First things first, you need to pick your player. Real or artificial? Pine, fir, or spruce? It's a tough choice, kind of like deciding between a chunky knit sweater or a velvet blazer for your holiday party (though, let's be honest, you can't go wrong with either). I've always been a sucker for the smell of a real tree, but those artificial ones have come a long way, baby! Just make sure you get one that's the right size for your space. You don't want it to be so big that it's taking over the whole room, or so small that it looks like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.