12 Unique Holiday Gift Ideas
Make their season extraordinary.
There is no better feeling than picking out the perfect gift for someone, but when you've got a long list of people to shop for, the holidays can start to feel overwhelming. Continue reading below for our favorite gift ideas for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
1. For the Recently Engaged
As the holidays approach, you're likely to start seeing a spike in engagements. It's the perfect time to celebrate this big milestone by picking out personalized holiday gifts. A monogrammed serving tray for a charcuterie spread, lumbar pillow for a primary bedroom, or set of linen towels for a guest bathroom is just the thing to add to the joy and excitement of a newly engaged couple's big moment.
If you have a close friend or family member who is trying to master a Negroni or manhattan, treat them to a couple of crowd-pleasing specialty bar tools. A bar tool set has all the essentials, including a strainer, mixing spoon, bottle opener, and more, and the accompanying tool stand will keep things neat and tidy. Just add a cocktail shaker and they're set.
Whether you are shopping for your friends from book club or the next-door neighbor you occasionally drink a glass of sauvignon blanc with on the patio, there are always creative holiday gifts for any wine lover. A new wine glass set, a set of jeweled wine charms, or a wine stopper makes one of the best unique gifts. Just add a bottle of your favorite wine or champagne and you'll be ready to celebrate.
When it comes to unique gifts, this one is for your friend with the second home in the mountains. After a day on the slopes, add a fun game of chess, checkers, or backgammon to your après-ski routine. Giving your entertaining friend a gorgeous playing card set or pack of dominos to replace their well-loved staples will ensure you're welcomed back to the lodge year after year.
If your in-laws insist on hosting everything from Easter to Thanksgiving, give them something unique that will make their duties feel extra special. A stunning bowl for fruit, salad, or nuts will elevate happy hour. Consider a stoneware or earthenware platter if your host is keen on serving heartier dishes – these platters are ideal for everything from freshly baked cookies to sugar-glazed sweet potatoes. If your host is known for serving a special dish, complement that item by gifting them the gravy boat, cake stand, or tureen of their dreams.
Coming up with gift ideas for a colleague or employee can be challenging – especially if you don't know what hobbies they have outside of the office. A porcelain or glass vase filled with seasonal flowers is just the thing to show your appreciation. The vase can live on their bookcase for years to come. If your colleague is a big reader, consider giving them a set of bookends. Any ideas that elevate their work-from-home situation is a winner in our book.
If your kids can't get enough of their Korean skin-care routine or always need the latest makeup products, give them something to stay organized. While a decorative tray might be considered more of a coffee table piece, it's actually the perfect item for streamlining a bathroom counter or vanity.
The holidays are just the time to focus on de-stressing with relaxing gift ideas. Between a stream of parties and last-minute gifts to purchase, it's always fun to indulge a bit. Treat the self-care obsessee in your life – even if it's yourself – to a luxurious new set of bath linens or a bathroom accessory. We'd recommend choosing plush and highly absorbent linens made from either 100% cotton, Turkish cotton, or Egyptian-quality cotton. A unique soap dispenser can instantly update a powder room, while a new bathroom storage piece is just the thing for organizing bubble baths and lotions.
Do you have a friend who just lives for a cozy night in with a good book? Make them feel special with a couple of little luxuries to elevate their bedroom or reading nook. A diffuser or designer candle are two of our favorite holiday gifts. Complete their night by adding a luxe throw blanket. There's nothing better than an oversized cable-knit throw paired with slippers on a chilly January evening. Give your friend something to look forward to this winter.
Pro Tip:
Candles and diffusers make fun stocking stuffers too, if you need a couple of last-minute ideas to round out your holiday shopping.
10. For the One Who Actually Prints Out Photos
If your cousin is always posting photos of their international adventures or your mother-in-law loves seeing pictures of her grandchildren and kids, a gorgeous picture frame is the perfect present. When it comes to gift ideas, a single frame or trio of frames will honor their love for looking at beautiful images all year long.
Whether the baker in your life is your partner, kids, or a close friend, show them how much you love their apricot cookies by giving them a new bakeware set or baking dishes this holiday. If there's someone in your life that is riding the homemade-bread-baking train, then a new loaf pan is the thing they didn't know they needed. Just add a mixing bowl or a new recipe book, and you'll be enjoying the fruits of their labor for months.
If there's someone in your life that you really want to spoil, consider one of the most splurge-worthy gifts of all: a one-of-a-kind piece of art. Perhaps one of the most unique gifts, an irreplaceable work of art is one thing that will really surprise and delight this person. An original painting is an unforgettable and timeless gift.
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