Always a real one, at least seven foot, and covered in all the decorations we've gathered over the years, plus lots of lights, white and coloured. Plenty of jingly things and an angel in red velvet on the top. We haven't a big front room, so it's very much a focal point, whether we have to squeeze past it by the stairs door or it blocks out half the window on the opposite wall. DH lobbies every year for a smaller, table top one, but I wouldn't have it any other way. And the beautiful Christmas smell....!
When the DGC are all with us for Christmas (alternate years, and sadly not this one
), we have another small tree at the top of the stairs, again real. We do have a fibre optic one in the kitchen, but nothing beats the real thing.
DH always goes out on a holly and ivy hunt too, and we have lots of it round the house. So beautiful if it's a year for lots of berries. Downtown Abbey, eat your heart out!