This year, daring decorators are flipping the holiday decorating script and dreaming of a goth Christmas. Home decor site Wayfair is reporting a 70 percent increase in searches for black Christmas trees this year, and according to the artificial tree retailer Treetopia, black is the second most popular color (after classic green) in six locations: Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Delaware, and Washington D.C.

The idea of rocking the Christmas Tree around to the dark side might be shocking if you’re a holiday traditionalist, but not to me. I’ve been decking my halls with a black Christmas tree since I brought home Treetopia’s Tuxedo Black tree way back in 2009, and I don’t have any plans to give it up. I mean… black is a truly timeless color, even for Christmas, and if you’re thinking of trying on this Tannenbaum trend, I have five time-tested reasons you won’t regret going goth.

You’re not trying to fool anyone.

If you’re going to go with an artificial tree, I love the idea of totally owning it and going for a colorful tree that wears its fakeness like a badge of honor. “Real look” trees are only ever convincing from a distance, and guests are going to get up close to check out your heirloom ornaments or sit right next to it on the sofa. Black trees, like most colorful versions, are made of tinsel (and, you know… not green) so it’s especially obvious you’re going for A Look and not trying to pass off something faux.

It’s not that crazy.

Before I bought my black tree, I also considered something more bold like emerald green or bright pink (I have always obsessed over the bubbly baby pink tree from the December 2007 cover of Martha Stewart’s now-defunct Blueprint magazine), but I’m glad I went back to black. It’s not a huge departure from a dark green Noble Fir, so it takes a little less time to get used to—for you and anyone who comes over.

You can dress it up or dress it down.

Like a little black dress, a little black tree will become a staple in your holiday decorating, offering up a classic canvas for your holiday whims. When you want to go natural or glam, monochrome or “unicorn rainbow explosion,” a black tree will back you up for many, many years. If you check out the #blackchristmastree hashtag on Instagram, you’ll see how many different ways there are to dress up or down when you start with a classic.

You’ll make it your whole look.

Once you try (and love) the black tree trend, you’ll find it kind of becomes a holiday signature. After nine years of using and loving my black Tuxedo tree, I went back to Treetopia for the matching garland , and next on my list is a pair of black tinsel wreaths for the door.

You can keep it up all season long, if you want to.

If you’re the type of person who puts Mariah on at 12:01 am on November 1, you’re going to love how adaptable your black tree can be. You can break it out in October for Halloween with spooky skull ornaments, leave it up through Christmas, and even give it a glam silver-and-gold makeover for your New Year’s Eve celebrations.

You’ll get a ton of compliments.

Everyone loves a rule breaker.