One of the best parts of the festive season is decorating the Christmas tree.

With a cocoa (or festive tipple) in hand, it's always fun to much on a mince pie and get ready for the big day. It's fun for all the family to get involved and brighten up the home, but it turns out us Brits may be doing something wrong.

Apparently, many of us have been putting our trees in the wrong place for years, and it could be affecting our bills. You don't want to put it anywhere that blocks natural light from getting in.

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Many people put their tree in the window so it's on show for all the neighbours to see. After all, it always does make the window look a little prettier.

But, while it may add a nice glow to the street, an expert said it's not always the best idea as it can cause you a few problems.

As well as stopping light from coming into your home, it could make your living room feel cold and dark. That's just not what you want when you're cosying up on a winter's evening.

Emily Simmons, Creative Director at innovative interiors brand, Ruggable, said Brits shouldn't be putting their real Christmas tree in front of a window.

She said: "With many people preparing to put their Christmas decorations up, a bay window will likely be the desired place for their Christmas tree. However, although a real Christmas tree does need sunlight, too much direct sunlight can dry the tree out and block natural light coming into your room when placed directly in front of the window, which can make your room darker and colder.

"Therefore, I would always suggest placing your real Christmas tree to the side of the window or nearer a window that isn't a south-facing one. This way, your tree will still get the light it needs, without giving it too much direct sunlight.

"The natural light will be able to dazzle your tree décor as well, adding to the festive feeling in your home."

And – if you're wondering when is the best time to put the tree up – then you may have to wait a little longer. Earlier this month experts at Christmas Tree World revealed the exact date you should put your tree up this year.

Advent typically starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. This year, the first Sunday of Advent is December 3, 2023, making it the ideal time to begin your festivities.

Another popular choice for when to deck the halls is the slightly earlier date of December 1. Many households like to set up their tree and other festive decorations on the first day of the month to mark the start of the official countdown to the big day.

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• Christmas
• Money

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