November is here, and that means only one thing: Christmas shopping. Unless you’re one of those odd individuals, who thrives on leaving all of their Christmas shopping until the last minute the chances are that you like to be prepared. Spreading your shopping experience means that you don’t get high street fatigue and with the dawn of Internet shopping you may even be able to cut out the high street altogether.
The thought of buying presents for your nearest and dearest as you write your gift list makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It’s only as you take to the shops do you remember the busyness, the noise and the crowds from last year. You refuse to go through all of that again and hatch a plan. Mulled wine in one hand, mince pie in the other, you make a decision to get in there early, buy your presents in November and have a restful December gloating to your friends that your Christmas shopping is complete as they stare at you enviously.
When it comes to the gifts to buy this year, there has never been a greater choice of gadgets, homewares and toys to satisfy every family member. For the computer-mad kids, opt for online vouchers for Xbox or Playstation. For sports mad pals, buy a ticket to a game. If someone you know loves nothing more than whipping up new culinary creations, send them to a cooking class with a nationally renowned chef. If you have a would-be interior designer in your midst, take a look at these gift ideas that’ll be sure to put a smile on their face come Christmas morning.
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Vintage Lamps
Hot foot it to your local vintage emporium and take a look at the authentic mid-century lighting options. Anglepoise lamps and industrial pendant designs are on trend at the moment. Rustic aluminium and tin plated options ooze warehouse chic and can look incredible over any dining table. For those who want a unique look to their study or want to create a more subtle ambience, an anglepoise design from the 1960s will generate the ultimate mod or beatnik look. The steampunk style involves taking items with a purpose such as car horns, oil cans and clocks and upcycling them with a light fitting and an Edison bulb to give them a renewed look, ideal for those more quirky would-be interior designer acquaintances.
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Hipster
For those twenty-something relatives who adorn themselves in hipster-esque attire each day, take a look at some classic pieces of furniture. With G-Plan, Scandinavian and Ercol wooden pieces becoming ever more fashionable, you could satisfy any distinguished bearded brother or nephew with a telephone table, armchair or set of stools. If your relative has a living room with crisp white walls, a minimal finish and a feature wall complete with a geometrically designed wallpaper, dark wooden furniture will fit in effortlessly.
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Luxurious Furnishings
There is nothing better on a cold winter morning than waking up all cosy in the finest high thread count sheets enveloping you in a soft, dense cocoon of warmth. If your would-be interior designer friend has recently renovated their bedroom and is keen to source some linen for their new king size divan, why not go for the luxurious Egyptian cotton pillowcases and sheets. You could opt for a highly texturised feel, simple pure white or a floral pattern design depending on the recipient’s tastes.
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Art
Although highly subjective, purchasing a piece of art for a Christmas gift takes care and thought. If you know somebody who has a flair for all things creative and loves collecting a painting or two in their spare time, why not invest in a piece of art on their behalf. You could select a modern sculpture from a local gallery, head to the auction house to pick up a pair of 19th-century lithographs or opt for the more traditional landscapes or watercolours that you know they have a penchant for. The original artwork that you purchase as a gift will be a one-of-a-kind piece and something unique for them to discover as they unwrap their presents on Christmas morning.
Christmas is a time for giving. Priding yourself on being the ultimate gift giver means that you go out of your way to think of the recipient that you are purchasing for. For the would-be interior designer in the family, think about their likes and dislikes, their home, the styles they enjoy and the pieces of furniture that may be missing from the humble abodes, and try to fill the gaps with your gifts.