The key to being good at giving presents is to be thoughtful. When you’re thinking about the person you’re buying for, ask yourself: what’s their lifestyle? Do they have any hobbies? Where do they live? Have they ever mentioned wanting something specific? Once you’ve identified those things, establish a budget, then get to brainstorming.
Personally, I always try to get something practical but extra nice. For example, towels are basic, but if you get one with a soft terry material and a cute colour or print you know the other person will love, that towel is gonna get used all the time. Simple, right?
I know it can get pretty daunting to shop, especially when stores are decked out with holiday decor and there’s always some sale going on, so I’ve rounded up some of the best practical but nice things you can get for the people on your list.
General Items
Candles I love candles, so I have to mention them here even though they’re in every gift guide. Areaware Totem Candles are really hot right now, but Boy Smells are always good. You could even get a set of coloured tapered candles with vintage candle holders.
Colourful Socks It’s a great way to add something fun to someone’s wardrobe without having to buy them a loud sweater. Here’s one from Frank and Oak that I really like — they come in multiple colours, too!
Collapsable Crates I have a few of these, and they make storing things like cleaning supplies and random papers look aesthetically pleasing. The ones I have are the original HAY crates, which are now, unfortunately, sold out on their website, but you can find similar ones from Amazon.
Reusable Shopping Bags I will never not be happy to receive a Baggu shopping bag. I like to keep one in my tote bag in case I randomly end up going to a grocery store. It’s honestly a lifesaver, and they come in so many different sizes and designs!
Linen Pillowcases Because sleep is important, and having a set of luxurious pillowcases is a nice treat. Here’s a cute one from Brooklinen.
Thermal Slippers If they live in a country with depressing winters, you can’t go wrong with a pair of thermal slippers. Here’s one I like from North Face.
Portable Charger This one’s for the person who likes to travel or is on their phone a lot. Here’s a really basic one from Amazon, but I’m sure you can find cute ones, too.
Lamp Good moody lighting adds warmth and coziness to a space. Depending on the person you’re buying for, you can buy a vintage one from Etsy or go for a modern one from Gantri or Menu.
Towels As I’ve mentioned above, you can never go wrong with a nice towel. I’m currently into Tekla.
Knitted Coasters For that one friend with a coastal grandma style. Here’s a cute set from Etsy.
Cookbooks
I Dream of Dinner (so You Don’t Have To) Thinking about what to make for dinner isn’t always as fun as it seems, especially when you have a long day, so I think this cookbook by Ali Slagle is pretty genius.
What’s for Dessert For that one friend who’s obsessed with baking and watches Claire Saffitz’s latest video every week.
First Generation Frankie Gaw takes you through his childhood as a Taiwanese American.
Korean American I love Eric Kim’s recipes. His Gochugaru Salmon (yes, I’m pescatarian!) on NYT Cooking is one of my favourites — I make it almost every week with smashed cucumbers.
Vegetable Kingdom You know I had to insert a vegan cookbook here. This book by Bryant Terry is beautiful, and his recipes are always so innovative.
Kitchen Things
Pinch Bowls I love a good pinch bowl for prepping seasonings and garnishes. I have a couple from Hasami, but I would recommend getting a set of unique ones from Etsy or your local ceramicist.
Cutting Board You should always have at least two types of cutting board in your kitchen: wooden and plastic. Plastic is good for anything raw, like fish, and wood is good for vegetables and serving cheeses. I recommend this board from HAY.
Salt & Pepper Shakers I just think it’s so cute to have tiny salt and pepper shakers that are always on your dining table. Here’s one from Etsy.
Braiser I think a braiser is great for one-pot recipes. It’s also shallow enough that it doesn’t take up too much space. I like this one from Le Creuset.
The Slotted Spoon from Material Kitchen A slotted spoon and spider in one! I feel like this would be so good for poaching or taking things out of the fryer.
Honourable Mentions
Here are some other brands and stores I like that didn’t make the list but are still definitely worth checking out.