A round-up of the best minimalist advent calendars

I wouldn’t mind finding any of these come the 1st December. I often think advent calendars can be ever so slightly wasteful, so I’ve rounded up a selection of minimalist advent calendars that are either simple in design or just a slightly more sustainable choice. There’s classic chocolate filled calendars of course, but also customisable designs you can paint yourself or with kids, canvas calendars to fill with treats and advent candles to burn each day.

I love the idea of making your own DIY calendar and gifting it to a friend or loved one, and I’m particularly taken by The Original Mindful Advent calendar and the idea of enjoying a mindful moment with a teeny tiny candle each day. Such a thoughtful idea!

Images: Ferm Living

Advent calendar, £45, Läderach

Filled with a luxurious selection of non-alcoholic pralines made of white, dark and milk chocolate

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Build your own advent calendar, £30 for 10, asc direct

Fill your own cardboard advent calendar and send to friends to enjoy this festive season

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Vegan advent calendar, £13.95, Hotel Chocolat

You can't beat a classic chocolate advent calendar, this one has 24 nutmilk treats

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Star Christmas calendar, £59, Ferm Living

A long, narrow canvas calendar that's perfect for small spaces and beside doorways

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Embers + Roots countdown candle, £13.45, Etsy *aff

Hand-poured in a family workshop using soy wax, choose from four scents

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Humdakin calendar candle, £18, Royal Design

An advent calendar as minimalist as they come

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Advent candle, £2.46, Søstrene Grene

This Danish brand has a great selection of advent candles at affordable prices

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Canvas advent calendar, £69.07, Etsy *aff

A reusable fabric advent calendar, with the option to personalise with embroidery

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Christmas Calendar candle, £9.50, OYOY LIVING

Currently reduced from £19, countdown to Christmas by burning one number each day

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Scented candle advent calendar, £99, John Lewis *aff

Enjoy 12 days of indulgent candles and oils, from brands such as Skandinavisk, Aery and NEOM

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Scented advent candles, £35, Lifestory

Four glass candles, each numbered for December Sundays, with a warm cinnamon scent for a festive, cosy atmosphere

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Liewood Babbo Christmas calendar, £74, Natural Baby Shower

A charming design that's perfect for little ones

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Bamford 12 Day advent calendar, £195, Liberty *aff

Limited edition calendar with twelve luxury treats from sustainable British brand Bamford

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Broste Copenhagen Karla advent calendar, £79, Smallable *aff

A cotton advent calendar with a graphic, minimalist pattern

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Wooden advent calendar, £16, Hobbycraft

Paint and decorate your own wooden advent calendar and use it year after year

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Tealight advent calendar, £44, St Eval

A classic advent calendar with 24 scented tealights and a gold tealight holder instead of chocolate

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Ferm Living Mura advent candle, £19, Lifestory

Available in oat or artichoke green, with 24 hand-rolled embossed numbers

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Christmas tree advent calendar, £34, Graham and Green *aff

Minimalist metal Christmas tree with 24 hooks to hang small gifts

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DIY advent calendar, £6.94, Søstrene Grene

Fill your own advent calendar, made of 100% FSC-certified paper

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The Original Mindful Advent candle set, £24.50, Not On The High St *aff

Enjoy a mindful moment with these handmade, natural beeswax candles

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Multi drawer advent calendar, £22.91, Amazon *aff

A customisable brown paper design that you can either leave plain or decorate – just fill with anything you want

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