Last-minute Christmas gifts: what to choose right now
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OK, you're running late. It's not the end of the world
If you're reading this article close to Christmas, there's probably still a name or two on your list without a gift next to it. No judgement: it happens to pretty much everyone, every year. What matters now isn't panicking and buying the first anonymous object that comes along, but choosing quickly without choosing badly.
The good news is that an original gift doesn't take any longer than a boring one: you just need to know where to look. Here are some ready-made ideas, grouped by who's receiving them.
If you have no idea what the person likes
When time is short and you don't know the recipient's taste very well, the safest choice is an object that looks good anywhere in the house and gets noticed straight away. The Yellow Book Vase or the Banana Vase work exactly like that: strictly speaking they're not for anything, but they fill a space with personality and always make a great impression the moment they're unwrapped. You'll find more ideas like these in the vases collection.
If you need a gift for a swap, or for someone you barely know
For gift swaps between colleagues or friends of friends, the golden rule is: something that raises an instant smile, without needing to know the person well. The Middle Finger Mug is perfect for this, as is the Crime Scene Toilet Paper, which always gets a laugh when it's unwrapped in front of everyone. Have a look at the ironic collection for more ideas along the same lines, handy even when you've got a tight budget to stick to.
If the gift is for someone who loves cooking (or says they can)
Anyone who spends time at the hob always appreciates one more object for their collection. The Sardines Corkscrew is the right pick for wine lovers who like quirky little objects on display in the kitchen. If you'd rather go for something for breakfast, the Moka Mug is a classic that always works, for people who treat their coffee pot almost like one of the family. More ideas in the kitchen and table collection.
If you know someone who loves animals more than people
This is one of the easiest categories to please, because all it takes is a well-made themed object. The Dachshund Rug works brilliantly for anyone with a soft spot for dogs, while the Cat Table Mirror is perfect for someone with a cat at home who loves useful objects with something extra. Browse the for dog lovers and for cat lovers collections for more ideas like these.
If you want to impress without overthinking it
When you really don't have time to work out who gets what, an atmospheric object almost always works. The Disco Mushroom Lamp or its smaller version, the Mini Disco Mushroom Lamp, are gifts that go down well with a wide audience: they make a statement, they get noticed as soon as they're opened, and you don't need to know the person's specific taste. You'll find the full selection in the lamps collection.
If the gift is for the home in general
Sometimes the gift isn't for one particular person but for a couple, a family or a shared house, and in that case it pays to go for something everyone can enjoy together. A decorative object that gets noticed straight away, like the vases mentioned above, works better than something too personal, because it has to please several people at once rather than a single taste. It's also the kind of gift you can bring without too much thought to a Christmas dinner or a meal with friends, when you don't know exactly who'll open it first.
What to do now, in practice
The quickest way not to lose any more time is to start from the gift ideas collection, where everything is organised by occasion and by who's receiving it. From there you can filter by type of person or by price in a few taps, without opening dozens of different pages.
One important thing when you're already running late: always check the delivery times at checkout before completing your order, so you know exactly what to expect and don't risk any last-minute surprises.
In short
- Running late doesn't mean you have to fall back on an anonymous gift.
- An object with personality takes no longer to choose than a boring one.
- Always check the delivery times at checkout before ordering, especially now.