My Tiny Christmas Gift Guide: 10+ Stylish and Minimalist Gift Ideas For Interior and Design Lovers [ they all are on my wishlist too! ].
It’s time to have a look at what unique, elegant, cozy, minimalist, and timeless designs I found to add to my Christmas Gift Guide for interior and design lovers.
Though I focused on small brands, studios, artists, and family businesses (because somehow I felt the need to switch attention from mass-produced items to more unique experiences) - there are some items that I could not ignore from bigger brands too.
Most of the designs in the list reflect my favorite style - a mix of Nordic and Japanese warm minimalist vibes.
So, let’s have a look! The list is not in some particular order, it was more like a “first found - first added” thing when I was preparing it :)
[ November Update ] The Christmas Edit 2023: 40 Minimalist, Simple, and Elegant Designs for Christmas Decoration is also online!
This page may include affiliate links – my full disclosure statement is available here.
1/ Ask og Eng - The Objects Collection.
Photography: Ask og Eng
Unusual shapes, warm deep colors, great craftsmanship, and beautiful rich materials. These items can help soften straight lines in your space in the most elegant way.
“Each plate is hand carved from jacaranda, a fast-growing wood, by a fairtrade certified co-operative in Nairobi. Jacaranda is a fast-growing wood traditionally used for carving. The plates are then finished using a traditional process of smoking the wood over fire to achieve its deep rich color, it is then oiled to finish for a beautiful buttery hand feel.” / “These handmade stoneware cups and saucers are perfect for tea and coffee, or used as a display piece. Each piece is hand produced and unique, left with a mark of their handmade organic form.“ / “A contemporary take on 17th-century “spool” furniture, combining an antique appeal with a modern aesthetic. The bobbin components are hand-turned on a traditional wood lathe, each mirror is unique and celebrates the individual grain patterns found in the timber.”
Objects are made to order, delivery time 4-6 weeks.
Kine Ask Stenersen and Kristoffer Eng founded the Ask og Eng studio in early 2016, after having built several sustainable kitchens and furniture for themselves over a number of years. More about Ask og Eng.
2/ Ann Vincent - Sculptural Candles.
Photography: Ann Vincent
I always had a soft spot for perfectly imperfect shapes. And for candles. So I bet you can guess why these designs are on the list :)
“Every candle is made with a soy wax blend, poured into molds, and hand-finished with a sculpting knife. Each piece has details that make it unique. Small irregularities are characteristics of the handmade.“
Ann Vincent is an artist and photographer based in Ghent, Belgium. She works across a wide range of disciplines exploring image and object.
3/ FANT - “Clouds” Blanket and Cushions.
Photography: FANT
I love delicate geometric stitching, it adds a unique touch while being almost invisible (which is a perfect “pattern” for me), as well as the choice of materials and colors.
And those huge cushions are just adorable and, by the way, such cushions are super functional too - I love to use big cushions and soft poufs at home literally in every room - to sit, to sleep, to play with my kid, etc…
“Fant likes to work with natural and ecological materials, natural and synthetic recycled materials, and vintage clothing and objects. She embraces the imperfections and wabi-sabi philosophy. Sustainable developments are marked highly. Lots of attention is put in every detail as this is part of the process...” More about FANT.
4/ FRAMA - Stem Glass Collection.
Photography: FRAMA Image Bank
The Stem Glass Collection has been on my list for sooo long! I confess I have an “addiction“ to simple transparent glass and (again) - perfectly imperfect shapes. This vase or set of glasses can be the perfect Christmas gift for anyone who loves simple elegance and unique minimalist tableware.
“FRAMA is a multi-disciplinary design brand that creates lifestyle objects to inspire the senses and encourage mindful living. With an emphasis on natural materials, simple geometries, and uncompromising quality, FRAMA’s work connects the imaginative with the practical, resulting in a uniquely warm and honest aesthetic.”
5/ Boyhood - Moomintroll Collection and other figurines.
Photography: Boyhood
Preface: While there are certainly many renowned wooden figurines that are undeniably remarkable, for me, the true essence of these petite 'sculptures' lies not in the fame of their designers but in the personal connection they evoke, both to the idea behind them and the character they represent. That's why, until now, I had only acquired a single wooden figurine for my home—a wooden bird by Kristian Vedel (which you can find in My Home Edit). And since then I’ve always been on the lookout for some “friends” to join my bird.
Moomin figurines by Boyhood were the first to evoke that special connection feeling in me. They are available in 3 different sizes, including a limited edition (45cm high)! If you don't share the same enthusiasm for Tove Jansson and her Moominworld as I do, have a look at these amazing designs by Boyhood: Ballon D’og small and Ballon D’og big, Gingerbread Man figurines are perfect for Christmas decoration, adorable Snoopy figurines.
About Boyhood and Jacob Burgsø: “In 2016 Boyhood founder and designer, Jakob Burgsø, left his job as an independent graphic designer. He had a vision.“ Read the rest of this heartwarming story here.
6/ TEKLA - Home Textiles and Sleepwear.
Photography: TEKLA
High-quality and super stylish textiles can make great gifts, in my opinion. You only need to consider someone's color preferences and, sometimes, their size, for sleepwear and bathrobes. However, as long as they are a bit oversized for added comfort, it's not much of a problem, I believe. Seriously, why is a vase often considered a nice gift, while a set of beautiful towels or a stylish pajama is not? :) I vote for pajamas!
On my wishlist: Towel sets (my favorite colors: Sienna, Baby Blue Stripes), Poplin Sleepwear (my choice: Shadow stripes and Needle Stripes), Cashmere Blanket.
“Established in Copenhagen in 2017, Tekla was born from a desire to bring modernity and freedom of expression to the homeware category. Taking inspiration from art and architecture, most notably John Pawson, Donald Judd, Le Corbusier, and Agnes Martin (Agnes Martin - one of my favorite artists, see some examples of her work at the MoMa website!), it creates elevated yet functional homeware pieces that center a timeless, straightforward design expression.“
7/ Books: Phaidon - The Silver Spoon Kitchen Collection.
I’m old school when it comes to books - I need a paper book in my hands, it’s still kind of “old magic” in it. It reminds me also of my childhood - to grab a huge mug of tea, find a cozy corner, and - hear pages, feel pages, and admire well-designed covers, and beautiful illustrations/photographs in it. What could be better than a good book on long holiday days, during evenings, and on cozy mornings? Only a good cookbook, maybe… Even if you never tried one. A good cookbook can infuse your holidays with new flavors - both figuratively and literally. The main secret is to stay positive (or at least keep calm…) even if smth goes wrong and…and to have fun… :)) These two by Phaidon are on my wishlist (I have more at home already and love them):
Photography: The Chocolate Spoon. Italian Sweets from the Silver Spoon. The SilverSpoon Kitchen. Phaidon: Chocolate mug cakes. Photography by Luca Colombo at Studio XL (page 119) Torta in tazza al cioccolato / The Italian Bakery. Step-by-Step Recipes with The Silver Spoon. Phaidon: Lemon Tart with Sage and Blueberries. Photography: Haarala Hamilton (page 91) Pie al limone e salvia con mirtilli.
"The Chocolate Spoon: Italian Sweets from The Silver Spoon" and "The Italian Bakery: Step-by-Step Recipes with The Silver Spoon". Also available here: The Italian Bakery, The Chocolate Spoon, and here: The Italian Bakery, The Chocolate Spoon.
About Phaidon: “Phaidon Press is a global publisher of books on art, architecture, design, fashion, photography, and popular culture, as well as cookbooks, children's books, and travel books. The company is based in London and New York City, with additional offices in Paris and Berlin. With over 1,500 titles in print, Phaidon books are sold in over 100 countries and are printed in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin, and dozens of other languages. Since the publisher's founding in Vienna in 1923, Phaidon has sold almost 50 million books worldwide.” (Wikepedia, more about Phaidon on their website).
8/ Japanese Stationery by MD Paper (Midori) and Hobonichi.
Photography / Source: MD PAPER PRODUCTS (TM)
As much as I love to read paper books, I love to write on smooth, off-white, high-quality paper... Stylish stationery has been my soft spot for years. My all-time favorites are products by MD Paper (by Midori) for more “freedom” and for “artistic” use and Hobonichi Techo Lineup for being super-organized. Both brands offer a huge variety of notebooks, journals, diaries, organizers, and planners of different sizes (mostly A5/A6) and number of pages - make sure to check all options. My favorite one by MD Paper is One Day One Page Journal (368 pages!). And by Hobonichi - the Hobonichi Techo Original Book (pay attention to language, make sure you order the book in English!).
About MD Paper Products: “MD PAPER PRODUCTS™ are simple, Japan-made products that are designed to get the most out of our exactingly designed MD PAPER.
We have continued to explore the unique qualities of MD PAPER since the 1960’s in order to continually refine the writing feel that enhances the value of taking pen to paper.”
Read more on MD Paper website.
About Hobonichi: “The original Hobonichi Techo was created in 2001, and it’s been refined and updated every year since then to reflect the demands of users. Now, over 20 years from its initial release, the techo has gained fans all over the world. Here’s a look at the basics of the Hobonichi Techo“.
Read the full story here.
9/ Playforever - timeless heirloom toys.
Photography: Playforever
These cars have been on my wish list for so long! They are super elegant! I was just waiting for my son (and my husband…) to grow up, and it seems that this year (finally) is the perfect time to order them! My personal favorites are 502 Clyde Midnight (20cm long), PL R802 Rufus Weller (21.4cm), 106 Bruno Racing Car Chrome (27cm!), and VM202 Malibu Benjamin (15cm long).
About Playforever: “Our story began when Founder Julian Meagher was just eleven years old. Riding his bike around local underground car parks, searching for tucked-away supercars and peeking under dust covers to marvel at their sleek forms and shiny badges…” Read more about Playforever.
10/ Vintage.
Has anyone ever given you vintage items as gifts for the holidays?
For me: it's never happened. But I wouldn't mind at all :)) Of course, choosing vintage gifts requires a good understanding of the person's taste, especially when it's not about iconic designs, but about "no-name" vintage items. However, there are small shops nowadays, which carefully curate their collections. When you buy something from them, you can be sure it will make a great gift, be it an iconic design, an object from a not-so-famous but still super-talented designer, or a beautiful “no-name” object. By the way, here I have a list of 40+ shops/marketplaces, where you can find vintage items - I made it last year when I was looking for a vintage dining table and a vintage chair - so those are shops and marketplaces I saved for my own purposes. They are mostly in Europe, but some are in the US/Canada if I remember correctly. So in order not to lose this valuable information, I decided to share the list in my blog, feel free to use it.
+ 11/ My Current Home Edit + Coffee Table Books Library.
If you like the style of my home, then have a look at these two blog posts, it may happen you’ll find some gift ideas there too: My Current Home Edit and Coffee Table Books Library.
Photography and styling: @by.arkt = me :)
Thank you for reading my blog :)
[ All photography courtesy of respective brands. ]
