Gifts to love - whether planning for Valentine’s Day or not

Regardless of the occasion, from wedding-present buying to choosing a simple ‘thank you’ gift for a dinner party host or hostess, it can be tricky finding just the right thing. So, with Valentine’s Day looming, and Mother’s and Father’s Day just around the corner, here are our tips to help you nail the art of gift buying. 

Saying ‘thank you’

Gift giving doesn’t have to come with an enormous price tag. You might just want a little something to thank Mum for babysitting or Dad for a hand in the garden. Search our Gifts under £25 for ideas and inspiration. Thoughtful items that come as a surprise are often the gifts that get the best reaction. 

Plants and flowers are a lovely way to say thank you. To add a personal touch and make things even more special, match a bunch with one of our pots or vases. Even simple hyacinth or daffodil bulbs look extra special when planted up in our colourful crackle-glazed pots. The finish of every pot varies, so each one is unique. We have a range of green, blue and monochrome designs, all of which have a beautiful, pared-back Scandi style. Ideal for small plants, they are also perfect for showing off faux botanicals.

Fabulous faux

Faux botanicals make fantastic gifts, whether you choose foliage, stems or realistic-looking plants. Our faux orchid is delicate, exotic and will stand the test of time - ideal for even the least green-fingered. A perfect fit for our small pots, you can also group three together in a larger vessel, which has greater impact. Our pretty faux cyclamen make a lovely spring gift - guaranteed to look good despite any frost - while our Flocked Purple Aloe adds a hint of colour and architectural interest, which is a great choice for a more contemporary style of home.

When gifting faux stems, add two or three in with a bunch of fresh flowers to create an impressive, personalised bouquet. Hand-picked flowers add a natural, foraged feel that works particularly well with our Scabiosa and Banksia stems, or Pussy Willow branches. Shop-bought bouquets look wonderful teamed with our faux white allium stems, Monstera leaf or Amaryllis stems. When the fresh flowers fade, the faux botanicals create impact on their own or can be added to new bunches to create a different look. 

Our delicate ranunculus stem looks stunning in an earthenware vase, while eucalyptus can be added to pretty much anything to add texture, colour and interest.

Make it personal

Homewares, from candles and candleholders to glasses, accessories and ornaments, make wonderfully personal gifts. Our pretty etched glass hurricane comes in two sizes, and can be teamed with rustic Macon pillar candles for a cosy, atmospheric glow indoors or out. Heart-shaped slate coasters make a change from chocolates for Valentine’s, while our gorgeous hand-crafted vintage-style etched prosecco glasses can be gifted with a bottle of something sparkly for a real treat.

We’ve recently taken delivery of a limited number of our ever-popular Vigan, Valencia and Victoria sculptures, all of which make gorgeous gifts. With a beautiful handcrafted finish, each one carries her own small imperfection, making her truly unique; pair one with our Oreo or Oslo tray for an Instagram-worthy shelfie combination!

Garden greats

For garden lovers, we have everything from our quirky cast-iron piglets, which weather beautifully over time, to a decorative bird dish, complete with two pretty cast-iron birds perched on the side. This shallow dish is perfect for collecting rainwater or can be filled with bird seed, nuts or fruit to attract wildlife. Our ornate Tuscan wall-mounted planter, which has a gorgeous vintage look, makes a stylish garden statement. The hanging Bempton bird table features a Verdigris copper roof and has a detachable side panel and recycled plastic tray which lifts out for easy cleaning. We have a wonderful new range of dovecote birdhouses, including the charming traditional dovecote nest box, which is perfect for small garden birds. The nest box’s timber body is finished in antique white, while a decorative roof features individually hand-carved timber shingles. 

We couldn’t think of present giving and not mention our beautiful gift box of soaps. Made by a small, artisanal factory on the border between France and Spain, these gloriously scented, luxurious vegetable soaps are made to a traditional Marseilles recipe, which includes lashings of shea butter and natural essences.

Continuing with wonderful fragrances, our walled garden tinned candles work anywhere in the home, are made in the UK from natural wax and include such divine scents as Orchard, English Lavender, Lemon Tree, Stem Ginger, Vine Tomato and Wild Mint.

Whether you are buying for someone with a contemporary or more-homely style, we are always on hand to advise in-store and online - simply pop in or email us for ideas and inspiration, or to help you source something extra special.