Thanks to a raging pandemic, most of us have spent more time at home than ever before in our lives. From home improvement projects to new self-care routines, indoor activities have helped us ride out the health crisis. 2020 has been hard on everyone and we can’t wait for the new year. With the holidays just around the corner, what better time to splurge on gifts for friends and family?
But if you’re stuck on what to get your favorite uncle or friends who just moved into a new home, here are a few ideas:
Kitchen Essentials
With most of the world under strict stay-at-home orders, quite a few people started spending more time in the kitchen. If you have any budding chefs in your gift-giving circle, then here are a few kitchen essentials you might want to consider for gifts.
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Chef’s knife and cutting board
No kitchen is complete without a pair of good quality knives. Yet, it’s amazing how many people still use a poorly made knife from a standard grocery store set. Instead of getting more knives, you should invest in getting just 1 or 2 high-quality ones. So this festive season, why not surprise the chef in your life with a knife and cutting board combo?
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Wine rack and glassware
Some people prefer dazzling drinks to exquisite dishes. If you know a wine connoisseur, they could probably use a nice wine rack or some colorful glassware. Make sure to find out what their favorite drink of choice is and select the appropriate type of cocktail glass.
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Serving dishes
Depending on your budget, a fancy serving dish might make the best gift. From fondue sets to matching salad bowls, the options are endless. The best part is that you can probably find the dish you want in a color or material that matches their existing design choices.
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Homebrewing kits or starter cultures
From making your own sourdough bread to brewing your own beer, there’s no dearth of DIY kitchen kits. If someone you know has been trying their hand at one such pursuit, why not gift a set that will get them started or augment their existing collection?
Home Improvement Projects
Are you surprised to find that home improvement projects have taken off in 2020? When you spend so much time at home, you will inevitably notice all the things that need fixing. So if your friend or family member is thinking of renovating their kitchen or bathroom, here are a few gift ideas for them.
Kitchen
Even if someone isn’t going for a full-scale renovation project, changing small things can have a big impact. For example, maybe it’s time to get rid of a leaky faucet or sink? For an inexpensive but useful gift, select a faucet with a finish that matches the rest of their kitchen. Consider one that includes features like touchless operation, spray settings, etc. If you have a bigger budget or just want to splurge for someone close to you, consider getting them that new sink they have an eye on, like maybe the new RUBI sinks available at Mondial.
Bathroom
Kitchen and bathroom upgrades are usually high on most home project lists. Once again, changing the tub or floor tile can be a daunting task. But something simple like replacing the towel bars or upgrading to a water saving showerhead can have a bigger impact without hurting your budget.
If you know what type of finish or features your family member wants, then picking up accessories like a toilet roll holder or towel hooks makes quite a nice gift. Or go one step further and pick up the entire set!
Decorative items
If your budget is much smaller or you are looking to gift distant relatives, then consider some decorative items such as scented candles, indoor plants or even coasters. A few scented candles with holiday scents can look and smell good around the house. Add a few bath bombs or aromatic essentials oils for a DIY self-care kit for anyone.
Indoor plants are also a great gift considering most of us are still spending time inside the house. If you know a garden enthusiast, then just the plant in a pot will do. But you can also get a complete kit – that often includes a watering can, instructions, clippers etc. – along with the plant. In fact, there are even indoor plants that do not need much water for those of your friends who do not have a green thumb. Just add an ice cube to the pot once a week and you’re all set.
Coasters might sound like a boring gift idea but we’re not talking about the pens you can pick up from a local grocery store. There are coasters made from glass with custom designs or quotes, or other materials like concrete, stone, marble, and so much more. With a little bit of thought and some online research, coasters can make quite interesting gifts!
