The Archivist Christmas Gift Guide

Archivist

6 min read

Welcome to our 2025 Christmas gift guide, filled with hidden gems that are sure to spark joy in your homes this season!

At Archivist, we've got you covered because, as creative magpies with a keen eye for unique design, we are always on the hunt for Christmas gifts that are going to make our loved ones stop and contemplate how great we are at gift-giving. There are even suggestions of gifts from some of our favourite makers that have made it onto our own shopping lists this year. So kick back with a cuppa and take in all the festive inspiration.

Stocking Fillers

You know those gifts you normally leave until last? Those gifts you rush out to buy at the end to fill your loved ones' stockings? Well, this year you don't have to worry, we've got six great presents just waiting for you to add to your basket.

From Archivist: Our gorgeous cylinder matches make the perfect stocking, compact but beautiful - they will add the burst of colour you need. Or perhaps one of our letterpress notebooks could be the ideal gift for the creatives in your life. Is the person you're buying for an avid 'thank you' card writer? If so, then our range of letterpress notecards could help them get ahead of their Christmas correspondence.

Archivist Recommends: The Relaxation Candle by Airo - a gorgeous candle to aid sleep and offer all of the cosy vibes this season. Or if you're shopping for a slightly more creative person, the Block Design Paint and Pose could make the best stocking filler. Looking to engage the whole family? A pack of beautifully designed playing cards by Arkitaip could be the way forward.

Gifts for Under £100

Christmas shopping can sometimes get away from us, with budgets going out of the window as our ideas run wild. Sometimes we just need a reminder that we can grab some gorgeous gifts without needing to overspend. We've pulled together just a few that we think could help spark some inspiration.

From Archivist: At £36, our Giant Matchbox range features a design that is perfect for everyone - from our classic a box of luxury matches with a rooster on the cover 'The Cock' matchbox to newer designs like a box of safety matches made in japan 'Lemons' and a box of boat safety matches from the fine matchbox company 'The Boat,' we think you'll find the perfect matchbox for everyone on your shopping list. Our new Matchbox Prints will inject vibrancy into the homes of everyone who owns one. They come in two different sizes and are perfect for curating a very individualised gallery.

Archivist Recommends: The Studio Bag by Colours of Arley is another fantastic gift under £100, with three unique colour palettes. This bag is great for mums on the go, avid commuters, or even the ideal carry-on case for those January blues holidays. We also think the Ionic Column Candlestick by Pentreath & Hall could be a great gift alongside one of our matchboxes to create the perfect dinner party atmosphere. For all those cosy-loving people out there, we suggest the Lambswool Oversized Scarf from TBCo - a glorious mix of style and comfort.

Gifts For Her

Finding the perfect gifts for the women in your life can be tricky because how do you decide what is special enough for them? This year, we've taken the worry away and curated a collection specifically designed to help you shop for your mums, aunts, sisters or friends.

From Archivist: Create your own gift set with a matching hand cream and soap, along with a square matchbox designed by Wanderlust Paper Co. Simply buy a decorative box that fits each item and wrap them in pastel tissue paper to give the gift of relaxation this Christmas. (If you wanted to take it one step further, you could throw in a scented candle or an ornamental soap dish.)

Archivist Recommends: If you want something a little more personal, we'd recommend taking a look at the Yamine Calligraphy Alphabet Mug Collection, where you can find the letter that best represents your loved one. Perhaps you're shopping for someone who loves to travel and needs a safe place to store their skincare, an Avery Row Washbag could be the thoughtful but practical gift you are looking for.

Gifts for Him

Have you ever struggled to know what to buy for your husband, your dad, or your brother? Worry no more because this section will run through ideas that will stop your brain running wild!

From Archivist: You can now shop The Cock in a box of luxury matches with a rooster on the cover giant match form, square matchbox form, or bottle match form - so take a browse and select the cockerel that calls to you.

Archivist Recommends: Are you shopping for a dad or husband who is useless at organising his tools? Well, we think you should grab him a new workbox from Labour and Wait to keep everything in its place. If you want to take that gift one step further, then perhaps grab him some mini shears from Niwaki to start off his new tool collection. And to top it all off, maybe throw in a Rambler mug from Yeti to keep his hot drinks piping all day long!

Speciality Gifting

Sometimes, when we are shopping, it's for a loved one who has very specific interests that we can truly tap into to find them the perfect gift. This year, we've decided to break it down and give you some ideas that we think could work for your loved ones with niche interests.

A Book Lover

Do you have a friend or a sibling who's a big reader? Does their home already include an abundance of bookish decor? Well, you can help them add to it this year with our vibrant new a box of matches in the shape of a book shop Bookshop House Matches or keep it more classic with our library-inspired a box of matches has a picture of books on it square book matches.

A Gardener

Does your mum spend her summers in the garden and her winters worrying about her plants? Bring the joy back with an evergreen garden in the form of our a box of matches in the shape of a greenhouse Greenhouse or Florist House Matches - they look perfect on the coffee table with fresh flowers and a blossom-scented candle.

The Pet Owners

Are you shopping for someone who is obsessed with their pets, be that their cat, dog, or bird? Well, look no further. We have dogs in various forms, from a box of matches with a picture of a dog wearing a red hat square and a bottle of matches with a mouse on the label bottle matches to a box of the three poodles parlour matches giant or a box of very long matches with a dachshund on it long matches. And for the cat lover, our a box of fancy safety matches with cats on it Fancy Cat long matches are just a delightful gift to decorate the fireplace! If a parrot is your loved one's companion, then we even have a a box of matches with a green parrot on it square matchbox that is perfect for them.