Christmas Stocking Filler Ideas for Stationery Lovers
The stocking filler has a low bar to clear most years - a novelty item, something from the supermarket checkout, the thing you grab because the stocking still has gaps on Christmas Eve. But a stocking filler doesn't have to be filler. Something small, well made, and genuinely useful can end up being the thing that gets reached for all year, long after the big present's forgotten.
Here's a list of small ideas worth putting a little more thought into.
Small and Practical
A washi tape roll or two. Colourful, useful, endlessly versatile, and small enough to fit into even the tightest stocking. A genuine favourite for anyone who journals, wraps gifts, or just likes a bit of colour on their desk. Browse our washi tape.
A single fountain pen or pencil. A well-made pen or pencil is one of the best small gifts there is - understated, used daily, and a genuine upgrade from whatever's currently rattling around the bottom of a bag. Browse our pencils and pens.
A pack of erasers. An easy, low-cost stocking filler that's more appreciated than it sounds - especially a genuinely good one that doesn't smear or crumble. Browse our small desk accessories.
Small and Considered
A set of notecards. Compact, beautifully designed, and the kind of thing that gets used for months after Christmas - thank you notes, quick messages, small gestures. Browse our notecard sets.
A pack of postcards. Small, characterful, and versatile enough to be sent, framed, or simply kept. Browse our postcards.
A memo pad or small notebook. Something for the bag or the bedside table - small enough not to be a "proper" present, useful enough to actually get filled. Browse our small desk accessories.
A Little More Generous
A short length of ribbon. Slightly unexpected in a stocking, but genuinely well-liked by anyone who wraps presents or crafts. Browse our ribbons.
A single greeting card, chosen well. Not for Christmas itself, but as a small nudge for whatever's coming next in the new year - a birthday, an anniversary, a thank you they've been meaning to send. Browse our greeting cards.
How to Choose
For someone practical: a pen, pencil, or eraser - things that get used without ceremony, which is exactly the point.
For someone who likes things to look nice: washi tape, notecards, or ribbon - small doses of colour and design.
If you're filling several stockings: buying the same small item in a few colours or designs makes shopping quicker without anyone's gift feeling like an afterthought.
The Most Important Thing
A stocking filler is remembered less for its size and more for whether it actually gets used. A single well-chosen small thing beats three forgettable ones - and it's usually cheaper too.
Browse our full range of gifts under £10 and under £20 - designed in our North London studio, plastic-free throughout. Katie Leamon is stocked at Liberty, Harrods and Fortnum & Mason. Free UK delivery on orders over £50.