A selection of Laetitia Rouget ceramics, Charvet Éditions table linen, Zafferano glassware and Charingworth cutlery
Choosing a present that the recipient will truly love can be harder than it looks. Here, we share our expert advice for selecting the perfect luxury gift, no matter what their personal style or the occasion
Christmas and birthdays, anniversaries and weddings, a new home, a new baby, high days and holidays – the occasions which require marking with a special gift are many. But where to start? After all, the present you choose says as much about you as it does about the recipient, and don’t we all want to be the person known for buying the best presents? But what makes one gift memorable and another forgettable? Often, it is less about price than judgement. The mark of a luxury gift is that it feels chosen rather than simply purchased. Here’s how…
Avoid the Generic
The easiest present to buy is often the easiest to forget. When inspiration fails, it is tempting to reach for the safe options: a scented candle, a box of chocolates, a bottle of wine. Don’t get us wrong, these are all lovely, but a gift should ideally say something about why you chose it.
Instead of asking what would suit anyone, think about what might suit this person. Someone who has just moved into a new home might appreciate some beautiful kitchenware such as Feldspar’s fine bone china tea mugs; the friend who always hosts might be delighted by good glassware – Zafferano’s handmade Perle wine glasses would be just the trick; the person who notices the details at a dinner table may be thrilled with a set of hand-painted plates, such as Ivo Angel’s Vines Holiday Antipasto Plates.
The aim is not to find the most unusual present, but to avoid one that could have been bought for anyone on the list. The adage: “it’s the thought that counts” really is true, whatever the budget.
Set of four Vines Holiday Antipasto Plates and Mari Baroque Bowl, all Ivo Angel
Look for the Story
A gift becomes more interesting when there is something to say about it. Perhaps it was made by hand, comes from a workshop in Devon, or uses a technique that has changed little over generations.
Zafferano’s glass tumblers, for example, are mouth-blown, so no two are quite alike. Laetitia Rouget's ceramics are made by artisans in Portugal and all have her signature wit that makes them as interesting on a shelf as they are a pleasure to use. Sabre Paris’s cutlery is crafted using traditional silversmithing techniques, giving each piece a finish that mass production cannot replicate.
This is one reason independent makers are such a good choice for thoughtful gifts. There is a story to tell when the wrapping paper comes off and pleasure to be found long afterwards.
Fine bone china candelabra and cafetière, both Feldspar
Beautiful or Useful?
Should a gift be something they need, or something they would simply love to own? There is no wrong answer.
Laetitia Rouget’s decorative ceramics might have no practical purpose beyond looking wonderful on a mantelpiece, and that is rather the point. A gift does not have to justify its existence.
At the other end of the spectrum are the luxury gifts that become part of everyday life: Zafferano glasses reached for at dinner, or Charingworth’s beautifully tactile stainless steel cutlery that becomes a fixture of the family table.
The sweet spot is something that manages both. A Feldspar candelabra is decorative enough to be admired when it is not in use, but it is an event when the candles are lit and it is brought to the table.
Lacquered backgammon set by Printworks
Buying for Someone Who Has Everything
Buying for someone who already has a carefully considered home presents a particular problem: what exactly do you buy for someone who already appears to have everything.
Don't try to fill a gap. Instead, look for a variation on something they already enjoy. A new Sabre Paris colourway for the host; a particularly beautiful piece of linen for someone who appreciates a well-dressed table, or really push the boat out or club together with friends to buy a handmade Sunbeam Jackie parasol – as seen at their favourite boutique hotel.
There is also something to be said for buying the thing they admire but would never quite justify buying themselves. Laetitia Rouget’s delightfully decadent Sleeping Muse Ashtray and ceramic You Dirty Little Thing Wastepaper Bin are perfect examples. Or one of Printworks' beautifully designed luxury chess or backgammon sets. The best gifts for this category often fall into that territory – unnecessary, perhaps, but very welcome.
Commune’s Seymour Handwash with recyclable aluminium vessel and reusable pump
When You Don't Know Their Taste
If you genuinely have no idea what someone's home looks like, don't attempt to guess their interior style. Look at how they live instead. It is a more reliable route to a thoughtful gift – and considerably less risky than trying to second-guess someone's taste in cushions.
Do they entertain often? Are they keen cooks? Do they have a garden? These background details are more useful than trying to work out whether they are minimalist or maximalist.
From there, choose something that relates to a habit rather than a decorating scheme. Good glassware, serving pieces, garden pots or French table linen can all feel highly personal and thoughtful without requiring you to know the colour their sitting room is painted in.
And lastly, take it from us – you cannot go wrong with Commune’s divinely scented Seymour Hand Wash and Hand Cream. Made in Somerset with natural oils such as coconut, rosehip and sweet almond, together with nourishing shea and cocoa butters, its elegant, endlessly reusable 100% aluminium bottles also look especially chic sink-side.
For more ideas, explore our collection of luxury homeware gifts
