructions and labels make for fast, easy assembly and disassembly
- Complete tree with classic shape; The branches and needles look quite realistic
- Ample number of lights with a variety of light settings to suit almost everyone
what we don’t like
- Some of the 10 light display settings are virtually indistinguishable
- Some lighting settings have a strobe effect, which may affect people with sensory sensitivities
- The plastic on-off pedal for the floor is quite weak
Get the Home Decorators Collection Christmas Tree at Home Depot for $349.00out of stock? Check out our options below!
Easy pie-like assembly
This 7.5-foot tree comes in four parts: a collapsible metal X-shaped stand and three rather heavy sections of branches that snap onto one another. From start to finish it took me 11 minutes to put the stand and tree parts together – no tools required. grand duchess The power pole is equipped with technology that connects the electrical wiring of three sections of the tree through a central “trunk” and the connection is activated when the sections are joined together. The only electrical connection I made was to plug the tree into a wall outlet. Although the box contained fold-out paper assembly instructions along with a one-page “quick start” type informational card, I liked that the Home Decorators Collection also printed basic assembly instructions – in a much larger font than the instructions. On one of the inside flaps of the guide-box.
twinkling, shining light
I didn’t anticipate how much of a time and stress saver it would be to not have to untangle light wires and put them in the right place. This was a completely new experience for me. Prelit trees for victory, forever! The number of lights on the Home Decorators Collection Grand Duchess is more than enough. The rule of thumb when hanging lights on a tree is to aim for about 100 lights per foot of tree. According to that, there should be about 750 lights in this tree. Instead, it has 2,250 lights. They are also well distributed, balanced from top to bottom and from the trunk to the tip of the tree.
Increased number of light settings
The Grand Duchess has 10 light settings on the remote control, which can display the LEDs all multicolored, all clear, clear and multicolored at once, flashing, not flashing – there are several cycles from which to choose. However, some settings seem indistinguishable from each other; I would say there are 6 or 7 different settings instead of 10. Still, it has enough settings and variety to suit many types of holiday-light lovers. Those craving a high-energy Christmas may appreciate the “Slow Color Variable” and “Fast Flip” settings, which mimic the gravitron lights at a carnival or even a Chuck-E-Cheese arcade. We do. (Keep in mind that these settings have a strobe effect and may have negative effects on people with sensory sensitivities.) If your vibe is more Hyge-With Hallmark-Movie, opt for “Twinkle WW” and “Slow Fade WW”, both of which transform the room into a warm, white glow. The lights can be turned off with the remote, the tree’s off-on floor pedal, or by simply unplugging the tree. Although the button floor pedal worked as it should, its plastic structure felt a bit flimsy and didn’t inspire much confidence – I felt safer unplugging the tree from the outlet every night.
Looking for real looking…fake cedar
Home Depot’s website classifies This artificial balsam fir tree In the “most realistic” category in terms of realism, and I’d say that’s a fair assessment, especially if you’re looking at the tree from a distance. The tree’s needles look pretty close to the real thing; Touching them is the real indication that the tree is artificial. But really, will your guests caress your Christmas tree? Probably not.
Strong, durable base and branches
Over the 4 days I left the tree up for testing, it never fell over, even with three kids and a half-dozen cats in tow, because of its sturdy, X-shaped metal base. In addition to the possibility of daily wear and tear, I also tested the strength of the branches. I looped the heavy, round Marquis by Waterford glass ornaments onto the Grand Duchess’s branches, and although the artificial branches bent slightly under their weight, the ornaments did not fall. The tree’s memory wire branches are bendable, which is generally useful for covering bald spots in the overall shape of the tree, but, as I discovered, is also useful for hanging heavy ornaments. I recommend bending the tips of branches upward to protect very heavy ornaments. (I’m looking at you, Hallmark’s Harry Potter Gift Collection,
Is Home Decorators Collection Grand Duchess Balsam Fir Worth the Money?
I guess I’m spoiled by my first adult experience with it Best Artificial Christmas TreeThe Home Decorators Collection 7.5-foot Grand Duchess Balsam Fir Tree has a classic, conical Christmas tree shape, full, realistic-looking branches and more lights than I’ve ever had the skill or patience to put on the tree myself. The Grand Duchess’s $349.99 retail price is a great time saver, considering that 500 color changing lights sell for $26.99 (And often much more). To get approximately the number of lights on this tree you will need five strings of string – not to mention the time it takes to put them up and the cost of the tree itself. Home Decorators Grand Duchess Balsam Fir Tree is worth more than its price, looks beautiful, is easy to put together, and has no needles to clean. I’m in!
Get the Home Decorators Collection Christmas Tree at Home Depot for $349.00,
What to do if it is not in stock?
The Grand Duchess went viral this fall, and shoppers went wild for it. In many markets, this tree is out of stock at every height, whether thin or full. If it’s out of stock in your area, here are three things you can do to get the tree of your dreams or at least get it in the same form.
meet the tester
Bob Vila’s Deputy Editor of Service & News, Darina Toby is a passionate writer and editor. As a home and garden books editor at Reader’s Digest, she edited titles such as Save $20,000 with a Nail and Forbidden Advice. Product testing and nitpicking is second nature to him, he has blind-tested and reviewed thousands of wines for publications like Eater, Food52, Fortune.com, and Wine Enthusiast. Toby lives in a 1930s Cape Cod home where she loves to DIY and grows Hatch peppers and heirloom tomatoes.
