Exploring the floors of Arnotts has become a bit of a festive GAFF tradition now. We get ourselves a large coffee, make sure our phones are fully charged and then spend a day selecting the absolute cream of the department store’s offering. We’re looking for everything from home essentials, foodie treats, Christmas decorations, gifts, ANYTHING that can be personalised, candles, interior goodies, the works. The result is a full-on report of all that we love, all that we approve of and everything we would want underneath our own GAFF Christmas tree. Are you ready? Here are a few of our favourite things at Arnotts this Christmas.
Deck The Halls
If you head to the top floor of Arnotts you’ll find every Christmas essential in one place. The Christmas Shop is packed full of decorations, wreaths, baubles, giant candy canes (yes, really), oversized snow globes … It’s an elve’s wonderland up there. We love these super luxe baubles, these kitsch Christmas decorations (who doesn’t want a pink festive swan?), and this beautiful faux garland, which looked exceptionally decadent draped over the West Elm bookcase.
This feathered friend costs €6.95.
For a kitsch Christmas, try a pink swan, giant candy cane and oversized decoration on for size, from €5.95.
This garland is top of our wishlist, €16.95. Bookcase, 299 at West Elm.
We love a luxe Christmas bauble. These start from €4.95 each.
Gift Greats
Christmas Wonderland is also on the top floor and here you’ll find gifts and special brands that don’t usually live in Arnotts. We love the Danish Collection’s homewares, Donnybrook Fair‘s food, the personalised Santa Sacks (WE GOT A GAFF ONE!) and Kate Spade‘s stationary. Here are the top picks.
The Danish Collective’s Christmas Cards are good enough to frame and put on the wall, €4.99 each. Below, a selection of our favourite Danish Collective ceramics. We adore the gold cutlery sets, too.
The Donnybrook Fair stall is brimming with sweet treats and ready-made hampers, perfect to bring home to the family, Handmade mince pies, €7.95, condiment set, €11.90, handmade biscuits, €5.95.
Did someone say personalised Santa Sack? How could we resist …
As for Kate Spade, her selection of diaries, notebooks and office essentials are the brightest stocking fillers.
Fave Fragrances
Jo Malone. Let us count the ways we love thee. Jo is a new arrival to Arnotts, you’ll find the concession at the escalator on the ground floor. We love us a giant candle (see Caroline getting a work out in as she lifts this massive one, below. Jo made off with a giant Christmas cracker.), but our eyes were drawn to the Christmas collection. We love the packaging, we love the festive fragrances, the candles that will burn for weeks … Treat yourself to one of these little packages. Every time you light that candle or give your room a fragrance spritz it’s like giving yourself a little gift And you are absolutely worth it.
We may not be able to afford this whopper today … or tomorrow … but maybe if we set up a savings account now we can treat ourselves Christmas 2049? Candle, €345 at Jo Malone.
Christmas sets from €52 at Jo Malone.
Make It Personal
A personalised gift is always a really fun experience for the gifter and recipient. We had so much fun getting our Happy Christmas, Love GAFF Selection Box made up (from €6 each) and now we have a personalised throw on our wish list for Santa. The Simple Things throws and scarves come in rich hues and are super cosy. They’ll pop your loved ones’ initials on to make it that little bit extra special. We love this present, perfect for that person who has everything or for the person who regifts EVERYTHING.
Our personalised GAFF Maltesers selection box. Cue Love Heart Emoji here.
Personalised scarves and throws by Simple Things, from €95.
Table Treats
Now for the foodies. Whether it’s a new cookbook or fresh glassware, small pieces can update your home over the festive season.
A beautiful coffee table book is a home essential. Take of these tomes home for a daily dose of inspiration. Ottolenghi’s new cookbook and Helen James’ home guide will whet your appetite over the festive season, for sure.
This caught our eyes in the kitchen department – a rose gold cheese cutter and marble board. We love. Tailor’s Eye cheese knife set, €34.95.
We are taking Christmas dinner decor inspo from this John Lewis place setting. Gold and grey is the new red and green – FYI.
And there you have it. Our top picks from Arnotts this Christmas. Check out the hashtag #ArnottsChristmas on Insta for more of our in-store antics and check out arnotts.com for more gifting and home inspiration.
Sponsored by Arnotts in collaboration with GAFF.