The Her Campus National Editors write about products we love and think you’ll love too. Her Campus has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. All products are in stock and all prices are accurate as of publication.
Everyone loves the festive season but every year we are always faced with the issue of not knowing what to buy our family and friends. Luckily for you, I have found the best gifts for 2021 so you can be confident giving something they will love!
Wonderful Girl friends
Trinket dishes are my go-to for presents. They always look so beautiful and dainty. Etsy in particular have a lovely range, including the personalised ring dish, from TheLittleClayGifts, glass dishes by AliceHenshawGlassand a flower trinket dish by TeeClayCreations. This present is perfect complemented with a ring or bracelet. My favourite online store is Honu which has a great range to choose from and has partnered with the Whale and Dolphin conservation and Sea Turtle Conservancy so you can help save the planet with every purchase. For a lower priced option, why not try Oceans Beads Jewellery, a handmade, UK-based company which has something for everyone. Alternatively, if you’re in Exeter, pop into Peachy Tipi or Leaf Street, both of which have gorgeous accessories at a range of prices.
I also love these Christmas baubles from Etsy. You can add your own photo, making them the perfect gift to treasure your favourite memories. Other decorative gifts which make lovely gifts is this pressed flower initial print from Elsker Creations, this personalised best friend picture from PersonalisedBeeCo or even a print for Exeter’s own Heck Yes Designs.
One of the best presents I like to give friends is a personal gift set. The best thing about this is that you can buy gift sets and then share the contents between friends, meaning you get more for your money! Start off by buying something you can use as a container. This could be a set of plant pots, mugs or decorative bowls which you can fill with goodies. Then buy gift sets of hand creams, socks, facemasks, bath bombs, make up, keyrings, chocolate – anything you fancy – and add to the container, along with some tissue paper and confetti! Not only do these look really cute but it means everyone gets a bit of everything!
For a cosy Christmas gift set, buy a six pack of mugs (like these Nicola Spring ones from Wayfair), a pack of Lindt chocolates, a pack of Christmas socks (such as these from Next or these from New Look), bath bombs (like these donut bath fizzers from BubbleT) and a set of shower gels (I love this set from The Body Shop).
If you don’t fancy making your own, why not get one ready-made from Giftmeup, who specialise in letterbox gifts. They have exclusive Christmas boxes as well as ones to boost positivity or to help you relax.
The Boyfriend
It has been said many times before that buying for men is a challenge. However, some of my suggestions may mean that this year, shopping for your boyfriend is finally stress-free!
Some of my favourite picks include this phone stand keyring. This nifty little gift is certain to come in handy. You can even personalise it with their name or a little message. It is simple yet so useful and perfect if you want to take a selfie. #couplegoals
Tech based gifts are also a great option for boyfriends. This laptop case from Typo is perfect for uni life. It comes in a range of different patterns so you could get one for yourself as well which is always a bonus. I particularly like ‘cameo with khaki spice’ and ‘spacey tie dye cool grey’. Alternatively, this PlayStation alarm clock is the perfect way to ensure they never lose track of time again. It looks exactly like a PlayStation controller so looks great too!
If you fancy something a bit different, why not try a gift experience? There are plenty to choose from. You could let him try a ride in a sports car or go zip wiring together. Alternatively, you could relax with a trip to the cinema or even a vineyard or brewery tour. This gift is perfect accompanied with a personalised beer glass, like this one from EngravedStory.
Tricky parents
Christmas is the perfect time to show your parents some love and thanks, but finding the gift to do this isn’t always easy.
For Mum, these St Eval candles from Exeter’s own MakerMaker are sure to fit the bill. St Eval started off as a small family business and have since grown due to their popularity, so their candles are definitely worth a try! The dipped candles look amazing and their scents, Embers and Inspiritus are sure to smell like Christmas in a tin! MakerMaker also have a great collection of artisan soap. Wrapped in eco friendly paper, these soaps are lovely paired with a candle or some slippers, giving mum everything, she needs to finally relax!
I also think this double charm necklace from Lisa Angel is so cute. You can really make this one your own with options to personalise the pendent, as well as the chain, style and length. There is also a choice of 3 colours, meaning you can make it a necklace like no other! Lisa Angel also do a matching bracelet. This lovely jewellery set is guaranteed to be Mums favourite.
If your Mum is more green fingered, then a birth month flower kit is just perfect. Notonthehighstreet have a range of different sets with prices from £12.95. My favourite is from OhSoCherished which is competed with a gorgeous terracotta pot and personalised plant tag.
For Dad, a snore-curing plant maybe more appropriate! This gift comes with eucalyptus seeds, pots, plant tags and compost discs, making it an easy way to grow a cure for snoring! Once grown, it is also sure to make a great addition to a bedroom window.
If your Dad is more of a golfer than a gardener, then why not give him these personalised golf tees? These wooden tees are complete with a golf bag (which can also be personalised) meaning that dad should never loose these golfing essentials again. This is perfect paired with some golfing gloves, like these from OakdeanDesigns. There are so many options with this gift, and they even help you ensure you get exactly what dad needs – who knew golfers only wear one glove on the opposite hand to their dominant one?!
Another great gift are these engraved wooden bike cufflinks. They look so elegant and sleek and can be engraved with your own personal message. You can also complete the gift with an engraved box, meaning that these cufflinks can be taken to every occasion in style. The company specialises in producing unique gifts which combine vintage and modern so even if your dad is not a keen cycler, they are certainly worth looking at. Why not complete the look with this wallet from Gift Collective? It is made from 100% leather and comes with 8 card slots so is perfect for storing everything from credit cards to business cards.