What a wild year it’s been: First the hope of the vaccine, then the scourge of new variants; first the swearing-in of Biden, then the situation in Afghanistan; first the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse, then justice finally served for Ahmaud Arbery. We thought the emotional rollercoaster would ease up after Trump was defeated, but lol, it’s never that easy. Know what is easy though? The simple happiness we get from putting together our annual gift guides, where we get to turn our brains off, scour our favorite stores for wishlist-worthy objects, and focus on sheer indulgence for a minute. What’s our favorite candle this year, our favorite wine glass? Which books are we dying to have on our coffee table now, and in the case of Monica (whose guide is featured below), which foot-shaped vase?

If you’re shopping for loved ones this week, we hope you can get some inspiration from these lists — particularly when it comes to supporting small businesses and talented independent makers. If you’re just in it for the escapism, well, join the darn club.

Tore table by David Thulstrup for e15, $933Paw vase by Lisa Reiser, about $274Bare loafers by Hopp Studios, $315Interconnect candleholder by Colin King for Menu, $370Wolfgang Paalen poster from the Louisiana museum, about $22Feast Face platter by Yotam Ottolenghi for Serax, $732022 Pablo Picasso wall calendar, $16Tursus vase by Silje Lindrup, $415Neoterrazzo table by Basis Rho, $6,500Rainbow chef’s knife by Fredericks and Mae, $110Oktett wine glasses by Bodum, $22 for 2Out in the World with Gaetano Pesce book, $58Valet stand by Sophie Lou Jacobsen for Tetra, $88Pour-over carafe by Yield, $85Flowerpot VP9 portable table lamp by Verner Panton for &Tradition, $292 Unisex white linen pajama set by Sleeper, $220Candy dish by Anna Karlin, $375Rock Mug by Utility Objects, $65 (available December 11)Metallic duvet cover by Magniberg, from about $705German Art Deco ball clock, $1,750Haywood watch by LIP for Matter Matters, $288Lilac Giro bowl by Julie Richoz for Trame, about $44
Artichoke plates by Bordallo Pinheiro, $64 for fourADA lamp by Umberto Riva for Tacchini, $1,596Forest Bathing spray by I’m Outside, $28Modernist Escapes: An Architectural Travel Guide by Stefi Orazi, $29Standard Baggu in Madras Metallic, $16
Magazine Rack in silver palladium by BZIPPY, $2,000Eyes salt and pepper shaker set by Zanetto, about $353King Post flask by Craighill, $90Foot Planter by Matt Merkel Hess, $300-600