Cover photo: Flamtastique XS, the oil lantern by Fatboy
The holiday season may be “the most wonderful time of the year,” as the famous song goes. But it’s also, undeniably, the moment when looking for the perfect gift becomes a source of stress — sometimes even sleepless nights. What do you give someone who loves design and light without breaking the bank?
To answer that question, we curated a selection of design objects and lamps priced under €150. A few table lamps — some iconic, some recent — plus luxury candles, playful home accessories, and everyday items. Finding the perfect present is not an impossible mission.
Opening the list: the small Binic by Foscarini, designed by Ionna Vautrin. A compact lamp with a playful silhouette, Binic delivers focused light ideal for bedside tables or desks.
€122.00 on Mohd
Also in opening, Lampadina by Flos, designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1972. The new retrofit LED version costs €145.00 on Flos.
A candle by Diptyque
The high-perfumery maison offers the Surprise box, a book-shaped set with three mini candles, each chosen from its most iconic scents: Baies (Berries), Figuier (Fig), 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain. Perfect for a festive evening with friends, the fragrance diffuses gradually and lasts a long time, reaching its peak after about 20 minutes.
€50.00 on Diptyque
The “Dalù” lamp by Artemide
A 1960s classic designed by Vico Magistretti (like the iconic Eclisse) and reissued in several colors starting in 2005. Dalù is a small table lamp that fits easily anywhere. Ideal on a bedside table or shelf, on a sideboard, or as an occasional light on the dining table, it’s made of a thermoplastic shell molded into two semi-spheres. A fun detail: the lamp takes its name from Magistretti’s dachshund.
€80.00 on Mohd
The rechargeable “Poldina” lamp by Zafferano
The pioneer of rechargeable portable lamps, with its slim stem and essential shade, quickly became an icon. You turn it on and off via a touch command on the top, and it’s widely used in bars and restaurants to create the right atmosphere. A perfect gift for anyone who loves light, it’s an occasional lamp you can carry around the house — and why not — use at dinner with friends. Even outdoors in summer. A Christmas-ready idea is to add a festive cover decorated with Santa Claus, tartan, or stylized fir trees.
“Mouse Lamp” by Seletti
Ironic and mischievous, the brand’s mouse lamps, designed by Marcantonio, look like little animals that stole light bulbs. Available in different versions, they work well both alone and in groups.
€86.00 on Seletti
The sunglasses by Izipizi
Anyone who loves light also needs to protect themselves from the sun. The brand offers dozens of unisex ready-to-wear models with 100% UV category 3 lenses — including polarized options — and frames in plastic or bio-based materials.
Starting at €40.00 on Izipizi
Insulti Luminosi
Neon signs, with an extra twist. Born as a small project and grown quickly through social media word of mouth, Insulti Luminosi creates lamps “with a message” (customizable on request) to hang on the wall like artwork.
Starting at €120.00 o Insulti Luminosi
The candles by Officine Universelle Buly
Aesthetically refined and of exceptional quality — free of paraffin and mineral derivatives from petrochemicals, made only from plant-based compounds — these candles come in eight fragrances, enhanced by a cotton wick that burns slowly. They are luxurious, long-lasting objects that recall the splendor of ancient vases and hard-stone jewelry from India.
€142.34 on Officine Universelle Buly
The book “Living in a Dream” by Gestalten
Architecture in the age of digital tools and AI: this publication by the German publisher showcases dreamlike beach houses, utopian skyscrapers, and extravagant interiors. They don’t exist in the real world, yet they captivate design lovers — and, why not, lighting enthusiasts too.
€40.00 on Gestalten
“Flamtastique XS”, the oil lantern by Fatboy
An oil lantern, like the ones from the past, made of glass and protected by a silicone case to prevent burns. Colorful and unexpectedly modern, it’s perfect for outdoor use.
€79.00 on Fatboy
The Issey Miyake limited-edition Moleskine
In an age of digital tools and fast communication, many people are returning to the slow rhythm of notes, sketches, and paper agendas. Moleskine releases a small business-card holder and accordion notebook in a limited edition designed with the “master of pleats,” Issey Miyake. A super chic gift idea for Christmas.
€40.00 on Moleskine