'You can never put too much on a Christmas tree'

The Christmas tree at AVIVA's head office in Norwich has become something of festive attraction

Nothing says "Christmas has arrived" quite like the overnight transformation of shopfronts, hotels, airports and town centres into glistening winter wonderlands.

But have you ever wondered how some of these places go from being a slightly bland and boring building one day, to a magical Christmas masterpiece the next?

It has nothing to do with elves but everything to do with creative individuals who endeavour to capture the spirit of the season through the art of decoration.

One of those is Maxine White, of White Christmas Designs, a decorations firm which operates out of Ipswich but sprinkles festive magic across the region.

Maxine White's White Christmas Designs employs a team of 12 little helpers

This year the team was entrusted with decorating parts of London Luton Airport

She has been at the helm for the last eight years having decided to enter the industry – estimated to be worth over £5b globally - after her daughter started primary school.

This year she has transformed the likes of Seckford Hall Hotel, in Woodbridge, the Golden Hind pub in Ipswich and the town's waterfront into glistening grottos.

Her team has also recently decorated the iconic Willis Building with three floors of icicles and a tree brimming with roughly 1,000 glimmering baubles, as well as London Luton Airport.

"We all have to be fully trained and it is kind of top secret how we do it," she said.

"But we talk about a colour scheme and work with clients to make sure it matches the environment and the style they wish to have.

"We offer our own design ideas and then we usually come up with a scheme that suits both of us, which usually they are always thrilled with."

The team also decorates restaurants, including The Ivy in Norwich

Maxine White is the founder of White Christmas Designs

This year Maxine, who employs 12 people, has worked with about 60 clients, including homeowners in Essex and Cambridgeshire.

Outside of the region she has decorated a boat near the London Eye as well as offices in Tottenham Court Road and Baker Street.

"I just love designing things and for me it is all about the colours but this year we have had a massive request for lots of winter wonderland-themed bits," she said.

Some clients have even helped provide Maxine herself with ideas for her own festive centre piece back home.

"I do love Christmas and this job gives me a lot of choice but I like to see what other people are doing and that gives me inspiration for me own tree," she joked.

"In my opinion you can never put too much on a Christmas tree - you need a good bauble base and you want to see as little green as possible."

Mrs White said "you can never put too much" on a Christmas tree

Although some people may see being a Christmas decorator as a seasonal job, Maxine says there is much more to it than meets the eye.

She said: "For the rest of the year we plan, we work with our clients and we go out to Frankfurt in February for a Christmas event which gives us a lot of inspiration.

"We are constantly looking for new ideas, and when you put all that together, with beautiful products and a good team, you cannot really go wrong. You dream it we make it a reality."