Gift Ideas for Design Lovers

It’s that time of year, when we are all frantically trying to find the perfect gift for our loved ones. We love to help our friends and clients with ideas for their shopping lists. If you have a design lover or two to buy for, we have a list of suggestions to help you stock the tree and stuff the stockings with plenty of goodies.

As you probably already know, designers can be pretty choosy about what they like, so we have tried to put together a fun list that includes something for everyone. Whether you are shopping for a budding designer or a pro, we hope our list can help point you in the right direction!

Magazine Subscriptions

Magazine subscriptions are truly the gift that keeps on giving. Although browsing and shopping online are more popular than ever, there is nothing like leafing through a magazine and marking the pages you want to return to for design inspiration. A magazine subscription is perfect for the hard-to-buy-for friend!

If you already know your loved one’s favorite magazine, renew their subscription for them. Some of our favorites:

• Home & Design

• Dwell

• Architectural Digest

• luxe interiors + design

• Interior Design

Tools for the Interior Designer

One of our favorite suggestions for gifts for interior design lovers is a new tool or gadget for projects around the house. If you are buying for someone who is new to interior design, consider buying them a toolbox and creating a starter kit for them; include tools like a hammer, screwdrivers (Phillips head and flat head), tape and retractable measures, and a variety of hooks, nails, and screws.

For the more advanced interior design fan, upgrading a piece of equipment they need is a thoughtful gift. Laser levels are incredibly accurate and help hang everything from pictures to wine racks to bookshelves.

Interior Design Books

A beautiful coffee table book is something every interior design lover will appreciate. You can check with your local bookstore to see what they have in stock, and inquire about special orders based on your friend’s particular interests (architecture, feng shui). You can find beautiful things online as well through sites like Amazon, or try Assouline Publishing which specializes in luxury books.

Shopping for Your Interior Design Fan

If you are confident in your ability to shop for your loved ones, and you feel you have a good grasp of their aesthetic, we would like to recommend a few websites where you can find beautiful, unique home décor items. Remember to shop with the recipient’s tastes in mind! Choose pieces that are classic, like leather-bound books, or organizational, like decorative bins and baskets, to give a home décor gift that will be appreciated and used.

Here are a few options to keep in mind:

• Uncommon Goods: The Uncommon Goods website is dedicated to creative design ideas, and is broken down into useful shopping categories to make searching easier. Search by recipient or top category, as well as department.

• Thornwillow Press: Stationary is a unique and stylish gift for a design lover. Thornwillow Press offers high-quality, unique stationary, as well as leather-bound publications. Peruse their Gift Ideas category for antiques, prints, seasonal offerings, and more.

Happy hunting—and happy holidays!—from all of us at Cabinets & Designs.