Gift Guide: 10 Practical (but Pretty) Stocking Stuffers

Rule No. 1 when stuffing stockings: Nothing inside should be destined for the garbage can. Here are 10 surprises with staying power. 

Above: Brass Number Clips by Midori are ideal as bookmarks, paper clips, and recipe tabs. Put them in a bowl on the bookcase for the whole family to use; $18 at Tortoise General Store.

Above: This black and white Scandinavian-inspired Ceramic Salt Cellar is handmade in a small family studio in Valencia, Spain; $29.28 on Etsy.

Above: Japanese Tenugui cloths are multipurpose workhorses of the Japanese home–put one to use as a dishcloth, handkerchief, or headband; $6 each at Best Made Company.

Above: Remember the scene in Father of the Bride when Steve Martin’s character snoops in the office instead of minding his own business in the bathroom? Avoid houseguest confusion with these black-and-white enamel WC ($15) and Office ($18) signs from Brook Farm General Store.

Above: The two-inch-tall, four-inch-wide Votive Candleholders by Danish designer Jacob Jensen act as prisms, refracting light as their tea candles burn. Available in four colors, including amber and clear shown here; $20 each at Canoe.

Above: Reusable Stainless Steel Straws are dishwasher safe and come with a bristle brush for cleaning; $12 for a set of four at Schoolhouse Electric.

Above: The Iris Hantverk Knob Dishbrush is handmade in Sweden of oil-treated birch and horsehair; $32 at Fjí¸rn. 

Above: A shot glass or a measuring glass, the Small Measures, Anchors Aweigh is marked on the side with teaspoons, tablespoons, and ounces. It’s made in the US by Anchor Hocking; $10 each at Guideboat.

Above: Striped Soap from Wary Meyers of Portland, Maine, is made of pure vegetable glycerin. Available in five scents, including Sea Air shown here, it’s $15 per bar at General Store. 

Above: Waxed Cotton Shoe Laces are made in the US and come in three lengths, starting at 22 inches. Also available in red and orange, the flat laces are $8.90 a pair at Kaufmann Mercantile.

Still more people to buy for? See:

• Gift Guide: Cookbooks that Make Perfect Presents
• Gift Guide: For the Crafty Kid
• Gift Guide: Tokens of Gratitude for Teachers
• Gift Guide: Tiny Topiaries for the Apartment Dweller

And for more stocking ideas, check out last year’s 10 Stocking Stuffers to Outlast Christmas Morning.