The best holiday gifts for decor hounds

All products featured on this page were selected by Toronto Life’s editors. However, when you purchase an item through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

See our full holiday gift guide.

Sewing kit

In 2017, when Toronto streetwear veteran Avi Gold opened Better Gift Shop on Dundas West, he set out to elevate the basics—T-shirts, ball caps, tote bags. And what could be more basic-but-better than this humble sewing kit, made in collaboration with Nepenthes NY, the New York outpost of the Japanese fashion brand? $11

Trans pride ornament

Show your trans pride or allyship with this ornament from Calgary’s Little Rainbow Paper Co. It’s the perfect gift for your whole chosen family. $11

Thirst-quenching cups

Of all the hyper-realistic, Kitchen Confidential–like details featured on The Bear, the 32-ounce deli cups Carmy and co. drink out of will resonate for anyone who’s ever worked in a restaurant. Plus, we all felt a little parched after bingeing season two, didn’t we? $27

Oven mitt

Dusen Dusen’s mix-and-match quilted oven mitts come in delicious colourways like Shortcake, Eclair and Cobbler and can resist temperatures of up to 400℉. $35

Illustrated placemats

These limited-edition cork-backed placemats feature illustrations by Inuit artists Cee Pootoogook and Ningiukulu Teevee and were made exclusively for Rosedale home-goods mainstay Hopson Grace. $45 each

Alarm clock

Lexon’s Flip-plus radio-controlled reversible LCD alarm clock has a satisfying feature that lets you turn off the alarm just by flipping the whole thing over. Plus, at about 10-by-6 centimetres, it’s compact enough to travel with. $50

Pride mat

Add some pride to your entryway with this ultra-durable, easy-to-clean rainbow shag floor mat from Chilewich. It’s suitable for indoors or out, comes in multiple shapes and sizes, and is made with yarns containing renewable vegetable material. $63

Box of cheese

What could be cheesier than a curated box of dairy delights delivered straight to the recipient’s door? With several options to choose from, Nibbl’s boxes come stuffed to the brim with delights like cheddar, brie and cantonnier plus artisanal crackers, olives, fruit spreads and more. From $66

Toaster that pops

Leeds-born, Milan-based industrial designer George Sowden, known for his colourful homewares, created this retro-inspired stainless steel and plastic toaster for Danish design company Hay. It’s a statement-making appliance if we’ve ever seen one. $140

Hyper-local serving dish

Artist Hassan Ghanati sources all the material for his pieces from fallen or distressed trees in Toronto and hand-carves each dish from a piece of wood. $333

No-stick pan

The oven-safe Everything Pan by Toronto company Kilne will fry, sauté, bake, roast and more, replacing up to nine pieces of cookware (and shortening cooking times thanks to a superior heating speed). The non-stick ceramic coating is “exceptionally scratch-resistant,” according to the Red Dot Design Award website, which dubbed it a winner in 2023. $150

Six-in-one air fryer

The Wonder Oven from Our Place, one of the internet’s favourite kitchenware brands, is a countertop appliance that’s so cute it’s practically cuddly. It also air fries, bakes, broils, reheats, roasts and toasts all in one. Big enough to cook a chicken for a family of four. $250

Luggage that pops

Released earlier this year, Beis’s Sherbet collection—dopp kits, weekenders, carry-ons and check-in rollers—comes in eye-popping shades that will stand out on the baggage carousel. From $293

Ultimate camping chair

Science has finally done it: a folding chair that doubles as a beer fridge. This miracle of modern technology is made from aerospace-grade aluminum, has an ergonomic seat height of 40 centimetres and features a detachable under-seat cooler that keeps drinks chilled for up to eight hours. $314

Compact, brushless and cordless vacuum

Cut the cord while keeping the powerful suction you need to get the job done. It’s compact, lightweight and easy to store. It features three modes, allowing you to control the power. The LED display makes viewing power mode and run times easy and convenient. With a charge time of 30 minutes, the removable battery also doubles as a power bank for charging compatible devices. And with the five included attachments, there’s no mess you can’t manage. $329.99

Portable barbecue

The Everdure Cube is a portable charcoal barbecue designed in collaboration with British celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal. The lid triples as a food prep tray and bamboo cutting board, the carrying handles stay cool to the touch and the grill has enough space for a couple of big fat steaks or four burgers. It also comes in four colours, including khaki and graphite. $310

Coffee maker

This pre-immersion drip-style coffee maker by Moccamaster brews a 40-ounce pot in just six minutes. The hotplate keeps it at precisely the right temperature for 100 minutes before automatically shutting off. $500

Portable cooler

Sure, Yeti makes bigger coolers, but this is the brand’s first one on wheels—meaning it’s easily portable when fully loaded. Much like your favourite uncle, the Tundra Haul can put away 82 cans, no problem. $600

Guitar stand

Mjolk, the Junction’s home for Scandinavian and Japanese design savvy, identified a problem—guitar stands are ugly. They solved it with this handcrafted piece in oak or walnut that’s equipped with solid brass fittings and a hand-wrapped leather cord. It’s a piece of art in itself. $675

Spicy cookie jar

This porcelain jar with 22-karat-gold follicular embellishments is one of the only pieces by Pansy Ass Ceramics we could feature in this gift guide. For naughtier, sexier and ballsier work from Toronto-based couple and collaborators Kris Aaron and Andy Walker, visit their NSFW site. $688

Office chair

Give the gift of a pain-free lower back. Branch is a direct-to-consumer ergonomic furniture company that’s been outfitting remote workers since well before the pandemic. Its latest offering, the Verve Chair, is highly adjustable and comes in six monochromatic colourways—including millennial-friendly options like coral, mint and cobalt. From $649

Bear rug

Doing Goods is a Dutch home-accessories brand that produces handmade goods. The extra-large Blooming Black Bear rug—nearly 2.5 metres long and 1.6 metres wide—is made from 100 per cent wool with a cotton backing. $1,118

Edwin chair

If you’ve been to Prime Seafood Palace, then you’ve probably sat in (and coveted) one of these chairs. Designed by Mississauga studio Coolican and Company, they come in white oak, blackened ash, maple, cherry and black walnut and are built to last thanks to time-tested joinery techniques. $1,190

Home office

If you know someone who’s still remote-working off one end of the dining room table—and has roughly 38 square feet of available outdoor space—the time has come for a dedicated workspace. The Studypod, from Norwegian prefab makers Livit, features a full-height tinted-glass window, oak laminate floors and a detachable desk. It can also fit a queen-sized mattress if you need an extra guest room over the holidays. From $17, 343