We love practical gifts – after all, we spend a lot of time thinking about what would be the perfect example of any given product. So when we find the best travel pillow ever or the absolutely perfect cooler, we want everyone we know to own one.
Giving a practical gift, no matter how intentional or thoughtful it is, has the potential to disappoint the recipient – or worse, outright offend them! When it comes to giving practical gifts, our general advice is to find the sweet spot for items that are useful, yet feel like a genuine gift for your friends and family. Ahead, we’ve rounded up our favorite gifts. Need more ideas? Check out our gifts for him, gifts for her, Nordstrom gifts, favorite Amazon gifts, and gifts for everyone else on your list.
Amazon $15
We live in an increasingly paperless world, which is great, but sometimes you just need to write something by hand. This Post-it gift set includes a round notepad, a to-do list notepad, a prenumbered notepad, and five felt-tip pens, all in a festive red and pink colorway.
$6.95 on Etsy
$25 Amazon $12.99
As an organization expert, I generally avoid disposable kitchen tools like the plague. But I bought this pineapple corer slicer after seeing it on The Real Housewives of Orange County and quickly fell madly in love with it. It can quickly hollow out the flesh of a pineapple into a ring, and according to my rough calculations, three pineapples can pay for themselves. (Pre-cut pineapples are expensive!) As a bonus, this tool leaves the outside of the pineapple intact so you can hold drinks in it, I’ve done this a few times and it’s by far the most impressive party trick I’ve ever had!
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$49.99 Amazon $39.99
$19.99 $18.99 on Amazon
If the person on your gift list lives in a cold climate, or is a fan of cold weather activities, a set of hand and foot warmers is a very welcome gift indeed.
Amazon $11.95
Amazon $12
Everywhere items like mugs or water bottles don’t make great gifts because most people have enough of them. But items related to these things can make useful and thoughtful gifts, like this silicone tray that molds ice cubes perfectly for water bottles.
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$129 $99 at Tushy
$18.95 Amazon $15.95
$99.95 $82.99 on Amazon
The Indoor LED Grow Light Garden is the perfect gift for the budding home chef, providing fresh herbs when you need them. The easy-to-use gardening system comes with a gourmet seed kit containing six herbs—Genoa basil, curly parsley, dill, thyme, Thai basil, and mint.
Pula $44
I received a Pura smart diffuser a few months ago, but I put it aside because I already have a traditional plug-in diffuser, and I don’t think there is much difference. I was wrong! When I finally installed Pura, I was completely blown away by it. I love the scents, I love that you can program it to go on at a certain time, I love that it allows you to adjust the potency of the scent, and I especially love the customizable night light feature. This thing is so cool, I’m giving everyone I know one of these this year.
$35 at Flourish
If plant-based parents are on your holiday gift list, look no further than this organic plant food kit. The set includes Flourish’s organic plant food and limited-edition dilution containers to make feeding your plants feel like an official affair.
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Amazon $39.99
Liberty’s $16
A small measuring tape is one such handy item, and something as pretty as this Liberty print makes a great little gift idea. Toss it in your bag or junk drawer and be amazed how many times you reach for it!
Hyperice $799
Hex $12.99
Maintenance of protective pads, equipment bags, fitness gloves and other sports equipment. Often overlooked, causing gear to smell bad. Hex’s Gear Wash Kit is designed for deep cleaning of all kinds of gear and clothing, making it a great gift for the activewear on your holiday shopping list.
$18 at Clevr
$12.50 on Etsy
Sachets are small scented deodorants designed to fit in a drawer or closet to keep the contents smelling fresh. Typically, they’re made from bags filled with botanicals like lavender, but these pressed wax bags are a more modern approach that make for surprising and lovely gifts.
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Patagonia $149
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Parachute from $189
$199 Therabody $179
$138 Buffy $117.30
Buffy, makers of those cloudy duvets, has reimagined the maternity pillow for the masses. The Wiggle Pillow is a fluffy yet supportive knottable pillow that provides full body support for sleeping or lounging. The removable, machine-washable cover comes in three colors: Cream, Powder Puff, and Toast.
Uncommon Goods $289
For the indoor gardener, this framed shelf with grow lights is a practical display. The frame also comes with a timer, which is the perfect way to keep houseplants and herbs growing happily in low-light environments.
$45.99 Amazon $35.09
Amazon $12.99
Kitchen shears are a useful item, but they’re a bit utilitarian as a gift—unless you elevate form by opting for a style that looks luxurious. These gold handle kitchen shears fit the bill perfectly.
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$28 Frontgate From $26.60
Magic Linen for $125
Target price $11.99
Here’s my personal recommendation: I’ve never met a salve I didn’t like, and when I learned that Aquaphor offered their beloved salve in spray form, I lifted the lid on mine.this thing is amazingI honestly think you should buy a case and put a can in the stocking of everyone you know.
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Lululemon $88
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Amazon $29.99
