The Best Designer Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List

Interior designers love the thrill of the hunt. The chase for that just-right object that makes a room (or a person) light up. They spend hours sourcing for clients, toggling between tabs, comparing materials, and tracking down the perfect shade, finish, or form. So when gifting season rolls around, designers channel that same energy into finding presents that are practical, unapologetically beautiful, or (the holy grail) both.

This year, we asked five designers what they’re actually giving. From sculptural vessels to cozy throws to the perfect coffee-table book, these are the designer gift ideas worth borrowing long after the holidays are over.

(Featured Image) Design: Artemuse Design | Photography: Gloria Kilbourne for DD-Repps

Gifts That Elevate the Everyday

Every designer has a soft spot for everyday luxuries, especially the things you use all the time but never actually buy for yourself. Interior designer Diana Farberov of Artemuse Design swears by beautiful hardcovers tailored to the recipient’s interests. “Coffee table books always make a great gift,” she says. “You can find a lovely one on just about any topic these days.”

On her list as well: Edible treats that feel indulgent but unfussy—a fancy olive oil, chocolates in a keepsake box, or even a particularly good finishing salt. She’s equally fond of gifting high-quality socks, ideally cashmere or a fun patterned pair. “I’m yet to find someone who’s upset to receive luxurious socks,” she says, and honestly, she’s right.

Designer Nicole Hirsch takes the cozy approach, gifting Rosemary Hallgarten throws to her son because it’s the piece he “always reaches for” during winter football afternoons.

And for a gift that blends form, nostalgia, and pure utility, designer Hallie Goodman has her eyes on this classic Bakelite pencil sharpener (“still in production, and cool on a desk”) paired with some beautifully designed pencils. Delightful and guaranteed to get used.

Design: Artemuse Design | Photography: Gloria Kilbourne for DD-Repps

Gifts for the Homebody With Taste

When in doubt? Give something soft, cozy, or quietly elevated. Nicole’s teen daughter is deep in her “spa-like bedroom retreat” era, so she leans on neutral linens and calming textures, especially Boll & Branch’s Oak Garden sheets, which she calls “timeless and chic.”

Even workspaces get a thoughtful upgrade. For her husband’s office, Nicole found a Shinola table clock in light oak and metal. “He doesn’t like checking his phone during meetings,” she says, “so a desk clock is perfect—functional and beautiful.”

Designer Emily Nicoara has a similar instinct for the home front, reaching for pieces that transform small, forgettable areas. Her current obsession: Pierce & Ward cord covers, because, as she puts it, “everyone has cords they didn’t realize needed dressing up.”

Design: Emily Nicoara Design Studio | Photography: Amy Bartlam

Sculptural Objects That Double as Art

Some gifts live at the intersection of design and sculpture, which makes them great for the aesthetically inclined.

Designer Amy Courtney gravitates toward pieces with sculptural presence: Bow Glassworks’ Classic Splash Cups, Sophie Lou Jacobsen’s Squiggle Tray, the Simone Bodmer-Turner bridge-handled vessel, and Svenskt Tenn’s playful candlestick holders. “These are the kinds of gifts that feel special,” she says, “but also get used and enjoyed all season long.”

Meanwhile, Nicole loves rich, organic wood tones for friends who prefer natural textures. Her pick: Phillips Collection’s carved vases, especially in pairs at different heights.

Photo courtesy of Svenskt Tenn

Vintage & One-of-a-Kind Treasures

Designers know the magic of a one-off find. For Hallie, gifting season is basically a year-round treasure hunt. “There’s a tab open in my brain at all times for each friend,” she says. That mindset leads her to a pair of vintage D. Porthault boudoir shams for one friend who loves old-school glamour, and a tiny vintage TV/VCR for another’s chic sleeping loft (“I’m haunting Facebook Marketplace for the perfect one”).

Emily echoes the sentiment, sourcing meaning-packed vintage pieces from Yet Lovely. “Nostalgia and history feel like such natural extensions of our aesthetic,” she says. Her other go-to is a custom walnut butcher block crafted by a local woodworker (reach out here for inquiries)—a piece that instantly elevates any kitchen. “It’s beautifully made, practical, and incredibly thoughtful,” she says.

Design + Styling: Hallie Goodman | Photography: Chris Mottalini

Shop these designer-inspired picks below, and if you want even more inspiration, check out the Interior Collective’s own Anastasia Casey and her Holiday Treasures gift guide.