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This viral Christmas tree is worth the hype! 🎄✨ It clicks in place and all the lights connect, so there is no need to fuss with finding cords. I set it up in 3 minutes and didn’t even fluff it.
It’s the 7.5 ft SMART Grand Duchess Twinkling Balsam Fir from Home Depot, and it’s in my living room this year. Here is my quick video, how I set it up, the little pot hack I tried, and everything in the room linked below each photo, so just swipe through to shop!
Why This Twinkling Christmas Tree Went Viral
I think I bought this tree last year, and it really is as good as everyone says. It has some of the most realistic branches I have seen on a faux tree, and the lighting is just soft and glowy. I love how it twinkles, too. The second I turn it on, the whole living room feels cozy.
The part that sold me is how easy it is. The sections click into place and the lights connect as you stack them, so you plug the tree in once and you are done. No testing every strand, and no digging behind the branches for the right plug. If you have ever spent an evening untangling tree lights, you know why everyone is talking about it.
How I Set It Up in 3 Minutes
Here is my quick setup, start to finish:
- Pick the spot first. Set the stand (or your pot, see my hack below) where the tree will live, close to an outlet so the cord stays hidden.
- Stack the sections. Each one clicks into the one below it, and the lights connect through the tree as you go.
- Plug it in once. Because all the lights connect, there is only one cord to deal with.
- Shape the tips if you want. I didn’t even fluff mine! If you like a fuller look, bend a few tips up and out where you see gaps.
- Finish the base. A pot, a basket or a tree collar hides the stand and makes the tree look more finished.
Why It Looks So Real
Up close, the branches have that full, layered look of a real fir, and the tiny lights sit right out on the tips, which is why it looks so glowy in person. When a tree is this pretty on its own, I keep the decor simple: a few glass ornaments, a soft velvet ribbon and a couple of little sparkly pieces nearby. Let the lights do the work.
My Pot and Umbrella Stand Hack
This year I put my tree in a pot with an umbrella stand, a fun little hack I saw. It hides the tree stand completely, makes the tree look like it is growing out of a big planter, and it feels so good to have the glow in here.
If you want to try it, here are a few tips:
- Measure the tree’s center pole first, then pick an umbrella stand it fits into snugly.
- Choose a pot that is wide and deep enough for the stand to sit flat inside it.
- Make sure the base is heavy and steady, and test it before you add any decor. A tall tree needs a solid footing.
- Not into the pot look? A seagrass tree collar gives a similar natural finish and slips right around the stand.
The Rest of My Christmas Living Room
The tree sits in the corner next to my built-ins, across from the fireplace and sofa. I keep the rest of the room warm and neutral, with cozy textures, stockings and a soft rug, so the tree can be the star. Here is everything in the room:
My Christmas Sideboard
Across the room, my sideboard gets a cedar garland, a little lighted ceramic Christmas village and a few warm accents. My favorite detail is that the twinkling tree shows up in the mirror, so the glow carries all the way across the room.
More Christmas Tree Ideas
Want more tree inspiration? Here is how I decorate a Christmas tree so it looks full and cozy, and my Christmas tree in a basket hack for smaller trees. And you can shop everything from this video on my LTK, linked right here: