The Ultimate Scandinavian Holiday Gift Guide

Discover our curated selection of Scandinavian and Nordic-inspired gifts that celebrate simplicity, quality, and functional design—perfect for everyone on your list!

1. Scandinavian-Design Bedding by The Modern Dane

We couldn’t have a Scandinavian gift list without mentioning our own Scandinavian-style duvet covers, made from certified organic flax grown in the European flax belt in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. Our organic linen duvet covers improve sleep by regulating temperature and keeping allergies at bay. They’re also beautiful to look at, printed with designs inspired by flora and fauna native to Denmark, where our founder is from. Choose from the oak leaves of Agern, or the myrica gale of Porse. Giving the gift of linen is the perfect way to show those you love that you care about their health.

2. Glassware by Iittala

No Finnish home is complete without Iittala glasses. Swedish-born designer Peter Magnus “P.M.” Abrahamsson founded his glassworks in the village of Iittala in 1881, and it’s since grown into one of Finland’s most recognizable brands. Despite its high-end reputation, certain ranges are surprisingly affordable, especially if you purchase last season’s colors. The Kastehelmi tumblers, with their embossed dots, cast a lovely light pattern on the table—the same goes for their tealight holders, which are an ideal winter-themed gift. If you really want to treat someone, though, splurge on Alvar Aalto’s award-winning “Waves” vase—a true Nordic icon.

3. Candles and Candleholders by HAY

Who said Scandi design was all about neutrals? As regular blog readers will know, there are few things Danes love more than candles—except, perhaps, HAY candles. They come in all sorts of funky shapes—hexagons, squares, swirls—and bold yet harmonious colors. The complementary candle holders range from simple concrete to flared rainbow glass. Or, if you're looking for something a bit more traditional, look no further than Georg Jensen's advent calendar candle. Buy it as an early gift for the whole family and countdown to Christmas day.

4. Moomin-Themed Home Decor by Arabia

Next to their Iittala glasses, Finnish kids and adults alike keep a stash of Moomin-themed mugs. Tove Jansson created the first Moomins story in 1945 and launched the first Moomin ceramics in collaboration with Arabia in the 1950s, sparking a collecting frenzy. Today, you can gift just about any Moomin decor item imaginable: bowls, scissors, towels, and Christmas baubles. For winter 2024, Arabia have launched a collection showing Moomintroll attempting a ski jump.

5. Tools by Fiskars

The beauty of the Fiskars brand—founded as an ironworks in Fiskars Village, Finland in 1649—is that there’s something to suit everyone on your list. Kids just flown the nest? Get them a cast-iron pan, grater, or cheese slice from the Norden kitchenware range. Partner handy around the house? Check out the utility knives and hammers. Parents really into gardening? Help them out with a bulb planter or weeding tool. The most iconic Fiskars invention, however, is for the crafters. Fiskars created their orange-handled fabric scissors in 1967—since then, more than one billion have been sold.

6. Danish Christmas Collectibles

Every family has its own holiday traditions, whether that’s hanging stockings or lighting the menorah. For Danes, festive fever starts to build when celebrated design brands release their annual holiday collectibles. Silversmith Georg Jensen is perhaps the best known: for 2024, long-time collaborator Sanne Lund Traberg has returned to traditional stars and baubles with a 21st-century twist. For their annual Christmas plate, Royal Copenhagen has gone with a family theme this year.

7. Indigenous Sami Handicrafts

Since the Ice Age, the Sami people have lived in the north of Sweden, Norway, and Finland in a region called Sápmi, otherwise known as Lapland. Sámi slöjd, or Sami handicraft, falls into two categories. “Hard” crafts such as knives and cups are traditionally for men and are often made from reindeer horns; “soft” crafts are for women and comprise clothing, tin wire jewelry, and birch root bags. Lapland, of course, has strong Christmas connections—so what could be a better holiday gift than one that supports its first people?

8. Books by Scandinavian Authors

There’s nothing more hygge than pulling on your knitwear, grabbing a hot chocolate, lighting some candles, and curling up with a Nordic novel. If you’re shopping for a film lover, buy The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or A Man Called Ove—before they became box-office blockbusters, they were bestselling Swedish books. As for children, why not introduce them to the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, such as The Ugly Duckling and The Snow Queen?

9. Scandi Gifts for the Pantry

Scandinavians are masters at inducing that cozy holiday feeling, so it follows that Scandinavian food is the perfect gift to see your loved ones through the dark days of January and beyond. Check out Nordic Expat Shop, which brings Danish delicacies to America: peppernuts, brunkager (spiced brown cookies), and Julebryg, the annual Tuborg Christmas beer. At Scandinavian Butik, you’ve got all the ingredients to customize your own Scandi hamper: Swedish Hafi preserves, Danish Castello cheeses, and mulling spices for brewing your own gløgg.

10. Playful Gifts for Little Ones

You didn’t think we’d get to the end of this gift guide without mentioning Lego, did you? Ole Kirk Kristiansen started his toy business in Billund, Denmark in 1932; his son Godtfred eventually patented the beloved “stud-and-tube” bricks in 1958. The cheapest and most sustainable way to buy Lego is to buy second-hand: you’ll find huge collections being sold at yard sales and online. If you really want to spoil your little ones (and have somewhere to hide all that Lego) check out Swedish brand Kid’s Concept. Their Kid’s Base play tent is a perfect den from which they can launch imaginary battles or expeditions—and it’ll still match your décor!

Have you been inspired to buy any items on our list? What’s on your Scandi wish list for the holiday season? Let us know on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter!