The Good Design Journal
Your Head Start on Minimalist Christmas Decor and Gifting Begins with These 13 Deliciously Early Finds
Let’s be honest, it’s probably a little too early to be talking about the festive season. The calendar says spring, the footy finals are just wrapping up, and yet… you’re already thinking about it, aren’t you? It’s okay, you can admit it. This is a safe space. This is for you—the one who gets a secret, delicious thrill from plotting the holidays while everyone else is still making plans for the weekend. It’s about getting a head start on the joy, not the stress.
But a good plot requires subtlety. You can’t just roll out the tinsel and inflatable reindeer just yet. The key is to start with pieces that are beautiful in their own right, things that just happen to have a quiet, festive sparkle.
This is your guide to the most elegant, undercover minimalist Christmas decor and clever gifts—a toolkit for indulging that first, irresistible glimmer of holiday excitement.
1. The Tree as a Whisper of Light
NORDIC ROOMS Tree Standing Off-White with LED light 36cm
This isn't a Christmas tree. This is your first co-conspirator in the festive plot. Its abstract, conical shape gives you plausible deniability ("It's just a lovely lamp!"), while the warm, pin-pricked lights are a quiet, conspiratorial wink to the season ahead.
2. A Stage for Your Most Dramatic Candle
DESIGNSTUFF Viah Candle Holder
This isn't just a candle holder; it's a pedestal. It has that satisfying, sculptural weight that says, "whatever is placed here is very important." It’s designed to give a simple taper candle the dramatic presence it truly deserves.
3. A Stroke of Unexpected Colour
ESTER & ERIK Taper Candle, 32cm, Aubergine
While everyone else is defaulting to the usual festive palette, a deep, moody aubergine feels like a well-kept secret. It’s a chic, sophisticated colour that’s festive in a more mysterious, grown-up way. It’s less "jingle bells" and more "glass of shiraz by the fire."
4. The Gift You'll Be Tempted to Keep
PRINTWORKS Classic Games Chess, Dusty Blue
Being a planner means having a few stunning, no-brainer gifts stashed away. This is one of them. It looks like a handsome art book for your coffee table, but it's secretly a full chess set. It's the perfect gift for almost anyone, which is why you should probably get two, just in case.
5. Your Go-To Gift for the Social Butterfly
PRINTWORKS Classic Games Art of Poker
Here’s another ace for your gift-giving sleeve. It's a beautifully designed poker set hiding in plain sight as a chic book. It’s the perfect present for that friend who loves to gather people, encouraging a night of laughter and terrible bluffs.
6. The "Just Add Oil" Gift
DESIGNSTUFF RUND Oil & Vinegar Set
This gift cleverly sidesteps the question of whether someone has "good" taste in olive oil. It’s a pair of gorgeous, empty glass bottles in tactile silicone sleeves, ready for whatever fancy stuff the recipient already owns. You’re not giving them oil; you’re giving their countertop a much-needed glow-up.
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7. The World's Easiest Bathroom Makeover
LOST Hand Towel, Mulberry
Want to make your guest bathroom feel instantly more luxurious and thought-out? This is it. The deep, velvety mulberry colour is a perfect, low-key nod to the festive season. It's a strategic pop of colour that makes you look like a host who has their life completely together.
8. The "I-Came-Prepared" Hostess Gift
DESIGNSTUFF SÆBE Hand Wash & Dish Wash Set
There's a special kind of smugness that comes from having the perfect gift on hand at a moment's notice. This elegant wash set is your ticket. It's beautifully packaged, smells divine, and is a guaranteed hit for any last-minute dinner party invitation.
9. A Tree That Begs to Be Touched
NORDIC ROOMS Deluxe Tree Flaxseed 45cm
This is the strong, silent type of festive decor. While other decorations are all flash and sparkle, this one is a quiet study in texture. Its layered, fibrous material adds a soft, organic feel to a room that’s both calming and deeply intriguing.
10. The Funhouse Mirror Jug
&TRADITION Momento Jug, 1L, Polished Stainless Steel
This jug is pure, liquid-like sculpture. Its perfectly polished surface acts as a funhouse mirror, capturing and distorting the room around it in an ever-changing, abstract reflection. It’s so much fun to look at, you might forget its main job is to hold water.
11. The Most Glamorous Way to Chill Bubbly
TOM DIXON Cloud Bowl Ice Bucket, Aluminium
This looks less like an ice bucket and more like a piece of a fallen meteorite that’s been polished to a brilliant shine. It's a glorious, crumpled, cloud-like vessel that has the power to give even a cheap bottle of prosecco feel like a very big deal.
12. Your Chicest Clutter-Buster
ENKEL STUDIO Storage Basket, Large, White
The prelude to the holidays also means a prelude to… stuff. Gifts to be wrapped, extra throws, a home for the magazines before guests arrive. This woven basket is the chicest possible answer. It’s a stylish black hole into which you can toss any and all clutter.
13. The Bow That's Better Than the Gift
DESIGNSTUFF LUVA Large Bow for Door, Fern
Let’s be real: a truly excellent bow is a work of art. These have a satisfying, textural quality that feels miles away from the shiny, plastic kind. Having a stash of these on hand is the mark of a truly dedicated planner, the perfect, decorative exclamation point for a tree that’s been thoughtfully styled.
Okay, for real: how early is too early to start decorating?
If you have to hide it from your partner, it might be too early. Otherwise, you’re golden! The beauty of minimalist Christmas decor is that it doesn’t scream "HOLIDAYS!" It just whispers it seductively. Things like a beautiful candle or a sculptural tree are stylish year-round; they just happen to feel extra special right now.
My style is pretty minimal. How do I do "festive" without it feeling cluttered?
You cheat. Instead of adding more stuff, you just make the stuff you already have work harder. Swap your normal hand towel for one in a rich, seasonal colour. Add one statement piece that sparkles, like a polished ice bucket. And never underestimate the power of scent—a subtle pine or cinnamon fragrance does more work than a thousand baubles.
What’s the secret to being a gifting genius?
The secret is not actually being a genius; it's just being prepared. Stockpile a few beautiful, foolproof gifts that work for almost anyone (we're looking at you, fancy games and wash sets). When a last-minute occasion pops up, you get to swoop in looking thoughtful and organised, not panicked.
Any tips for storing these nice things so they don't get ruined?
Yes! Think of it as tucking them into bed for a long nap. Wrap anything delicate in a soft cloth (old t-shirts are great for this). The boxes that fancy phones come in are perfect for storing small, precious objects. And label everything with a specificity that would make a librarian proud. Your future self will thank you.
The Quiet Beginning
There’s a unique sense of peace—and a secret sense of accomplishment—that comes from being prepared, from creating a welcoming space before the festive tide really rolls in. The point isn’t to have everything perfect by October; it’s to choose a few beautiful, serene pieces that let you savor the anticipation. It’s about setting a calm foundation for the season, so you can be fully present for the moments that matter.
That is the entire spirit behind our First Glimmer capsule. It's a curated collection of lighting, minimalist christmas decor, and gifts designed for this exact purpose. Each piece is a quiet nod to the season, a tool to help you craft a tranquil home and enjoy the special, almost secretive feeling that comes with the very first signs of festive cheer.
