Is it just me, or does anyone else spend the whole year spotting gorgeous things which they’d love to buy for friends and family (or themselves!), only for their mind to go blank when it comes to actually finding Christmas gifts? To make things a little easier for anyone suffering from the same affliction, I’ve rounded up a few ideas for fellow fans of simple, Scandinavian-inspired design. Time to start shopping – or dropping a few not-so-subtle hints, of course…
Nuori
One of my recent discoveries is Danish skincare brand Nuori, which uses only natural ingredients. There are hand and body products, face masks and creams, all with wonderfully fresh scents that combine vanilla, almonds and botanicals. What’s more, the minimal, monochrome packaging looks fantastic on the bathroom shelf.
Enriched handwash, £24, and hand lotion, £35, Nuori via Content Beauty & Wellbeing
The White Company
Ever-reliable The White Company has a beautiful range of gifts – everything from scented candles and bath goodies to simple yet elegant tableware. My favourites are the woollen items, including this pair of grey cable-knit slipper boots, which I’ve had the pleasure of testing out. They’re soft, warm and snuggly – ideal for curling up on a cold winter’s night.
Cable-knit pom-pom slipper boots, £40, The White Company
HAY
Danish favourite HAY has launched a range of curated gift boxes, just in time for Christmas. There are small, medium and large versions in a variety of themes, all packed with HAY’s trademark colourful yet minimal designs. Examples include the ‘Bath’ box (a towel, washbag, mirror and face cloth), the ‘Dining’ box (wine glasses, coasters and a tray) and the ‘Kitchen’ box (a trivet, bottle opener and tea towels).
HAY gift boxes, £35-55, Amara
Shedquarters
If you’re looking for contemporary homeware, try Shedquarters, an online store with a handpicked range of beautiful designs. Going on my wishlist are the Forestry Wool ‘Triangle’ blankets, the marbled ceramics by Dutch-based duo Alissa + Nienke, and the minimalist coffee cups by Denmark-based Nobel Design.
Black marbled espresso cups, £22, ‘Triangle’ blanket, £100, and Nobel Design cups, £34, Shedquarters
Olga Prinku
Northern England-based designer Olga Prinku, whose stunning home I featured earlier this year, hand-knits a range of products which make beautiful gifts. There are cushions, chunky blankets, scarves and children’s hats; I particularly love the textured woollen throw, which comes in off white, light grey and dark grey.
Textured throw, £175, Olga Prinku
Skandinavisk
I’ve talked before about how much I love Skandinavisk scented candles, which are all inspired by different aspects of Scandinavian lifestyles and landscapes. They make perfect presents, and the company has released three gift sets featuring mini versions of some of its most popoular fragrances – ‘Vinter’ (‘SKOG’, ‘SNÖ’ and ‘BÆR’), ‘Home’ (‘KOTO’, ‘HYGGE’ and ‘RO’) and ‘Nature’ (‘FJORD’, ‘Ö’ and ‘HAV’).
Mini gift sets, €45-50 each, Skandinavisk
Ever After Press
I know Christmas cards aren’t strictly presents, but I had to include this minimalist range from Paris-based studio Ever After Press, which combines a striking pastel and monochrome colour palette with modern typography, understated illustration and atmospheric photography. All the designs are printed on textured heavyweight card stock and available for international shipping.
Christmas cards, £59 for a set of 40, Ever After Press
Photography by Abi Dare or the brands mentioned above; top image via House Doctor
Leave a Reply