Skip to Content

44 of the ultimate gifts for design fans

Want to avoid that look of disappointment when the wrapping paper comes off? Pick from our selection of stylish presents

By and
elle decoration uk christmas gift guide
ELLE Decoration UK

Pairing gifts with the perfect people is an art form as well as a generous act of love. Sometimes, though, inspiration does not hit (or the person is just notoriously difficult to buy for) and the festive season can begin to feel more like an exercise in panic buying. That’s the state we hope to help you avoid with this, our annual edit of the very best buys for design fans. It’s all guaranteed to please. All killer, plus a few stocking fillers…

1

‘Apple’ scarf, Le Bonnet

apple scarf from le bonnet
Le Bonnet

Traditionally made in Scotland from 100% vilted lambswool, this super-soft scarf has an unapologetically modern feel thanks to its checkerboard pattern and punchy colour palette. Warm and stylish, it’s a guaranteed winner for even tricky-to-buy-for types. £145, lebonnet.com

2

‘Soft Shape’ vase, Milo Made Ceramics

soft shape vase by milo made ceramics the conran shop
Conran Shop

We love the contrast between the natural, crafted feel of this vase’s stoneware body and its exuberant orange squiggle of a handle. Each one is handmade in London by Milo Li-ren Mckeand, making it a highly collectible piece of contemporary craft. £175, conranshop.co.uk

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

‘Essential’ skincare gift set, Typology

essential skincare gift set typology
Typology

Vegan, organic and made in France, the serum, moisturiser and calming hydrosol in this kit are designed to allow the recipient to create a simple yet effective skincare routine – the perfect new year’s resolution in fact. £45, uk.typology.com

4

‘Confetti’ chopping board, Fredericks & Mae

confetti chopping board by fredericks mae at moma design store
MoMA Design Store

Ideal for jazzing up mundane tasks like chopping vegetables, this cheerful, colour-flecked board made from professional-grade, food-safe plastic by Brooklyn-based studio Fredericks & Mae is perfect for the foodie in your life. £45, store.moma.org

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

‘Water House’ mac, Cawley Studio

water house mac by cawley studio william morris gallery
Nicola Tree

If ever a garment could be described as ‘beautiful and useful’, it’s this mac by Cawley Studio, available from the William Morris Gallery shop. Designer Hannah Cawley took inspiration from a photo of the Arts and Crafts icon wearing a smock and adapted the silhouette into a pleated oilskin mac, finishing it with a tana lawn cotton from Liberty Fabrics’ ‘Art of Craft’ collection. £425, wmgallery.shop

6

‘Fantasmino’ portable lamp, Venini

icon
Abask

This little LED lamp’s shape is a play on Venini’s famous ‘Fazzoletto’ (handkerchief) vase from 1948. The shade is handmade in Murano using the 15th century Opalini technique, a process that gives it its strong block colour. The rechargeable, portable design is a fantastic blend of old and new. £520, abask.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

‘Love’ print silk scarf, Amelia Graham

love print silk scarf national portrait gallery shop
National Portrait Gallery

London-based textile designer Amelia created this luxurious square scarf featuring a graphic pattern clash print and bold lettering. Made from 100% silk crepe de chine and finished with a pin hem, it’s would add a splash of vibrant colour to a pared back outfit. £125, npgshop.org.uk

8

‘Bronto’ mug, Hem

bronto mug by hem for finnish design shop
Finnish Design Shop

Much like the giant of the dinosaur kingdom, the brontosaurus, this design by Supergroup would be easy to spot in your kitchen. Be loud and proud during your morning coffee. £78.85, finnishdesignshop.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

‘Garrett’ cocktail shaker, Ralph Lauren Home

garrett cocktail shaker by ralph lauren home
Harrods

We can imagine Jay Gatsby himself mixing a martini in this sleek cocktail shaker from Ralph Lauren Home. With plenty of vintage-tinged design details, including solid brass hardware, supple leather and moisture-wicking canvas, it will bring a touch of old school glamour to any bar cart. £195, harrods.com

10

‘Green and Pink Swirl’ wine glass, Henry Holland Studio

wine glass henry holland studio
Henry Holland Studio

Henry Holland’s swirling, multi-hued wine glasses bring the party wherever they’re used. Handblown in England with a ‘cookie foot’ base for extra weight, each one is a little piece of handheld art that you can enjoy using every day. £195 for two, henryhollandstudio.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

‘Faces’ bat, The Art of Ping Pong

faces bat by the art of ping pong
Scott Kimble

Whatever your skill level, this cute, colourful bat is sure to elevate your table tennis game. Available individually or as a pair with four balls, each bat is handmade from sustainable wood and natural rubber, then screen-printed with the ‘Faces’ design. £49, theartofpingpong.co.uk

12

‘Oyster Perpetual 41’ watch, Rolex

oyster perpetual 41 watch rolex
©Rolex

Popping with effervescent candy colours and positivity, the bubbles on the dial of the Oyster Perpetual 41 by Rolex bring a fresh energy to this classic design. The ultimate gift for someone who values unbeatable craftsmanship (and punctuality), yet doesn’t take themselves too seriously. £5,400, rolex.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

‘La Dolce Vita’ aperitivo platter, Laetitia Rouget x Malfy Gin

la dolce vita aperitivo platter laetitia rouget x malfy gin
LAETITIA ROUGET

Perfect for serving snacks at a cocktail party or al fresco entertaining when the weather warms up, Laetitia Rouget’s colourful collaboration with Malfy Gin is a joyful celebration of the good things in life. Hand-painted in Portugal, it looks like a stylish souvenir brought home from a wonderful holiday. £91, laetitiarouget.com

14

‘Happy’ socks, Baggu

happy’ socks in navy by baggu, found bath, pr shopfoundbathcouk
Found Bath

We were delighted to discover that the makers of our favourite reusable bags also do socks, also featuring their signature happy-making prints. The bamboo-mix material is soft and stretchy; a perfect Secret Santa or stocking filler. £15, foundbath.co.uk

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

‘Panama’ diary in ‘Neon Yellow’, Smythson

panama diary in neon yellow by smythson
Smythson

Do you have a stationery obsessive in your life (maybe it’s you!), then this highlighter yellow diary is the ultimate gift. Offering the possibility of a more organised and sunnier future. £55, smythson.com

16

‘Mushroom’ tureen, Bordallo Pinheiro

mushroom box by bordallo pinheiro matchesfashion
Matchesfashion.com

Bring a touch of whimsy to your festive tablescape with this fantastical mushroom tureen, straight out of a Brothers Grimm fairytale. Crafted in Bordallo Pinheiro’s Caldas da Rainha factory in Portugal and glazed with a semi-lustrous finish, it has a playful and timeless appeal. £50, matchesfashion.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

‘SOB Chair 2’, Sons of Beasley

sob chair 2 by sons of beasley from scp
Peter Guenzel

Crafted from offcuts donated by Plykea, this limited edition chair is one of a series by Carl Clerkin and Alex Hellum. With a simple form reminiscent of school chairs and pastel pick ‘n’ mix shades giving each a charming naivety, design fans will be thrilled to receive one of these exuberant experiments in small batch furniture making. £395, scp.co.uk

18

Wick trimmer, Loewe

wick trimmer by loewe
loewe

Replicating the luxurious materials, tactile finishes and attention to detail of a Loewe bag, but in miniature, this beautifully crafted wick trimmer is the home accessory you never knew you needed. £435, loewe.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

‘Sea Salt & Lime’ chocolate, UpUp

sea salt and lime chocolate by upup
UpUp

If you care about the origin of your coffee beans, you should be just as discerning when it comes to cacao. This tasty bar is as single origin as it gets – from El Rosari, a small farm in the Necocli region of Colombia. £3.50, upupchocolate.com

20

‘Lao’ paperweight, Hermès

lao elephant paperweight by hermes
courtesy Hermes

Crafted in Vietnam from hand-lacquered wood, this characterful desk companion will encourage you (or a loved one) to ‘never forget’ their worth. £445, hermes.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below