Here at Newlyn Maids, we all love a good mug. We all get through a lot of tea and coffee during the
working day, and a cheerful mug makes that much-needed cuppa even better. So naturally, when it
comes to choosing what to stock in our St Ives gift shop, there’s always room for one more type of
mug!
With such a great collection of mugs, how do you find the perfect one for you? Here’s our Newlyn
Maids guide to shopping for mugs.
Gift or treat?
A mug really is the perfect gift. Something like the witty designs from the Small Talk range (this
relatable mug is really popular) are bound to put a smile on a good friend’s face. The fine bone china
Bella Bee mug is just perfect for gardeners, while animal-loving friends will love the Spot the Dog
design (cat version also available).
Mugs are also a safe gift option if you don’t know someone that well (I mean, who doesn’t love a
cuppa?). Go for something tasteful and more neutral, like this Scandi-inspired speckled glaze mug.
And don’t forget – a mug doesn’t have to be a present! After all, it’s probably one of the items in our
kitchens that we use the most, so it’s definitely worth treating ourselves once in a while.
What colour mug?
If you read about my new kitchen recently, you’ll know how much I love putting together a new
palette. It’s completely coincidental that the blush pink and sage green of the Reactive Glaze Ombre
mugs tone with my newly redecorated room… However, because a mug tends to travel all over the
house with you, there’s no real need to colour-match it.
Love a splash of colour? The Small Talk mugs from House of Disaster are so vibrant (like this fun dog
design), and will definitely brighten up your morning routine or desk space.
Design or theme
One of the many things I love about choosing a mug is finding a design that matches your
personality. Unlike most home accessories, there’s no pressure to feel grown-up or too style-
conscious. While you might draw the line at flamingo wallpaper, you can easily celebrate your
favourite avians with a fabulous Flossy and Amber mug from Emily Smith.
At Newlyn Maids, you can choose from all sorts of animals, colours and witty slogans, and yes, the
Boobie mug from Sass and Belle really does raise a smile!
Easy to handle?
Handle shape is really important because we need to feel comfortable when we’re holding our
cuppa. If you take a look at the Newlyn maids mug collection, you’ll see that all of them have
generous-sized handles, usually with a classic D or C shape. This makes them easy and safe to hold,
and are better for anyone who struggles with fine motor skills.
I also love it when artists incorporate the handle into the design, like the awesome Blah Boy mug
from House of Disaster.
Tea or coffee?
I’m afraid that I fell down a bit of a rabbit hole with this one – there are a lot of opinions out there
about the right shape for your favourite brew! If there’s a general consensus, it’s to choose a wider
rim for cappuccinos, otherwise a narrower rim is good because it funnels the aromas while keeping
the drink hotter for longer. My feeling is to choose whichever style you prefer, regardless of what’s
going in the mug.
If you like the idea of a narrower top, try the Mojave Glaze range from Sass and Belle, which have a
heavier base and taper upwards.
Low maintenance mugs
We all love a label that reads “Dishwasher safe”, right? And if like many of us, you’re in the habit of
forgetting that you made a brew then rediscovering it fifteen minutes later, “Microwave safe” is also
good.
Don’t assume that quality china means high maintenance. Fine bone china is lightweight and
elegant; however, it’s also incredibly robust. Our Emily Smith Livy Lemur mugs have that refined,
translucent finish that’s typical of fine bone china, but you can still stick them in the dishwasher at
the end of the day – the best of both worlds.
Find your perfect mug at Newlyn Maids
If you’re in St Ives, pop into our gift shop and browse our mugs in person. As you can see, we’ve also
got a great selection of quality mugs in our online shop, which are super-easy for gifting. Keep
checking back in, as we’re always adding to our vibrant mug collection.
