Design Milk Team Picks – Our Top Holiday Gift Recommendations

“When we’re not in a pandemic, I’m usually traveling a lot and when I do, I always bring a candle with me. First, having a familiar scent with you no matter where you are in the world is grounding, and second, it makes hotel rooms smell so much better! I love these from Anecdote since they come in tins with lids and are compact in size making them perfect for travel.”

“The Evening Kingdom Puzzle is fantastic, it’s a healthy balance of visual art meets family game time. The color scheme and pieces are complex and engaging for my whole family. Even the littlest ones can help sort pieces. We fully intend to frame and display this beauty when done as a testament to our efforts and its great imagery. I would happily recommend this to both puzzle and art connoisseurs; however, it might be challenging for beginner puzzlers.”

“This bento box is perfect for my long school and workdays. It’s ideal for packing snacks, and I’ve also taken it to the beach plenty of times because it keeps food dry and cool. It’s a fun and cute way to pack lunch or snacks! I would gift this to a coworker or any of my friends that are students because it is so convenient. I love the pink color as well, but there’s a ton of colors to pick from! The size of the box fits nicely into my backpack or work bag.”

“I couldn’t possibly love my Uma Mini Light and Speaker more! It’s been on my wish list since I joined Design Milk a few days before the first COVID lockdowns last year. Now that I finally have it in my hands, I’m wishing I hadn’t waited. The sound quality is just as rich and enveloping as the glowing candlelight effect. Which I find truly amazing given its petite profile. It totally over delivers in quality, style and performance, and is one of my most favorite purchases of all time.”

“I’m in love with this duo of gift picks from W&P. I’m trying to avoid single-use plastics wherever possible, and the Porter Charcoal Terrazzo Utensil set is ideal when I’m on the go. The knife is sharp enough to cut meat, and the silicone carrying case allows me to toss the used utensils back in my bag after use without worry. This is a smart stocking stuffer that I’ll be sending my sister’s way! The Porter Plastic bowl’s tight seal and snug strap keep food fresh and gives extra peace of mind that the lid will stay put. I love to use mine to toss single-serve green salads. This is a great gift for the paleo/keto crowd who can’t confine their lunch to a brown bag.”

“I love this stone for a little self-care. It’s high quality, feels so good and cool on my skin, and it looks beautiful as well. I use it to massage in my favorite facial oils and can’t complete my skincare routine without it! Any lady on your holiday shopping list will love this too, gift it alongside their favorite face oil or on its own as the perfect little stocking stuffer.”

“The Boo Mirror is the perfect compact size for applying my makeup in the morning, and if I need to switch locations (tiny apartment problems), I can set it up anywhere I need. It would make a great gift for the beauty-lover in your life and an even better one if they’re short on vanity space! The mirror’s minimal design makes it compatible with most decor aesthetics and it comes in pink and turquoise, too.”

“This Bluetooth enabled speaker is the perfect gift for today’s work from anywhere, design-savvy business executive or college student. Stylish and sleek, it works great either on my desk or on the credenza in my living room. Thinking about getting a second one in black!”

“I seriously love this desk gadget! I have so many items that need charging throughout the day (phone, tablet, smartwatch, etc.) that my desk looked like a cable warzone by the time I finished up for the day. The nest organizer is fantastic because not only do I have a place to store all my cables and other random desk odds and ends, but it also doubles as a wireless charger! An added benefit of having all these items stored in one place is not having to gather everything before leaving the house. I can toss the case in my backpack and leave… as long as I can remember where I put my car keys…”

“When they called this ice cube tray extra-large, they weren’t joking. This mold creates massive cubes that are perfect for making sophisticated craft cocktails at home. This would be a great gift or stocking stuffer for the host in your friend circle or a cocktail connoisseur. You can even use the tray for no-bake recipes as the molds are super flexible and easy to turn out, making for an impressive presentation.”