This blog post is part of a Debenhams Christmas Wishlist campaign.
It's that time of the year again, pals!
It's time to see what set of lights packed up at the end of last year and how you can possibly elevate last year's gourmet festive sandwich filling.
In the spirit of giving, I'm giving you 100 gift ideas to help you on your way. Buckle up and take notes.
galaxy bedding, ilume candles and golden berry + vanilla candle, all from debenhams.
HOMEWARE
Cute candles and diffusers always make great gifts, especially for dog owners!
• Cosy blankets or new bedding sets for cold evenings in
• Go charity shopping and find the perfect unique gift if you're strapped for cash
• A plant pot or a hanging planter or a plant for green-fingered pals
• A cute weekly pill box! A little
out there perhaps but I was given a rainbow Anabox about five years ago and it has helped me to keep on top of my daily meds
• Offer your cleaning, tidying and sorting services for the day. This is an easier gift to give if you know the recipient well and know they'd appreciate the gesture.
Don't start a flame war with your best friend who hasn't seen their floor since the early 00s • A shower seat or another useful piece of equipment. Your disabled and chronically ill pals probably have a list of things that would make their lives a lot more comfortable. Ask for their suggestions
• Recipient just moved house? A vase could be a good shout! I've been in this house for 11 months now and I still have to borrow my Mum's. Send help...
and vases • Is something broken in their home that they may not have the disposable income to fix? Offer to pay for it to be fixed. Family members did this for us when our boiler broke, our cooker packed up, etc, and it was a wonderful gesture
•
A fun party game or board game they can play with family and friends. Board game nights are an excellent cheap night in
• Sustainable alternatives to things that they may own and want to replace
• They're likely to have all of the essential pieces of dinnerware, unless they've just moved in, so maybe find some cool serving dishes instead? I would suggest not going for seasonal pieces unless they have enough storage space
• A tree ornament that fits their colour scheme and vibe
• A framed print
• Cute mugs are everywhere these days and you can find some excellent ones for under a fiver. Check your local supermarkets
• Do they insist on using the big light? Buy them mood lighting. They need to be saved
• If they struggle with fatigue, or are incredibly busy, consider buying them a slow cooker. Attach your favourite recipe(s) for a nice touch
• If the recipient is a keen gardener, DIY some plant markers. There are loads of different tutorials on the internet, from wooden designs to hand-lettered pebbles. Inexpensive but thoughtful
• Get them a gift card for their favourite homeware shop. Easy peasy!
• Do they work from home? Get them a pinboard/pegboard/wire rack for them to attach inspo to
• Attempt some DIY lettered dinnerware. Head to Pinterest for inspo!
• Soft towels and flannels (especially if they're using worn hand-me-downs or are about to move into their first place)
• Forgo gifts and both spend the money on buying warm supplies, sleeping bags, etc, for local homeless people.
designworks weekly planner from debenhams.
STATIONERY
Opt for weekly planners and organisers over diaries (as diaries are usually bound by complex personal preferences)
• Pay for a stationery subscription service for them, like Papergang
• Buy them a worry journal for all their anxieties
• Top up their journalling or art supplies
• Are they stuck in hospital or going to be spending lots of time waiting around at appointments? Get some fun activity books. You can get some fancy looking ones these days. I'm talking William Morris prints and everything! I'm partial to a word search myself
• Do they use a scrap of paper as a bookmark? Get them a fancy looking one
• To do list pads are perfect for people who never seem to know if they're coming or going
• Desk tidies might seem like a really dull gift but you can jazz it up a bit by getting some really interesting designs or by re-purposing beautiful tins. I keep lipsticks in an old truffle tin, for example
• Do they send a lot of letters? Get them a personalised stamp or, alternatively, you could even get them a wax seal set. Letter sets and personalised notecards also make good gifts - especially when they come with stamps!
•
A recipe book - slide some of your own favourite recipes between the pages for a personal touch
• There are loads of options for personalised notebooks online. An easy but useful gift
• Going on their travels? Gift them a travel journal or a pocket notebook for their musings along the way
• Meal plan pads can be lifesavers, especially for those of us that need to stick to a budget
• Fancy writing tools that make them look like they have their life together
• A cute desk calendar
• Washi tape. You can never own enough washi tape
• New business owner? Pay for a set of business cards
• Hold a gift treasure hunt complete with clues written on tea-stained paper
• Seen any nice cards lately? Cut some corners and frame them as mini prints
• Make up some colouring kits with a pal to send to local refuges, schools, etc
• Get them a Wreck This Journal
• Buy a set of notebooks or exercise books and split them between friends. See also: cute slogan pencils. I did that with my
bridesmaid boxes and it worked well.
golden berry + vanilla candle, brass frame and daisy perfume all from debenhams.
SENTIMENTAL
Photo frames, either filled with snaps of the two of you together or left empty for them to fill themselves. I quite like filling thin frames with Instax snaps. An easy gift and relatively inexpensive
• Start a scrapbook for them to fill in
• Got boxes of photos lying around? Compile a photo album
• Buy them a bottle of their signature scent or a fragrance that reminds them of a particular place or time
• Find some artwork of a place that they adore
• Frame a significant letter or note
• Get an album that you both love on vinyl
• Fill a disposable camera with photographs of people they love. Give them the cash to go and get it developed or present them with the finished photos for their perusal
• Are you creative? Create something for them!
• Buy them a beautiful edition of their favourite book and be sure to leave an inscription. I have a whole post on
gifts for readers so check that out if you're looking for gift inspo for bookworms
•
Hold a movie night, complete with tickets, snacks and a bill of their favourite films
• Write a letter for them to open on bad days
• Compile a book of their creations or best tweets or Instagram photos
• Frame maps of places that mean a great deal to you
• Donate to their favourite charities or earmark some time for the two of you to volunteer
• Buy a piece of jewellery that allows them to hold loved ones near. I bought my Mum a necklace a few years ago with three circles - each one representing one of her children
• Make a selection of mixed tapes or Spotify playlists for all kinds of different situations. If you're extra, write a note explaining each choice
• Make or buy a decorative print of their favourite lyrics
• Pick some flowers and give them a bouquet
• Create a voucher offering your redeemable expertise for a day
• Are they a business owner? Make a book of their achievements
• An ornate box for their special jewellery
• Schedule time throughout the new year to hang out with one another. Save your money for said dates
• Go for a day out somewhere you've been meaning to go
• Hold a family home video night. Cover the floor in old photographs and make sure you've got tissues on hand for inevitable tears
•
borders biscuits from debenhams. cute dog unfortunately not from debenhams.
EDIBLE GIFTS
Create a kit for the perfect night in full of all the crisps and dips • Afternoon tea is a hassle. Create a lowkey home version • Moved somewhere new? Put together a little box of local delights for your family and friends to enjoy • A block of chocolate for them to eat for breakfast one morning over the festive period... • Design a hamper devoted to the art form that is the festive leftovers sandwich • A tub of chai latte powder for yummy drinks throughout the year • A bottle of their favourite tipple • Fill their freezer with your signature dishes • Donate food to a local food bank on their behalf • Create the ultimate snack box for picky tea evenings • Make a homemade voucher that's redeemable for a meal out one evening •
Buy their big shop for them • Invite them to a dinner party where they get to choose the menu • Sign them up to a meal delivery service • Put together a recipe jar. All you need is card to write the recipe on, a jar to store the dry ingredients and some string • Make a preserve or an accompaniment for festive eating • Grow your own? Box up some of your produce • Make some infused oil, sugar or salt • Pop a batch of your go-to sweet treats in a novelty biscuit jar. We have a Chewbacca jar and we love it • Fill their cupboards with some essentials that they can make quick and easy meals from • Brew some homemade booze • Go to a food market together and pay for them to bring some treats home • Make some easy 'chocolate bark' using their favourite chocs • Plan a pizza making night (complete with menus and invites if you're feeling extra) • Hold a festive afternoon complete with Christmas films, all the snacks and hot drinks a la Lyzi and I •
And there you have it! 100 gift ideas to help inspire you.
I tried to cater for a mix of financial, physical and mental constraints because everyone deserves to bathe in a restorative moment over the festive period.
Have you got any excellent gift ideas stored away in your brain? Spill! I want to hear them.
This blog post is part of a Debenhams Christmas Wishlist campaign. All ideas, however, are my own. Photographed items (mostly) from Debenhams. Except the dog...
