Style

Gifting Guide | The Nester

Words by Lisa Armstrong, Fashion Journalist of The Year and The Telegraph's Head of Fashion

Discover perfect presents for every occasion with Lisa Armstrong's expertly curated gifting guide, designed to inspire and delight both gift givers and receivers alike.

(Hero Image Credit: John Lewis & Partners)

All hail the home lover—be they human or four-legged, minimalist or more of a Versailles type—because they’re a total joy to buy for. What with there being so many options to delight them. Quite simply, you can spin off into a thousand different directions here - and so many different rooms in the house. The trick is not to overly impose your taste on the giftee. No point buying the monochromist a fuchsia vase - unless of course, they’ve explicitly told you they’re having a major style rethink. Let their needs and your imagination guide you. This is about combining the genuinely useful with the excitement of something just a little bit extravagant, that they might not necessarily buy for themselves.

If they’re a student looking to inject some cosiness and warmth into their first away-from-home-home, a throw from The White Company in a warm taupe might just transform that small and frankly uninspiring (but don’t tell them that) bedroom of theirs into something that feels a bit more luxe and sophisticated.

Toss in one of Oliver Bonas’ statement cushions in a punchy shade of spring green (there are another half a dozen shades to choose from) or this brilliantly priced, multi-candle holder from H&M HOME (the god of affordable Scandi design) and you’re starting to channel some high-end hotel vibes.

Oliver Bonas Cushion £28, The White Company Throw £80

Oliver Bonas has your pet pampering needs covered too, especially if your feline and canine friends prefer tasteful over kitsch, in which case they’ll appreciate their treats being stored tidily in a keep-fresh ceramic jar. For families for whom there is no such concept as overdoing the Christmas theme, Primark has a pooch-perfect festive coat and leg warmer set.

A pretty failsafe gift for any homeowner is a fresh set of glassware from M&S. Whether flower inspired Coupe and Champagne Flutes are your style (perfect for dinner parties!) to trending speckled tumblers to match your kitchen colour scheme.

If the idea of close ones huddled peacefully around a board game gets you misty-eyed, treat yourself – while ostensibly treating them – to as smart new game that doubles up as a vintage book to fill your bookshelf. Whether you are a winner for Chess, Draughts or Backgammon – Menkind have an array of games to keep everyone entertained all season long.

Chess £15, Draughts £15, Premium Backgammon £79.00

Meanwhile, there are budding talents to nurture: the chocoholic who’s been eying up Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetiser (a nifty little machine that delivers the best hot chocolate this side of the Alps) or the wellness expert who just needs a cordless Ninja food blender from John Lewis & Partners to kick start a whole new vegetable-filled lifestyle.

As exciting as novel presents can be, successful Christmas gifting doesn’t always have to be miles outside the box. Sometimes an upgrade on a basic can hit exactly the right spot and is all the imagination you need. Introduce them to a world of luxurious necessities: the most comfortable pillows, for instance, courtesy of Tempur’s memory foam-filled ones or a sturdy, stylish Neom scent diffuser from John Lewis & Partners. Or how about a pair of deluxe Ugg Slippers from OFFICE to cope with those early morning coffee runs down to the kitchen in January? What could be more gratefully received?

About the Author

Lisa Armstrong is The Telegraph's Head of Fashion. She's written for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Allure, Glamour and numerous international publications as well as authoring The Harper's Bazaar Guide to Style