The best practical gifts for the home this festive season
For those who treat shopping as a hobby, this really is the most wonderful time of the year. For the rest of us who dread the shops at the best of times, any tips for making the process of choosing Christmas gifts as effort-free as possible, are welcome.
I have a particular love of buying gifts for the home, but also tackle some Christmas week conjuring of homemade ones — typically, a jar of mincemeat and a pound of shortcrust pastry presented in prettyish, reusable containers. Other times it’s a Christmas cake on a fancy plate, but there are times when retail beckons, especially online when time is tight.
To hone the choice available, Jennie Flynn co-founder of Dublin gift boutique Designist, says, “I think the best gifts are things that get used every day because every time they get used, you'll be reminded of the person who gave you the gift. Ideally, they should also be good-looking and a pleasure to use. If they reflect someone's taste and ideas or have an interesting story, even better.”
Prices at Designist run from €4 for a Christmas stocking-filler tube squeezer, pressed into service to get out the last of the toothpaste or makeup, to €275 for a wooden bench handmade by Sam Agus Nessa for Santa Claus himself to deliver. But Jennie raises an interesting point about buying pricier items.
“The majority of our gifts for the home would be around €50 and under, as once you get into more expensive gifts people often feel like they have to keep them for good rather than using them all the time.”
Weather barometer €75, but not like the one granny used to have, and the gold foil decorated Cognitive Surplus wine glass €25, stem-free for easy washing up.
Over at Irish Design Shop, co-owner Clare Grennan encourages buying something to support local makers and, in turn, the local economy.
“You are also investing in a quality, unique piece that has longevity to boot,” she says. “Irish craft and design is of such a high standard and quality, products are made to last. It is also the more sustainable choice.
"Many Irish craftspeople have sustainability at the core of their practice in their choice of materials and methods of production. The obvious benefits of cutting out international transportation is also a bonus, giving the customer that feelgood factor.”
Catering for all budgets has also been a priority for Clare and business partner Laura Caffrey.
“Our price range is pretty broad,” Laura says. “We have one-off ceramic pieces for approximately €850 and functional ceramics and tableware starting at €25.
Seasonal soap and wooden dish, €23; a 2024 calendar with 12 perforated prints for framing, €35; a cosy mohair Cushendale blanket, €245.
When buying gifts you should always think about what your gift receiver loves but never buys for themselves, according to Siobhan Lam, owner of home interior boutique April & The Bear.
“For foodies, I like to think outside the box,” she says. “Keep an eye out for unique utensils or ingredients that they wouldn't usually consider, like organic chilli salt and wild garlic. For stocking fillers, I like to keep things light and fun. Bring the humour, it's Christmas after all. Funny little notebooks with naughty phrases or small Irish art prints are always welcomed and you can never have too many of them.”
Steering through the unknown territory of neighbours’ and extended family members’ tastes can be tricky when you don’t necessarily know their interior likes and dislikes. Maybe that’s why we tend to stick with a bottle or wine and a tin of fancy biscuits when visiting over the holidays.
“What I tend to do is pick some special Christmas ornaments over the festive season, wrap them nicely and then distribute them out over Christmas,” says Siobhan. “Make sure to pick out really special decorations, and don't feel obliged to buy more than one.
"Perhaps your neighbours have a cherished pooch. Buy them a darling dog decoration, or maybe you always have an espresso martini over the wall with your neighbour at Christmas. Get her a cocktail decoration. It's the thought that counts, not the spend.”
An espresso martini cocktail tree bauble, €16; Cheese Porn cheeseboard with integrated knives €50; My List of Things I Was Right About notebook, €8.
- Instagram.com/irishdesignshop/
- Instagram.com/wearedesignist/
- Instagram.com/aprilandthebear/
