6 Must-Have Items For A Relaxing Holiday At Home

Six solutions for effortless chic, relaxing moments and comfort and joy.

1. Don’t forget to take some overdue quiet time and enjoy the solitude by rediscovering the joys of some retro activities; listen to some vinyl on a turntable or piece together a scenic puzzle (this one features a painting by Canadian artist and Group of Seven member Lawren Harris). Puzzle, $25, www.ago.net/shop; turntable, $140, Hudson’s Bay

2. At this price, you can keep a stack of these cosy blankets on hand should you and your guests decide to sip hot chocolate next to a bonfire or hunker down in the basement for a movie night. They also make for great gifts for your guests to take home. Blankets, $12 each, Sears

3. Rum for the eggnog and whisky—from hockey legend No. 99, no less—to break the ice at your holiday party. And a hand-cut crystal decanter—made on Canada’s East Coast—on your drinks trolley will up the glam factor. Baron Samedi Spiced Rum, $30; Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Red Cask Whisky, $35; Spirit Decanter, $359, www.novascotiancrystal.com

4. No longer confined to the boudoir, the lowly slipper is having a Cinderella moment this season. Flat, comfortable and utterly chic in plush velvet, it’s the only shoe you need during the holidays whether you’re entertaining at home or heading out to The Nutcracker—weather permitting! Pair them with trousers or a long dress. And, guys, join in the comfort zone with a luxe splurge. Michael Michael Kors slipper, $198, michaelkors.ca; Gucci loafer, $910, Holt Renfrew

5. Upgrade your cookie choice for special occasions and opt for something decadent from Fauchon, the legendary French gourmet delicatessen that’s been around since 1886. Fauchon cookies, $30, Holt Renfrew

6. Keep your beauty regimen simple and elegant with a classic red lipstick. It’s the singular beauty trick women throughout the decades have known – it conveys glamour, sophistication and a sense of celebration. Givenchy Le Rouge No. 306 lipstick, $44