Alternative Greenery Makes Sure the Holidays Stay Bright

It's been a long time - if ever - since most folks schlepped out into the woods to cut their own Christmas tree. But even for those city dwellers whose nearest yuletide greenery waits in a parking lot down the block, the thought of getting it home, up a few flights of stairs and set up in an already cramped apartment doesn't make anyone a jolly old elf.

Still, there's the compulsion to not leave one's space undecorated during the holidays. No one wants to be branded a Scrooge or Grinch, and frankly, it's a good to brighten things up during an otherwise dismal time of year.

If you prefer the natural look, there's no rule that says you need a tree just like the one that reached all the way to Grandma's 12-foot ceiling. Instead, look for a full, healthy miniature cedar or other evergreen at your nearby nursery, home supply or discount store. What you'll get is not only a great miniature tree for the holidays, but also a long-lasting addition to the other houseplants you keep throughout the year.

If it stays healthy, you've already got a better, bigger tree for subsequent years. If you don't have the extra cash to shell out for that, look around your place. If that fichus you bought when you moved in is doing OK, string it with lights, put presents underneath and commence with the ho, ho, ho.

The most obvious alternative to a live Christmas tree is, of course, the artificial tree. Rather than lugging a dead bit of woodland flora likely imported from Oregon into your space, it's often easier to just annually unpack the same one. Best of all, artificial trees are available in all sizes, from tabletop to touching the ceiling, and can look as natural or blatantly fake as you like.

Again, discount and home stores are the obvious spots to begin shopping. Many models of artificial trees now with a choice of clear or multicolored lights built in. All you have to do is unpack, set up, plug in and add decorations. Although the emphasis for many artificial tree owners is on a natural appearance, don't think the tree can't fit in with your retro or modern decorating scheme. Frosted white or white tipped trees take tacky and turn it into yuletide fabulous, giving a room an extra dose of festivity without the pretense of faux natural.

Best of all, artificial trees come in all sizes, from as tall as 14 feet to as small as 2 feet. Keep to the lower end of the scale and you're bound to find a spot where, with a little rearrangement and creativity, the holiday greenery will sit.

There is, of course, the option of going without any holiday greenery, real or fake. In that case, take a tip from Cynthia Kolesar, a sales associated at Material Culture in Philadelphia. The store, which features a wide array of exotic home products imported from around the world, includes in its inventory traditional saris from India.

The fabrics, normally used as women's clothing, come in a wide array of sumptuous fabrics and are often heavily embellished with beads and pearls. "They could actually be draped from the ceiling" in a shape suggesting a Christmas tree, she says, with nothing missing but the presents underneath.

But no matter which alternative you choose, there's no excuse to have a home devoid of holiday cheer, even when there's barely enough room for an elf.

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