Hostess Gifts

A good hostess gift is ideally something the host wouldn't have bought for themselves but is happy to receive. At Dims Studio you'll find hostess gifts in colourful, hand-painted designs, from Quail's animal-shaped salt and pepper sets, through wine stoppers in brass and wood from Doing Goods and Wildlife Garden, to butter dishes and candles that give the breakfast table or living room an extra lift. Here's your guide to the best categories of hostess gifts, which brands are behind them, and how to find the right gift for the exact occasion you're heading to.

What makes a good hostess gift?

A hostess gift differs from other gifts in that it's often given on the go, when you're about to visit someone, and ideally it's both personal and usable in everyday life. The best hostess gifts are rarely the most expensive ones, but rather those with a detail, a motif or a craftsmanship that makes them more than an obligatory gift. At Dims Studio, the range of hostess gifts is built around exactly that: hand-painted details, animal motifs and colours that stand out from the standard gift. Because the category covers everything from salt and pepper sets to candles and wine stoppers, you can find a gift in almost any price range and for most types of hosts, whether the occasion is a spontaneous dinner or a planned party.

Salt and pepper sets: the range's largest category

Salt and pepper sets are the largest group of hostess gifts at Dims Studio, and most of them are shaped as animals or motifs that turn an otherwise practical kitchen tool into a conversation starter at the table.

Animal-shaped salt and pepper sets from Quail

The British brand Quail Ceramics is behind the majority of the salt and pepper sets in the range. Here you'll find hand-painted stoneware figures shaped as dogs, including pug, dachshund, westie, labrador, English and French bulldog, border collie, schnauzer, boxer and cavalier, as well as cats, guinea pigs, tigers, pandas, leopards, swans, budgies, puffins and mice. The figures are typically around 5 to 9 cm tall, food-safe and, according to the product descriptions, dishwasher-safe, so they work just as well for everyday use as for decoration on the kitchen shelf between meals.

Fruit, vegetable and maritime salt and pepper sets from &Klevering

The Dutch brand &Klevering contributes a different type of salt and pepper set, shaped like mushrooms, corn cobs and sweets, as well as maritime motifs such as sardines, shells and oysters, all in hand-painted ceramics or dolomite. These suit a host with a sense for kitchen style or summer house aesthetics well. Browse the full range of salt and pepper sets under salt and pepper set.

Salt and pepper sets compared

Brand	Motifs	Material	Suits
Quail	Dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds, tigers, pandas	Hand-painted stoneware	Animal lovers, collectors of Quail figures
&Klevering	Mushrooms, corn, sweets, sardines, shells, oysters	Hand-painted ceramics or dolomite	Maritime or kitchen aesthetics
Creative Collection	Lemon (Limone)	Stoneware	Summer and Mediterranean style

Wine stoppers: a classic hostess gift

Wine stoppers are one of the most obvious hostess gifts, because they're practical, compact and suit almost any occasion where you need to show up with something in hand.

Brass wine stoppers

Doing Goods makes handmade wine stoppers in brass and stainless steel with motifs such as shells, a sun with a moustache and flowers, while Anna + Nina has a wine stopper with a cork seal and a brass top. What they share is an airtight seal that keeps the wine fresh, while the stopper itself is a small sculpture.

Wooden wine stoppers from Wildlife Garden

Wildlife Garden is behind a series of hand-carved and hand-painted wine stoppers in lime wood with natural cork, shaped as birds and animals such as mallard, frog, blue tit, duck and squirrel. Each figure is painted with water-based paint and captures the animal's characteristic features, making them an obvious gift for a bird- or nature-loving host.

Glass wine stoppers from &Klevering

&Klevering has mouth-blown wine stoppers in borosilicate glass, shaped like a dollop of whipped cream, in colours such as pink, amber and clear white. Browse the full range under wine corks if you're specifically looking for this type of gift.

Butter dishes: a little luxury for the breakfast table

A butter dish keeps the butter soft and spreadable, while also functioning as a small decorative object on the breakfast table. Quail has several animal-shaped butter dishes in stoneware, including cow, bird and fox on the lid, while Anna + Nina offers a mouth-blown glass version shaped as a leopard as well as a hand-painted stoneware version, where no two pieces are alike. Rice has ceramic butter dishes with a heart and swan motif, and &Klevering has butter dishes in coloured borosilicate glass in shades like pink and yellow. What they all share is that they turn a practical kitchen detail into a small eye-catcher, making a good gift for someone who loves setting the breakfast table.

Candles and cosiness as a hostess gift

Candles are another classic category of hostess gifts, and the range spans from real wax candles to battery-powered LED alternatives.

LED candles without an open flame

Rice has several sets of battery-powered LED wax candles and LED pillar candles in colour combinations like coral/blue, pink/green, sand/blue and mint/green, giving a soft flame effect without fire risk. EJA has a similar LED pillar candle in pastel colours, and these are obvious gifts for homes with children or for rooms like the bathroom, where real candles aren't an option.

Figure candles and sculptural wax candles

Broste Copenhagen has sculptural figure candles in paraffin with organic, asymmetrical shapes in soft pastel colours, as well as a figure candle shaped like an oyster, which works both as a candle and as a decorative object when unlit. These suit a host who appreciates Scandinavian design with an artistic touch well.

Brands behind the hostess gifts

The range at Dims Studio gathers hostess gifts from a range of international brands, each contributing their own craft and expression.

Quail Ceramics

Quail Ceramics from England is the brand that fills the most of the range, with hand-painted stoneware figures such as salt and pepper sets and butter dishes shaped as dogs, cats and other animals. What the figures share is that each one is individually hand-painted, so there will always be small, natural variations.

&Klevering

The Dutch design brand &Klevering contributes coloured wine stoppers and glass butter dishes, as well as salt and pepper sets shaped as fruit, vegetables and maritime motifs, all in a playful, retro-inspired design language.

Wildlife Garden and Doing Goods

Wildlife Garden specialises in hand-carved wooden animals and birds, while Doing Goods makes wine stoppers in recycled brass with motifs such as flowers and shells. Both brands give the gift a handmade and narrative quality.

Rice, Anna + Nina and Broste Copenhagen

Rice contributes colourful LED candles and ceramic butter dishes, Anna + Nina with glass and stoneware products where no two pieces are quite alike, and Broste Copenhagen with sculptural figure candles that tie the gift universe together with a more artistic expression.

Hostess gifts for different occasions

The right hostess gift often depends on where you're heading and who you're visiting.

Dinner with friends

For an ordinary dinner invitation, one of Quail's animal-shaped salt and pepper sets or a wine stopper from Doing Goods or Wildlife Garden is an obvious, easily packed gift that matches the mood of the evening without stealing too much attention.

Housewarming

For a housewarming party, something practical for the new kitchen or living room is a good idea, for example a butter dish or a set of LED candles that can be used right away, regardless of how the home is otherwise decorated.

For the animal and nature lover

If the host has a favourite animal, it makes the gift extra personal. Find the right dog, cat or bird among Quail's and Wildlife Garden's animal motifs, or see more ideas under gift ideas and fun gifts.

For the wine lover

Visiting a wine lover, one of the wine stoppers in brass, glass or wood is a classic and reliable gift, ideally combined with a bottle of wine. See also our range of jugs and wine coolers if you want to round off the gift with a bit more.

Hostess gift ideas by budget

If you need to find a hostess gift, it can help to think in terms of how much you want to spend on the gift, rather than only in categories. A single wine stopper or a small butter dish is often the most budget-friendly solution and works fine alone or as an addition to a bottle of wine you're bringing anyway. A full salt and pepper set from Quail or &Klevering typically sits in a mid-range price bracket and is perceived as a more complete gift, while a combination of several elements, for example a salt and pepper set and a set of LED candles, can be used if you're celebrating something a bit bigger, like a housewarming or a milestone birthday. Regardless of budget, it's rarely the price itself that determines whether the gift is remembered, but whether it matches the host's taste and everyday life precisely.

How to find the right gift for the right person

Because the range at Dims Studio spans widely in motifs and materials, you can benefit from starting with the host's interests, rather than only the occasion. If the host has a dog or cat, one of Quail's animal motifs in the salt and pepper set is a safe choice, while a bird-loving friend will appreciate one of Wildlife Garden's hand-carved wooden wine stoppers. If the host is more into pure aesthetics than specific motifs, one of Broste Copenhagen's figure candles or one of &Klevering's glass wine stoppers in a bold colour may be a better match. That way, the gift becomes not just practical, but also a small comment to the person receiving it.

How to wrap a hostess gift

The wrapping itself can lift a simple gift significantly. Several of the product descriptions in the range suggest wrapping a wine stopper together with a bottle of wine, or tying a ribbon around a butter dish or a salt and pepper set. A piece of natural paper or a reused fabric gives a simple and personal expression that suits the handmade character of the gifts well. Also consider adding a small card explaining the motif or the brand behind the gift, especially if it's shaped as a specific animal or bird that has meaning for the recipient.

How to care for your hostess gift

• Hand-painted stoneware and ceramics from Quail are, according to the product descriptions, dishwasher-safe, but always check the individual item for specific guidance.
• Mouth-blown glass, such as several of the butter dishes and wine stoppers from &Klevering and Anna + Nina, should be treated gently to avoid scratches and wear.
• LED candles require batteries, which aren't always included, so check the product description if the gift needs to be usable right away.
• Wooden wine stoppers from Wildlife Garden shouldn't go in the dishwasher, as heat and moisture can damage the hand-painted finish.
• Accept that hand-painted details give natural variations from piece to piece, which is part of the charm of a handmade gift.

Which hostess gift should you choose? Our recommendations

Situation	Our recommendation
Dinner with friends	An animal-shaped salt and pepper set from Quail
Housewarming party	A butter dish or a set of LED candles from Rice
The wine lover	A wine stopper from Doing Goods, Wildlife Garden or &Klevering
The nature lover	A wooden wine stopper with a bird or animal from Wildlife Garden
The one who loves Scandinavian design	A figure candle from Broste Copenhagen
The breakfast lover	An animal-shaped butter dish from Quail or Rice

Frequently asked questions about hostess gifts

What is a good hostess gift?

A good hostess gift is often something practical for the home with a personal or humorous detail, for example an animal-shaped salt and pepper set, a wine stopper or a butter dish that gets used again and again.

What salt and pepper sets are available?

The range spans from Quail's hand-painted animal figures, such as dogs, cats and birds, to &Klevering's fruit, vegetable and maritime motifs such as mushrooms, corn and oysters.

What does a typical hostess gift cost?

Prices vary by product and material. See the current price directly on the individual item in the range.

Which wine stopper should I choose?

It depends on the style. Brass wine stoppers from Doing Goods and Anna + Nina suit a more classic expression, while the wooden wine stoppers from Wildlife Garden are an obvious choice for a nature- or bird-loving host, and the glass wine stoppers from &Klevering suit a colourful kitchen.

Are animal-shaped salt and pepper sets food-safe?

Several of Quail's salt and pepper sets are, according to the product descriptions, food-safe and intended for daily use at the table. Always check the individual item's description to be sure.

What is a butter dish?

A butter dish is a small container with a lid that keeps butter soft and protected, while also functioning as a decorative object on the breakfast table.

Can LED candles be used as a permanent alternative to wax candles?

Yes, the battery-powered LED candles from Rice and EJA are designed to give a soft flame effect without an open flame and are obvious choices for rooms like children's rooms and bathrooms, where real candles aren't an option.

How do I wrap a hostess gift personally?

Tie a ribbon around the wine stopper or butter dish, or wrap it in natural paper together with a bottle of wine. The simple wrapping matches the handmade, personal expression of the gifts well.

Which brands supply hostess gifts at Dims Studio?

The range brings together brands such as Quail Ceramics, &Klevering, Wildlife Garden, Doing Goods, Rice, Anna + Nina and Broste Copenhagen, each contributing their own craft and design language.

Where do I find more gift ideas?

Explore our full range of gift ideas and fun gifts if you're looking for more than hostess gifts for your next visit.

Are the hostess gifts unique because they're hand-painted?

Yes, because many of the figures and motifs, including those from Quail and Wildlife Garden, are painted by hand, there will always be natural, small variations in colour and finish from piece to piece. That's part of the handmade expression and makes each gift a little more personal.

Can you combine several hostess gifts into one overall gift?

Yes, many combine, for example, a salt and pepper set with a wine stopper, or a butter dish with a set of LED candles, to give a more complete gift without having to choose just one product. See our range of jugs if you want to round off the gift with another detail for the kitchen.