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These extra-large, 9-foot-tall Grandin Road Christmas trees turn up the merriment and look like the real deal
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Grandin Road Christmas Trees Review: Our Product Testing Team Loves This Realistic Option
Published on Oct. 21, 2024
Artificial Christmas trees come in myriad shapes and sizes—a good thing, if you ask us. After all, we all celebrate the season differently, despite our common traditions. Who am I to judge if someone picks a succulent tree over a smart tree? But when it comes to finding a Christmas tree that’s a true showstopper, a towering option that looks just like the real deal is universally appealing. That’s why we love Grandin Road Christmas trees.
We’re no strangers to these impressive trees. In fact, another Grandin Road pick made our best artificial tree list as the best slim pick. But when we discovered the realistic 9-foot Woodside Christmas Tree, we just had to try it. Between the lifelike evergreen appearance and mammoth size, we wanted to see how it looked—and performed—in the average living room. Is it as unwieldy as it seems? Our Product Testing Team took the plunge and ordered one to find out.
What is the Grandin Road Christmas tree?
The Grandin Road Woodside Christmas tree is realistic and boasts down-swept tips, a broad profile and warm, white lights. While its lifelike pine needles are a serious draw (and part of the reason it’s on the pricey side), the most intriguing aspect of this traditional tree is its size. It’s available in either the usual 7.5-foot size or a colossal 9-foot option that looks straight out of a Dickensian novel.
Extra-full needles eliminate the need for hours of fluffing, and the tree comes readily strung with up to 1,200 mini-lights. Additionally, the electrical cord is a generous 60 inches long, so it’s easy to plug it in several feet from the base. The best part? Once the tree is assembled, all you have to do is plug it in, and the lights come on—no fussing or connections necessary.
KATIE SYNOLD FOR TASTE OF HOME
We Tried It
Woodside Christmas Tree
Realistic and enormous, the Woodside Christmas Tree is our favorite option for true Christmas fanatics.
Testing Team Evaluation
This behemoth tree measures in at exactly 9 feet, just as advertised. It comes in a single large box containing four pieces, along with a stand, bag with fluffing gloves, extra fuses and setup instructions. The tree is rather heavy, so we recommend securing two people (and a stepladder) for setup.
Two different types of needles add to the realism. Fluffing the tree doesn’t produce much fallout, but our team noted they lost three sprigs of the tree in the process. The fluffing process is also pretty straightforward—if you were feeling lazy, you wouldn’t need to fluff this for more than a few minutes. Our testers were impressed with its shape after around 13 minutes of maneuvering branches.
Connecting the pieces is so simple that the tree’s setup rivals our beloved Balsam Hill Flip Tree. Most Grandin Road Christmas trees use a quick-connect pole setup. This configuration allows each piece to snap together easily and eliminates the need to search for light connections since the lights connect via the central pole. Replacement lights are available in case any burn out, which is something we appreciate.
The tree’s branches are strong and sturdy enough for various ornaments, including everything from heavy heirloom angels to clip-on floating candles. It’s a very full tree, and the branches and needles err on the dense side. Fitting longer ornaments may be tough because of this, though the branches are flexible enough to rearrange with ease. As for the bottom, opt for a tree skirt over a collar—we predict a regular-sized collar may be a tight squeeze.
Storage is as simple as arranging the pieces back in the box. While the box stretches a bit, everything fits fairly well considering the size of the tree.
Long-Term Testing Update
Senior Set Stylist Melissa Franco has owned the Grandin Road Christmas tree for one year. Overall, she’s impressed with its performance, size and beauty.
“Last year, whenever people walked in the door, I received a lot of compliments,” she says. “It’s an impressive size, standing at 9 feet tall. The quality of branches and needles is good, and I can hang heavier ornaments on the branches without worrying about them falling off.”
She notes that the setup is really plug and play, especially with the quick-connect pole configuration. “The lights already on the tree are bright and plentiful (and replaceable, if needed). I come from the days when I had trees that I needed to snap in each branch individually and string my own lights, so this tree is awesome! I look forward to setting up my tree even earlier in the season now.”
Despite loving her Grandin Road Christmas tree, Melissa notes a few cons. First, though the setup is easy, it takes quite a while for her to fluff the branches to her liking—something expected, given the size. She also cautions the large size means she had to purchase an extra-large Christmas tree storage bag. Those looking for a slightly smaller size should consider this Frontgate tree, which comes in heights as small as 6.5 feet tall.
“My tree may be the exception, but the bottom two branches on one side hang lower than the rest, creating a bare spot in the tree,” says Melissa. “I’ve tried fluffing the branches to fill the space, but the bare spot is noticeable. Also, since the tree is larger widthwise, it is a little difficult to reach the outlet and plug it in. A power foot button or a remote would’ve been a nice addition to make this tree even better.”
Pros
- Quick light setup via center pole
- Doesn’t require much fluffing
- Impressive 9-foot size
- Comes with extra bulbs and gloves
- Little fallout
- Flexible branches
Cons
- Heavy
- Pricey
Why You Should Trust Us
Our Product Testing team is home to shopping enthusiasts with a combined decade of experience recommending and testing products. We try out each product in our Product Testing Lab alongside similar options. Operating this way allows us to easily compare products and test them under strictly controlled conditions. We’ve tried a variety of Christmas trees in order to find the best options, from Balsam Hill options to alternative Christmas trees.
Once we finish our initial testing, team members test top performers long-term. This process lets us see how they perform after extended use and in our own homes.
Where To Buy Grandin Road Christmas Trees
Grandin Road Christmas trees—including the Woodside Christmas Tree—are available for purchase on the Grandin Road website. Say goodbye to allergy-inducing pine needles and lengthy cleanup without losing out on the Christmas spirit with these realistic options!
KATIE SYNOLD FOR TASTE OF HOME
We Tried It
Woodside Christmas Tree
Realistic and enormous, the Woodside Christmas Tree is our favorite option for true Christmas fanatics.
