A CHRISTMAS tree always enhances the festive mood.

But shopping for a tree can be a daunting experience as there is very wide range to choose from. There are pine trees, fir trees, frosted and fibre optic trees, those with long needles, and short and bushy ones. So which do you choose?

It all boils down to personal taste. But first determine how much room you have to house the tree, says Ms Grace Hausjah, the merchandising manager at Metro.

Buyers should also pay attention to the width of floor space as well as the ceiling height, says Tangs' senior merchandising executive Sebastian Jek.

It is also important to assess the quality of the tree stand. "To avoid scratching your floor, choose highquality metal stands with rubber feet over plastic ones," he suggests.

If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, you might want to consider the Upside-Down Tree from Tangs.

Free up space with the Tangs Upside-Down Tree.

The Upside-Down Tree, which is inverted so that the tip is pointing down, is one of the hottest fads this season.

Think about it: The pretty ornaments hanging from the branches will be out of reach of curious little hands and excitable pets around the house, and you will have more room to pile presents beneath the tree.

Another interesting alternative is Metro's Half Rocky Mountain Tree.

It is a full-sized tree split down the middle. The idea is to place the tree against the wall so that you only have to decorate half a tree, says Ms Hausjah. It is also saves buyers money and space, she adds.

The real thing

A popular trend over the years s using real trees. The smell of fresh country pine is refreshingly unique.

Every year, home furnishing store Ikea brings in the Abies Nordmanniana from Sweden which has soft needles with strong branches for your tree decorations.

"No two trees look the same," says an Ikea spokesman, "so buyers should check for strong branches."

The trees last about eight to 10 weeks, but much also depends on how much care is given to them.

Once you bring the tree home, make a fresh cut on the tree butt (bottom portion of the trunk) to allow it to absorb water easily. Water the tree regularly and keep the butt submerged in water.

Should the water level fall below the butt, a protective seal will form, preventing the tree from absorbing more water. If a seal forms, just cut off the butt again Change the water regularly to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

To maintain the freshness of your real tree, keep it away from heat, the sun and hot air vents. Also, use fewer bulbs or those with low wattage for decoration so that the tree will not overheat.

Buyers are encouraged to bring their trees back to the store anytime from between Jan 1 and 15 so that it can turn them into compost to be used in parks and gardens. In return for their green efforts, buyers will receive a $10 Ikea voucher.