Do you remember how special it was when you were a child, and the grownups put up the Christmas decorations? Magic wasn't it. At our primary school the caretaker would fix to the rafters huge red, green and white creations. We thought them extremely glamorous, but they were only wooden hoops woven with crepe paper.

Well crepe paper and hoops might still be good enough for the kindergarten, but in the office something more sophisticated is called for. How sophisticated though is that battered box of dusty streamers and glitter? Not very? Make a stylish festive statement this year then, with something new and gorgeous. Pop to the shops in the lunch break, do some searching on-line, or visit a garden centre at the weekend and prepare to be dazzled - Christmas is big business.

Go to The Pier for example (www.pier.co.uk), and you'll find beaded lights and chandelier decorations in frosty white and yummy pinks, blues and purples. And there's a fiesta wreath of baubles combining all those colours to hang on the office door. At B&Q (www.diy.com) the accent is on tasteful white, gold and silver. Delicate glass baubles etched with white snowflakes; hearts and teardrops in white gossamer voile; crusted gold and silver apples and pears - all very luscious.

At my local garden centre I was tempted by the Tartan theme - pleated and embellished red and green plaids combined with toy soldiers and hobbyhorses; and by the Gingerbread men with cinnamon and spice decorations; and by the elegant white, milk and dark chocolate look-alike silks with feathers, crystals and pearls. So many to choose from!

In the right environment white curtain lights can look stunning - cascading down several metres, say, in the glass atrium of a shopping mall or a modern office interior. Whatever workspace you're decorating - make best use of the building itself. Whiteleys store in London's Bayswater has an interior like a white wedding cake, so they simply erect a massive artificial tree at either end of the galleried hall, and load them with tiny white lights to heighten the frosted effect. The result - cool, sophisticated and very pretty.

The tree of course is the focal point for many offices. If you want an artificial one you could go for a white or pale blue tree loaded with icicles, stars and hearts in silver and blue. Or choose a dark fir decked with golden pine cones, red ribbons and huge scarlet poinsettia blooms.

If you're going to have a natural Christmas tree then buy wisely. It shouldn't feel too light, or have dull, dried up needles or brittle branches. Check the outer needles don't fall off when you gently shake it. Best advice is to buy it from a member of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association. And they say that if you look after it carefully your tree should survive for over four weeks. Soak the roots or the trunk in water. Pot a rooted tree in moist earth and wedge a cut tree in a bucket of pebbles. Then keep watering it well and keep it away from radiators and heating vents.

What about tree lights? The Institution of Electrical Engineers says if you're using lights put away in a hurry last year, check the whole string carefully for damage, cuts, fraying, cracks and signs of overheating. There's a very useful fact sheet called Christmas Tree Lights on their website (www.iee.org).

But what if your boss has vetoed going over the top with the baubles? Certainly balloons and streamers will be out if your security system has movement sensors. In some offices the sealed building HVAC system can't cope with the possibility of insects brought in on Christmas greenery. And elsewhere a low key approach is dictated by the architecture.

Even if you have to take a minimalist approach though, a discreet tree and a few very contemporary decorations can lift the spirit and make the Scroogiest MD smile. If it's to be a tree and nothing else then have a look at offerings from companies like Christmas Tree Land. They have an ultra-modern fibre-optic white willow and a candy pink fir tree as well as the full range of smart green numbers.

It's all lovely stuff isn't it - makes you feel Christmassy just to think about it. Trouble is, it all costs a lot of money. If you're on a budget perhaps you should stick with the hoops and crepe paper. Or even simpler - hang up a bunch of mistletoe!