Amanda Hanley picks her key gifts for Christmas
We’re on the countdown to Christmas and many of us are still desperately trying to find the perfect gift for a close friend or relative. What do they want? What do they need? What to buy?
Objects of Desire
“Oh, I don’t want anything”, your other half says. But you know that isn’t true. Then there are your close friends, parents, in-laws … You ask them what they want, and, if you’re really lucky, they’ll tell you, but that can take all the thoughtfulness and surprise out of the event.
Philosophy has taught us that giving to others can make us happier than treating ourselves. But before that happiness, there can be a whole lot of stress – finding the perfect gift for someone is tricky. It’s very easy to spend hours browsing the internet or trawling the shops in a frenzy, losing sight of what you really want to give to that particular person.
Sometimes it’s best to take a more planned, organised approach to finding the perfect gift. The problem is that we often think about giving gifts as the exchange of objects – instead, it can help to think of a gift as a communication that sends a message to the recipient.
If you plan your gift giving in advance, you may find you save a lot of time in the long run, and as a result end up with the perfect gift. Ask yourself first “What do I want to say to this person?” and “What can I give them that will send this message?” This method could help you come up with some slightly quirky gifts, but at least they will be thoughtful.
First of all, make a list of all the things the person is interested in and things that define who they are. Make this list long, writing down as many things as you can. Now brainstorm something to go with every item on that list. You don’t have to give all of those gifts, but you’re going to get some brilliant ideas you wouldn’t have otherwise, and your recipient will appreciate how personal and considerate you were.
We have put together some suggestions to help you find the perfect gift for your loved ones, some inspiration we hope will put a heartfelt smile on their faces.
The game player
A game is a great way to bring people together – to spend time with a loved one and enjoy each other’s company. A gift of a game, particularly if it’s as beautiful as this, can say so much more than ‘Happy Christmas!’
Luxurious home accessories
Carbon fibre frames and lacquered boxes, perfect for jewellery and accessories, are the perfect gift for the car enthusiast and a stylish addition to any sleek interior.
Both the frames and the lacquered boxes are beautifully gift boxed in luxury packaging.
The music lover
The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band record cover collage prints of original vinyls with collages, playful, paper embellishments make a truly original gift, whether you’re a fan of the Beatles, John Lennon or The Clash these prints look fantastic in any surrounding.
Fragrance
Candles make great gifts and are ideal for creating atmosphere on long winter nights.
Our luxury Vegan Soy Wax and Essential Oil Scented candles are the perfect gift for all occasions. They are carbon neutral and sustainable, have a long, clean burn time to care for the environment (45+ hours). 100% natural and cruelty free.
The kids, young and old
Cute and quirky softies, something soft and loveable, sophisticated soft toys making adorable stocking fillers for young and old alike.
Perfect gifts
Wild and Soft is a Belgian company which creates the absolute softest home accessories in the world. Drawing from the love of nature and the mission is to make children happy and make children and adults laugh.
Bring your children’s bedroom to life, with these super soft and cuddly heads that love to be hung on the wall.
Children love animals and love to dress up. These animal costume disguises make a fun and fantastic unique gift and are sure to provide little ones with hours of entertainment. The pockets at the end of the paws are easy slip little hands into and the cap shaped head allows a comfortable fit. There are lots of different styles. They are robust and exceptional quality. They can also be used as a unique rug, a soft games mat or a warm cuddle blanket.