Magnolias are king for long lasting cut decorations in the south. Start soaking the branch in glycerine a month in advance to turn them a beautiful bronze.

I like decorating tropical Ficus trees. Ones with small leaves work best (Ficus benjamina and my F. macrophylla (Australian banyan).

For a tree concolor fir smells of oranges. Frazer fir is also fragrant.

We always buy a fresh balsam tree (we're in New England). No other greens, but amaryllis, poinsettia and forced paper whites.

A live tree won't be live for long indoors :-) Generally it is suggested to keep indoors a week or less, unless it is something more tropical, like the ficus mentioned or a Norfolk Island pine. And cut greens will dry out rapidly indoors unless they have a moisture source (like Oasis or similar). The evergreen magnolia leaves do hold up very well, tho.

Around here, the Native Americans make wreaths out of greenery and add other things like spruce cones and nuts. We buy those. I've got one that has been hanging over the fireplace for a number of years.