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Design TrendsIssue — Open Air

Mini Is Big: Welcome to the Dawn of Downsizing, 10 Favorites

May 28, 2026

Look closely or you’ll miss them: of late we’ve noted a spate of mini household things. Small enough to be heartwarmingly cute, they’re just big enough to be useful: a winning combination. Here are 10 favorites, each sized to fit in the palm of your hand.

japanese brand hightide&#8\2\17;s penco tiny metal container is a 4.\2 inch 17
Above: Japanese brand Hightide’s Penco Tiny Metal Container is a 4.2-inch-long version of a retro metal toolbox. Also available in red and green, it’s $12 USD from Neighbour in Toronto.
the beechwood handled mini garden tool set, \$\13.75, from kikkerland is design 18
Above: The beechwood-handled Mini Garden Tool Set, $13.75, from Kikkerland is designed for indoor and small plant gardening.
preserve stems as you go: the floral society&#8\2\17;s mini flower press, \ 19
Above: Preserve stems as you go: The Floral Society’s Mini Flower Press, $25, is sized to slip in a pocket.
the cotman watercolour sketcher&#8\2\17;s pocket set, \$38.49, is from wins 20
Above: The Cotman Watercolour Sketcher’s Pocket Set, $38.49, is from Winsor & Newton, which has been making art supplies since 1832. Travel brush included.
the size of a small notepad, this penco mini clipboard, \$8, from boston genera 21
Above: The size of a small notepad, this Penco Mini Clipboard, $8, from Boston General Store is ideal for grocery lists and other details of life.
count the seconds with hightide&#8\2\17;s mini hourglass, \$\1\2, which run 22
Above: Count the seconds with Hightide’s Mini Hourglass, $12, which runs for approximately 1 minute. Handmade by glass artisans, it’s also available in several larger sizes at the Hightide Store DTLA.
&#8\2\20;there was a little fur family, warm as toast, smaller than most, a 23
Above: “There was a little fur family, warm as toast, smaller than most, and they lived in a warm wooden tree.” Margaret Wise Brown’s Little Fur Family, with Garth Williams illustrations, comes in three faux fur-covered sizes, but the Mini Fur Family is the ideal—at least according to my daughter and me. It’s $9.99 from Flora and Henri.
among the appeals of kikkerland&#8\2\17;s mini doodle kit, \$\17, is its ti 24
Above: Among the appeals of Kikkerland’s Mini Doodle Kit, $17, is its tin case fitted with a sharpener and eraser. The companion booklet is a coloring book.
avid remodelista readers know of our fondness for the vipp pedal trash bin—it 25
Above: Avid Remodelista readers know of our fondness for the Vipp pedal trash bin—it tops the Remodelista 100, our list of favorite everyday objects (see Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home). The Danish steel classic has been in production since 1939, more recently as the Vipp 3 Pedal Bin Miniature, $140, for tabletop crumbs and castoffs.
made of stitched cotton canvas, muji&#8\2\17;s mini canvas tote bag, \$4.90 26
Above: Made of stitched cotton canvas, Muji’s Mini Canvas Tote Bag, $4.90, is just right for your pebble collection or favorite lipsticks. N.B.: Fans of Trader Joe’s totes can find its sold-out Mini Canvas Totes on the resale market.

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