Skip the spruce

Go tree-free without losing your holiday sparkle

By Cindy Dampier

Chicago Tribune

Like most relationships, your monthlong fling with that strapping young evergreen starts with a burst of optimism.

You spy him on some frosty evening, while carols play under the twinkle lights.

He’s tall, perfectly proportioned.

So you take him home, give him pride of place in a corner of the living room, and dress him up in shiny, fancy stuff.

You never, ever forget to get him a drink.

But three weeks later, his charms are wearing thin.

That bracing woodsy scent he used to wear has morphed into a watery funk, and where he was once robust, he now looks ... a little dumpy.

Worse yet, he’s dirty, scattering his grubby brown needles everywhere.

You hang on for another week, your Christmas spirit long since spent, then painfully disentangle him from your lights and bid him farewell at the curb.

And you think to yourself: Maybe no tree next year.

So, before you find yourself cruising that tree lot again, eyes gleaming, we offer an alternate route.

If your space is small, your budget busted, your memories of cleaning up last year’s mess still searingly fresh, you can do without the tree this year.

And, if you try one of our tree-free decorating ideas, you can still dazzle ’em with your chic holiday spirit. Without those nagging regrets.