There are some things you should generally avoid giving as gifts.
Buying a friend or family member something for their home is somewhat of a risk, but if you choose wisely, the return on your investment could be great. It could end up being something they use every day or display in a place of prominence in their living room or entryway.
To make your holiday shopping as efficient as possible, we put together a list of relatively “safe” gifts for the home to give this year. Whether they’re looking to cut the cord on their cable TV subscription or add some fun accents to a new space they’ve moved into, there’s something here for every homeowner on your list.
A warm throw blanket
Serena & Lily
Upgrade their next Netflix binge-watching session with this mohair throw.
A streaming stick
Amazon
Anyone who wants to cut the cord on their cable TV subscription will get a lot of use out of Roku’s easy-to-use streaming stick.
A vase
Food52
A vase that can rival the pretty bouquet they put inside it.
A fresh set of bed sheets
Brooklinen
Brooklinen’s sheets will make them feel like they’re snoozing on cloud nine. The company’s Hardcore Sheet Bundle has everything they need to completely makeover their bed. It includes a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, a duvet cover, and four pillowcases. Pro tip: Only buy sheets if you know the size of their mattress.
Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore Bundle Set (Queen), $228
Brooklinen Classic Hardcore Sheet Bundle Set (Queen), $179.25
A personal assistant
Amazon
There’s an ever-so-slight learning curve in figuring out what Amazon’s Alexa can and can’t do, but once that’s passed, the Echo Dot can forecast the weather, read an audiobook, order a pizza, tell Dad jokes, or any number of things they should find charming. The Echo Dot is the best value of the Echo family, but if you need a louder speaker, the original Echo works exactly the same.
A dessert plate
Barneys New York
Richard Ginori’s dessert plates will be an instant hit at their next dinner party.
Richard Ginori Venezia Dessert Plate, $50 each
Marble coasters
Etsy
These marble coasters are a stylish addition to any coffee table.
MeAConcrete Hexagon Marble Coasters, from $25.25
A serving tray
Crate & Barrel
Whether they use it for breakfast in bed or to refresh their coffee table, a serving tray is one of the more practical home items you can get them.
Crate & Barrel Beck Tray, $49.95
A Bluetooth speaker
Amazon
Here’s a Bluetooth speaker they’ll actually want to show off.
An ottoman
Etsy
If you have some extra cash to spend, consider getting them an ottoman. It doesn’t have to perfectly match the rest of their furniture, plus it’ll serve as a friendly reminder for them to kick up their feet every now and then.
A monogrammed carafe
Williams Sonoma
An elegant way for them to serve a bottle of their favorite wine.
Williams-Sonoma Monogrammed Glass Carafe, $39.95
A trinket dish
Catbird
This catch-all is the perfect place for them to leave their apartment keys or loose jewelry.
Bookends
Parachute Home
Parachute’s roomy towels will lend a spa-like vibe to their bathroom.
A fancy candle
Net-a-Porter
When in doubt, fancy candles make great gifts.
A Framebridge gift card
Framebridge
Don’t give them an art print unless you know their taste. Instead, give them a gift card to Framebridge, so they can custom frame something they love — be it a favorite photo or sports jersey — exactly the way they want.
A coffee table book
Amazon
A cool coffee table book to leaf through and display in their living room or kitchen.
“China: The Cookbook” by Kei Lum Chan and Diora Fong Chan, $37.46
A decorative pillow
West Elm
West Elm’s colorful pillow will add personality to any couch or bed it’s on.
