The ultimate gift list for design aficionados

Woven in Portugal, this pure cotton tea towel is the work of designer Kangan Arora, known for her bold work which delights in exploring the ‘culture of the everyday’ through colour, geometry and playful pattern. Perfect for transforming doing the washing up into a joyful experience. £15, wrapmagazine.com

Supremely comfortable, customisable and adept at powerfully muffling unwanted noise, whether that’s the sound of fellow commuters or family squabbles over the holidays, these ergonomically designed earplugs are just the thing. £19.95, loopearplugs.com

Handmade from high quality borosilicate glass, these colourful stripy straws will jazz up a smoothie or an iced coffee. £26 for four, fazeek.com.au

Who wouldn’t want to find one of Aesop’s iconic tubes in their stocking or under the tree? With Cedar Atlas, Patchouli and Clove Bud, this super-nourishing balm is packed with botanical butters and oils, ideal for hydrating dry hands throughout the winter. From £27, aesop.com

This is such a clever idea, combining a scented candle and a massage oil into one beautiful object. With notes of Green Tea, Fig and Virginia Cedar Wood, enjoy the uplifting herbaceous fragrance, then extinguish the flame and use the handy spout to pour the oil onto the skin, before massaging it in. Bliss. Approx £27, arakaibeauty.com

This glass comes in many different hues, but it’s the Mediterranean-blue that makes us think of summer holidays and aperitivos. Each one is handblown, with the rotating motion creating unique patterns making each glass one of a kind. £32, casacelva.com

It’s something we use every day, so why can’t cutlery be a little more interesting? Outlined in tangerine-orange, this quirky – and durable – enamel set from Madam Stoltz will brighten up the table with its cartoonish, playful design. Approx £32, madamstoltz.dk

Ceramic artist Hal Haines’ whimsical porcelain butter dish gives a traditional breakfast table design a modern twist thanks to its crisp lines and vibrant colours. The kind of piece to treasure and pass down. £33.50, etc.london

Support University of the Arts London and buy works by its talented alumni, including this playful ceramic mug with its surprisingly ergonomic wiggly handle. The work of artist and sculptor Florence Mytum, each stoneware piece is made in her East London studio. £35, notjustashop.arts.ac.uk

There is one simple answer to the age-old question: what to give the person who has everything? Cashmere from Claridge’s. Made for the iconic hotel in a family-run mill in the Scottish borders, these super-soft socks are the ultimate in cosy bedtime decadence (for extra brownie points get the matching pyjamas). £40, claridges.co.uk

The team at Studio Arhoj hate waste, so they decided to turn the leftover bits of pottery that they test different colours and glazes on into quirky decorative objects by adding some eyes. Each one is unique and has its own character – just the thing to perch on a windowsill, shelf or mantlepiece. £41 for the set, arhoj.com

The result of a creative collaboration between the high street titan and stylish digital boutique Collagerie is this highly versatile cushion with its contemporary take on an Ikat print. £45, johnlewis.com

Patchwork is a growing trend in interiors so show that you are in tune with the zeitgeist - and the temperature - by giving this soft quilted cotton hot water bottle cover. Hand-made in India with a timeless pinwheel design in cheerful colours, it’s the perfect blend of practical and joy-making. £45, toa.st

When a bauble is also a miniature work of collectible art AND raises money for charity, we can’t resist. The first baubles to come out of Phoebe Stubbs’ London studio are sold in a numbered, limited edition of 50 and come in a range of shades inspired by Miami’s sunsoaked, candy-coloured palette. £10 from each bauble sold will go to The Rainbow Trust Children’s charity. £50, gather.glass

Tired of paper hats and plastic tat? These cotton serviettes, which have colourful Christmas crackers screen printed onto the front, offer festive feels without the bang. £55, lottieday.com

Verden, the natural fragrance brand founded in 2021 by the people at cult skincare company Votary, has enlisted interior designer Beata Hueman to create a new candle, her first foray into the fragrance world. Formulated with bergamot and warm woods, it has a scent reminiscent of far-flung locales – specifically the Scandinavian countryside of her native home. £60, verden.world

Anyone hosting this season will be pleased to hear of Maison Balzac’s latest cocktail glass, the new ‘L’Espresso Martini’. With its beige and black glass stem and crystal coffee bean ornamentation, it’s the chic way to serve. £63, maisonbalzac.com

The antipodean towel brand has expanded its signature 100 per cent chequerboard towel range to include this baby set that it describes as ‘an elevated essential for new parents’. Tiny tots fresh from bathing can be wrapped in the hooded towel while the smaller washcloth can be used to cleanse. £75, shopbaina.com

Have this friendly wooden bird perch on a windowsill or mantlepiece and it is guaranteed to bring hope, peace and care into your household well into the new year. It’s the work of Danish design company Kay Bojesen, which donates approx £5.55 per sale to a specially selected beneficiary who helps to create hope for the future. £79, skandium.com

This stool is perfect for a contemporary kitchen or bathroom corner, with its stainless steel material and tubular legs giving it an industrial feel. Alternatively, dress it up with a textural, patterned cushion and use it in the bedroom. £79.99, zara.com