Office atmosphere in December: mugs, candles and small gifts
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
Three venues, a budget under 80 euros, and what to avoid — a practical office atmosphere without a Christmas show.
December at the office is more than just the end-of-year drinks and drawing names for Secret Santa. It's also about the little things in between: a mug that sits on your desk all month, a bowl of candy by the printer, a candle someone places on the meeting table. This guide is about those in-between moments – how to create atmosphere at work on a small budget without turning it into a full-blown Christmas show.
Why Small Gestures Work
A shared drink is one thing. Something people walk past daily – the coffee corner, the printer cabinet, the meeting table – reaches everyone, even the colleague who's been working from home for days. Two things separate a good December atmosphere from a mess:
Choose three places, not ten. The coffee corner, meeting table, and shared counter are enough. If you put something everywhere, nothing will be noticed.
Keep what can be removed after the holidays. Reusable mugs and candles last all year; flimsy Christmas decorations will still be forlornly waiting in January.
The Coffee Corner: Mugs and Hot Drinks
The coffee machine is where everyone goes. A set of shared mugs placed there in December immediately creates atmosphere, and after the holidays, you can keep them in the communal cupboard for guests and visitors.
Crypto Meme Mug (€ 8.00) – if your colleagues are from the tech world.
For the entire team: count on approximately one shared mug per four employees. You don't need more, as people switch between their own mug and the shared ones. For visitors and clients: keep two clean ones on hand.
The Meeting Table: Candles and Light
When it gets dark at 4:30 PM, one candle on the meeting table makes a difference that overhead lighting can't match. Choose something neutral and unscented – scented candles in a meeting room are a complaint magnet.
Practical tip: choose tealights with at least 4 hours of burn time and place them on something heat-resistant. Blow them out before you leave at the end of the day – smarter than you think, and that's ultimately what the person locking up will do anyway.
The Shared Counter: Something to Grab
A bowl of candy or a small dispenser is inviting. Since COVID, an open bowl of candy is no longer welcome everywhere, so here are two neat alternatives:
Mini Gumball Machine Blue (€ 12.95) or Red (€ 12.95) – everyone gets exactly one gumball by turning the handle. Individually packaged, so no grab-bowls. Count on approximately 20 to 30 gumballs per week for a team of 10.
Add a small sign ("take one") – that way it's clear whether it's for everyone or just for visitors. Also nice: a small bowl at the counter for the postal or package delivery person. A small gesture, always appreciated.
What to Put on the Table for a Daily or Departmental Lunch
If there's a shared lunch moment – a Sinterklaas pastry, a Christmas lunch, drinks at 4 PM on the last Friday – you don't need to order a ready-made caterer to make it festive. What works:
Two to four candles in the center.
A small bowl of candy or nuts for every four people.
Hot drinks in a thermos, plus the shared mugs.
A lollipop or chocolate at each plate – a small surprise, costs almost nothing per person.
You don't need more. The rest is food that people make themselves or have delivered.
What Does This Whole Plan Cost?
For a team of 10 to 15 people:
Item
Quantity
Price
Shared mugs
3 pieces at € 5–8
approx. € 20
Candle set + holder
1 set + 1 holder
approx. € 30
Gumball machine
1 piece
€ 13
Lollipops or marshmallow treats
15 pieces
approx. € 15
Total indicative
approx. € 78
For under € 80, you have all three areas covered for the entire month. That's less than one round of snacks from the caterer.
What to Skip
A few things that are often bought but rarely work:
Balloons and streamers above desks. Works for a birthday, but quickly gets messy in an office. Save that for drinks or a departmental lunch.
Large Christmas tree in the shared space – if no one is responsible for it, it will still be dripping with half its lights in January.
Personal gifts outside of Secret Santa. Who gets one, who doesn't? Awkward. Always give small gifts to the entire team or not at all.
Get Started
Combine what suits your team and budget: start with the coffee corner, then the meeting table, then the counter. Discover more in Coffee & Tea Accessories, Candles, and Candy. Questions about quantities for a larger team or an order for multiple locations? Email us at info@verpakkingdeals.nl.
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