From glowing paper stars and traditional candle arches to reusable calendars that can become part of a familyâs Christmas for years, these eleven pieces bring the atmosphere of a Nordic Advent into the home.
Bringing Nordic light into the darkest season
Across Scandinavia, Advent decorations are more than an attractive prelude to Christmas. Stars and electric candleholders glowing in windows help brighten the darkest weeks of the year, while four-candle arrangements mark the Sundays leading towards Christmas Eve and reusable calendars turn December into a daily ritual. This ATN selection (ATN Xmas Kit) brings together eleven Advent stars, candleholders, lights and calendars from Scandinavian brands, ranging from affordable paper decorations to lasting pieces of Nordic design. We have chosen products for different homes, budgets and recipients rather than simply assembling a catalogue of similar objects.
1. Scandi Living Folk Advent Star â best traditional paper star
The pierced decoration of the Scandi Living Folk Advent Star is inspired by traditional embroidery, allowing its light to form delicate patterns across the paper. Its familiar star shape feels unmistakably Scandinavian without becoming overly ornate, making it particularly suitable for a window, reading corner or simply decorated living room. This is our most balanced choice for someone buying a first Nordic Advent star: distinctive enough to transform a room, but restrained enough to return every December without appearing dated. Best for: a traditional Scandinavian look. Price level: accessible to mid-range. View the Folk Advent Star at Nordic Nest.
2. Watt & Veke Oslo Advent Star â best Nordic-inspired design
With pointed peaks and deep folds intended to evoke Norwayâs mountains and fjords, the Watt & Veke Oslo Advent Star carries one of the strongest Nordic identities in this selection. The star is hand-folded from semi-transparent paper, producing a gentle glow rather than harsh illumination, and its smaller size makes it easier to accommodate than many oversized statement stars. It arrives in a presentation box and would therefore also work especially well as a gift for someone who loves Norway or Scandinavian interiors. Best for: Nordic travellers and design enthusiasts. Price level: mid-range. View the Oslo Advent Star at Nordic Nest.
3. Watt & Veke Snöblomma Advent Star â best statement piece
The Watt & Veke Snöblomma Advent Star replaces the strict geometry of a conventional star with three softly folded layers of paper resembling a snow-covered flower or a dancerâs skirt. It is one of the most recognisable contemporary Scandinavian Christmas lights and works best where it can command attention: in a large window, above a table or against a dark wall. Different sizes may be available, so buyers should check the measurements carefully before ordering. This is not the quietest choice in the collection, but it is the one most capable of transforming an ordinary room into a winter interior. Best for: an impressive focal point. Price level: premium. View the Snöblomma Advent Star at Nordic Nest.
4. Star Trading Crystal Advent Star â best colourful choice
Not every Scandinavian Christmas interior needs to be white, beige or natural brown. The green Star Trading Crystal Advent Star introduces a richer seasonal colour while preserving the sharp, graphic form associated with Nordic window stars. It is a useful alternative for homes decorated with evergreen branches, red textiles, brass accessories or more traditional Christmas colours, and its comparatively approachable price makes it easier to use more than one star across several windows. Best for: adding colour without abandoning Scandinavian simplicity. Price level: accessible. View the Crystal Advent Star at Nordic Nest.
5. Scandi Living Kindle Portable Advent Candlestick â best portable light
The Scandi Living Kindle Portable Advent Candlestick offers a modern answer to one of the practical limitations of traditional electric Advent lights: it is battery-powered and therefore does not need to remain beside a wall socket. Its slim metal body can be moved from a windowsill to a dining table, shelf or darker corner of the room, while the integrated timer provides six hours of light followed by eighteen hours switched off before repeating the cycle. Its clean silhouette makes it appropriate beyond Christmas too, particularly in interiors that favour uncomplicated contemporary forms. Best for: small homes, flexible placement and cable-free windows. Price level: mid-range. View the Kindle Portable Advent Candlestick at Nordic Nest.
6. DBKD Bright Candleholder â best modern Advent wreath
Designed by Halina Fritsch, the DBKD Bright Candleholder reinterprets the traditional Advent wreath as a low ceramic ring with space for four candles. Its simple form can be left bare for a minimalist table or personalised with moss, fir sprigs, ribbons, cones or small ornaments, allowing the same object to look different each year. Because it uses ordinary candles rather than electric bulbs, it also preserves the weekly ritual of lighting one additional flame on each Sunday of Advent. As with any open flame, it must be placed on a stable surface and kept away from flammable decorations. Best for: a contemporary four-candle Advent arrangement. Price level: mid-range. View the DBKD Bright Candleholder at Nordic Nest.
7. Ferm Living Ori Candleholder â best premium design gift
The sculptural Ferm Living Ori Candleholder is made from stained beech with an aluminium core and consists of four sections that can be rearranged into different configurations. Designed to hold twenty-four small candles, it turns the countdown to Christmas into a design ritual while avoiding the obvious seasonal imagery of trees, stars and elves. That restraint makes Ori a particularly convincing gift for someone interested in Danish design, since it feels like a substantial interior object rather than a decoration destined to disappear into a box for eleven months. Best for: design-conscious recipients and important gifts. Price level: premium. View the Ferm Living Ori Candleholder at Nordic Nest.
8. Star Trading Trapp Advent Candle Arch â best classic Scandinavian window light
The tiered Star Trading Trapp Advent Candle Arch represents one of the most familiar sights in Scandinavian windows during December: a row of small electric lights arranged on a painted wooden frame. Its stepped construction gives every light a clear outline and creates a warm silhouette that can be seen from both inside and outside the home. Unlike paper stars, a wooden candle arch requires virtually no annual assembly and can be placed on the same windowsill each winter. Check the plug specification and current availability for the country in which it will be used before purchasing. Best for: recreating the classic Scandinavian Christmas-window look. Price level: accessible to mid-range. View the Trapp Advent Candle Arch at Nordic Nest.
9. Scandi Living Joyful Advent Calendar â best textile calendar
The Scandi Living Joyful Advent Calendar is a fabric wall decoration with twenty-four pockets that can be filled with sweets, handwritten messages, tiny decorations or small gifts. Its great advantage is flexibility: every family can decide what the daily surprises should be, reuse the calendar each year and adapt its contents as children grow older. It also folds away more easily than a large wooden calendar, making it practical for homes with limited storage. Best for: families wanting a reusable and easy-to-store calendar. Price level: mid-range. View the Joyful Advent Calendar at Nordic Nest.
10. Bloomingville Richie Christmas Calendar â best family keepsake
Made from plywood and fitted with twenty-four little doors, the Bloomingville Richie Christmas Calendar depicts a snowy village populated by houses, fir trees and tiny figures. Parents can fill the compartments themselves, turning it into an alternative to disposable chocolate calendars and creating a tradition that can be repeated with different surprises every December. Its illustrated winter scene also works as a freestanding Christmas decoration, even before the first door is opened. Best for: families with young children and anyone seeking a calendar to keep for many Christmases. Price level: mid-range to premium. View the Richie Christmas Calendar at Nordic Nest.
11. Bloomingville Edward Calendar Bus â best playful calendar
The red Bloomingville Edward Calendar Bus brings a more playful and nostalgic note to the countdown, with twenty-four compartments and built-in lighting incorporated into the form of a Christmas bus. It is likely to appeal most strongly to children, but its painted wooden construction gives it greater permanence than a single-use calendar. The individual boxes can hold sweets, clues, miniature toys or instructions for family activities, allowing the gift to become part calendar and part December game. Best for: children and families who want an Advent calendar with personality. Price level: mid-range to premium. View the Edward Calendar Bus at Nordic Nest.
ATNâs three final choices
For the strongest combination of price, tradition and versatility, ATNâs best overall choice is the Scandi Living Folk Advent Star. Our best design gift is the Ferm Living Ori Candleholder, an object whose appeal extends well beyond one Christmas season. For families, our best reusable calendar is the Bloomingville Richie Christmas Calendar, because it combines the daily countdown with the possibility of building a lasting household tradition. Those looking for the most dramatic decorative effect should instead consider the Watt & Veke Snöblomma.
Prices, colours, delivery times and availability may vary by market and were last reviewed on 3 September 2026. Please check the product page before ordering.
This article contains affiliate links to Nordic Nest, an online store specialising in Scandinavian and Nordic furniture and design. If you purchase through these links, All Things Nordic may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us keep ATN free for all readers.
Originally published 11 November 2025. Updated 3 September 2026.
