Decorating & Design
November 12, 2020
50+ Holiday Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List!
The chilly season is upon us, which means it’s time to start thinking about holiday shopping. We decided to switch things up this year and organize our editor-approved gifts by the five senses: taste, smell, sight, touch and sound. Whether it’s an Instagram-worthy agate cheese board (taste) or a plush pair of suede slippers (touch), scroll down to discover 50+ holiday gift ideas that satisfy the senses. There might be a few goodies in there for you, too!
Taste
Up your holiday cheese board game with a chic agate board that makes everything from brie to gouda look downright delicious.
Cheers to special occasions big and small with these elegant, mouth-blown Champagne coupes. The unique frosted finish (created by sandblasting) feels especially apropos for a wintery fête.
This serving set from Vancouver’s Fable homewares includes a dreamy ceramic bowl that’s hand-finished in Portugal and serving spoons made of premium stainless steel. Best of all, everything is dishwasher safe!
Crafted from olive wood and stainless steel, these elegant knives are perfect for paring veggies or slicing through steak.
Equip your bar cabinet with small-batch simple syrup, lavender bitters and lemon-lime shrub from Winnipeg, Manitoba’s Abiding Citizen.
Cassis Monna & Filles’ preserves – cultivated from black currant from the family’s Saint Lawrence River estate — make a tasty addition to holiday roasts, tourtières, pâtés and, of course, cheese boards.
Simply pop these stylish stones into your freezer a few hours and you’ll be able to chill any bevvy without watering it down with ice.
Brew your own tasty holiday coffees, with unique tasting notes like cereal and biscotti, from home with Nespresso’s beautifully packaged (and totally stocking stuffer-worthy) holiday pods.
‘Tis the season for fondue! Conjure up all those nostalgic holiday feels with this candlelit set.
Show a little socially-distanced love this year by sending a sweet treat in the mail. These Postcard Chocolate Bars come beautifully packaged — simply add a stamp and pop them in the mail, or better yet, have Alicja Confections send your postcard for you!
Smell
Candles make a great host or hostess gift — especially when they’re affordable, packaged in a beautiful stoneware vessel and smell like roses and raspberries.
Fill your home with the wintery scents of pine and freshly cut wood for several months with this luxurious oil diffuser.
Delight your scent-savvy friends with these unique Japanese paper incense sheets that come in a pretty wooden box. Display the leaf-shaped scent sheets — which have aromas such as Spicy Jasmine and Smoky Cinnamon — like potpourri before burning.
We could all use a little de-stressing over the holiday season! Soothe your soul with a naturally relaxing blend of lavender, chamomile and orange essential oils.
Get into a merry mood with an invigorating blend of witch hazel, patchouli and lemongrass mist from a Canadian, female-owned company founded by two best friends and wellness enthusiasts.
Take your essential oil diffusing to space-aged new heights with a whisper-quiet, bluetooth-enabled device that disperses scents for up to 24 hours and 1,000 square feet. Constructed from recycled aluminum, this high-tech diffuser breaks down fragrance oils into a dry mist, so no oily residue is left behind — plus, it even allows you to adjust the scent intensity using your phone!
Made in the heart of South Africa, this luxurious bath salt contains mineral-rich salt harvested from the Kalahari Desert, as well as seaweed, botanicals and caffeine. It’s the ultimate way to unwind after a day of holiday shopping!
Give the gift of superior air quality with this purifier, heater, cooler and fan from Dyson. The slick device removes pollutants and disperses purified hot or cool air — and it looks good doing it.
Do you love the smell of freshly washed sheets? Keep that comforting aroma with you all day long with this unisex Warm Cotton perfume. The cap is made out of sustainable wood from Spain, and the juice is vegan, cruelty-free and phthalate-free!
This sister-run company based in Midhurst, Ontario, uses plant-based ingredients to concoct their body and home products. These six aromatherapy blends are tailored to your mood, so whether you want to feel more energized, are looking for tension relief or need to wind down, there’s a rollerball for that.
Woodsy scents of cedarwood, lily of the valley and sandalwood give this vegan botanical body serum a transportive quality. Lather it on and feel as though you’re in a lush forest.
Sight
Rather than assembling flowers en masse, try traditional Japanese Ikebana flower arranging by highlighting a few special stems. This hand-blown glass vase allows you to see the beauty of the whole flower — from bloom to stem — and a polished brass insert with holes makes arranging dried or fresh flowers easy.
Take your games night up a notch with swanky gold lucite dominoes. Even when you’re not in game mode, this stylish set looks great on a coffee table.
Add a touch of global flair to your walls with an array of colorful Senegalese baskets. Not only are they pieces of woven art and craftsmanship, they can also do double duty as a catch-all on your entryway table.
From cocktail hour to hors d’oeuvres–o’clock, serve up bevvies and bites in style with a metallic bar cart. Smoked tempered glass shelves and wheels that rotate 360 degrees mean this portable trolly can be the life of the party.
In the New York Times bestselling book, Homebody, HGTV star Joanna Gaines shares her secrets for designing a home you’ll love. “The book follows six foundational styles — farmhouse, modern, rustic, industrial, traditional and boho — and features 22 homes that represent a range and combination of those looks,” she says.
For the plant enthusiast on your list, reach for this heirloom-quality brass watering can with an oiled walnut handle.
The new Kobo Nia is the company’s most compact, purse-friendly device ever. It can store up to 6,000 eBooks (no more lugging around a stack of books on your weekend getaway), and the adjustable ComfortLight makes reading at night a breeze.
In case you missed it, the terrazzo trend isn’t going anywhere. These speckled planters are the perfect accessory for fresh foliage, whether it’s adorning a petite balcony or adding a subtle dose of color to a windowsill.
The ultimate holiday gift is one that is both beautiful and ethical. These intricate Bolga Fans are handwoven in Ghana and made out of ethically sourced straw.
Crafted from 18-karat gold and freshwater pearls, these dainty studs are a generous gift that can be passed down for generations.
Touch
What would a holiday gift guide be without a pair of pyjamas? This organic cotton set — in a sweet blush pink hue — is breathable while you sleep at night and might just be your new work-from-home outfit.
Soft curves and snuggly upholstery make this chair a must for anyone wishing to give rooms a comfy, cozy feel.
A bad night’s sleep will be a thing of the past with these light-blocking silk sleep masks — available in eight elegant shades. Time to catch some zzz’s!
These soft-as-a-cloud suede slippers are lined with shearling wool, perfect for keeping feet warm during the colder months.
Toronto-based, female-founded company Sam & Lance know the important of living sustainably — it’s part of their company ethos. Their Zero Waste Starter Bundle is the perfect introduction to a more earth-conscious journey: it includes reusable cotton rounds, beeswax food wraps, vegan floss and more!
This pumpkin-hued knit throw not only looks good tossed over a sofa, bed or chaise, but it will keep you cozy during a relaxing evening in, binge-watching your favorite Netflix series.
If you have a skin care enthusiast on your list, look no further than this advent calendar chock-full of Clinique products. From lipstick to makeup remover and their award-winning moisturizer, this luxe set is sure to please!
No serene soak in the tub is complete without a fluffy faux fur bathrobe to sink into. The teddy bear fabric feels like a warm hug!
Imagine waking up on a cold winter morning tucked under this touchably soft flannel duvet — you’d never want to leave! This set includes one duvet cover and two matching standard size shams.
Calling all garden lovers! These thorn-proof goatskin gardening gloves adjust to the shape of your hand (like high-quality leather should) for all of your pruning needs.
Even though our travel plans have been grounded (for now), it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy skin care on-the-go. This gel cleanser and Konjac Facial sponge sloughs away dirt and leaves your face feeling fresh!
Sound
The new Google Nest Audio proves just how stylish speakers can be. Choose between five fashionable colors — Charcoal, Sand, Sky, Sage and Chalk — for a smart assistant that speaks to your aesthetic. Fun fact: the enclosure is made of 70 percent recyclable materials!
A quiet evening in wouldn’t be complete without the crackling sound of a dimly-lit wood-wick candle. With notes of black amber, lavender and musk, this sultry scent is the definition of comfort. Plus, a tree is planted with every candle you purchase!
With its Scandinavian minimalist aesthetic (made in collaboration with Benjamin Hubert of Layer Design), this wireless speaker beautifully blends into a bookshelf or console.
This is your sign to start a meditation practice! This mindful starter kit includes a pillow, mallet, brass bowl, incense, vegan soap and more!
These wireless, noise-cancelling headphones will keep you in the zone — whether you’re working up a sweat or in a Zoom meeting. They boast 40 hours of battery life, an adjustable fit and super comfy ear cups.
An electric kettle is a kitchen must-have for many reasons: pour-over coffee brewing is a breeze thanks to temperature control (which stays hot for up to an hour) for the perfect cuppa every time.
How charming is this record player and its suitcase-style shell? It plays both vinyl and digital music for music lovers of all ages! This item is currently sold out, but will be back on the shop soon.
At first glance, this might look like a regular lamp, but listen closely, and you’ll notice it’s actually a speaker, too! You can control the brightness and sound in the palm of your hand through the Sonos app.
Upgrade a showerhead with this high-tech version, complete with a wireless speaker. Using Bluetooth technology, you can blast your favorite tunes and podcasts while getting ready in the morning.
Whether the sounds of the city or a snoring parter gets in the way of you and a restful night’s sleep, these earbuds will be your new bedtime essential. Pair them with the Bose Sleep app for an endless supply of soothing sounds to help you drift off to sleep.
Valerie Wilcox (feature image)
House & Home December 2019 (feature image)
Kai Ethier & Jennifer Koper (feature image)