It is that time of the year again when festive gatherings and gift exchanges are a regular feature. As delightful as celebrations are, choosing the perfect holiday gift can feel stressful. If you have never explored giving home decor gifts before, or even if you have and they ended up being more of a miss than a hit, then this guide is for you. Read on to learn the basics of how to choose home accessories that will make the perfect gift for a home.
What Makes Home Decor a Great Holiday Gift
Home decor gifts can last for a lifetime when chosen with care. It is something that all members of a household can enjoy throughout the year and cherish - making it the ideal thing to gift your hosts when attending a dinner party at their home. It shows that you put thought and care into choosing something that they would like. With our expert tips, you’ll become a pro at shopping for home decor gifts this festive season.
3 Things to Remember While Shopping for Home Decor Gifts
What makes home decor a special holiday gift is the thought that goes into it. Be prepared to do a little homework if you’d like to find a winning home decor gift. It is well worth the effort, considering this is something that will become a special part of someone’s home. As tempted as you may be to play it safe, aiming to choose a piece that has the potential to be a conversation starter is the way to go. Here’s how to do it:
1. Understand the style
The most important thing to remember is that you are not shopping for yourself. It is natural to be drawn to home accessories that you like. Understanding style will help you resist the urge to pick up a home decor gift that you could see yourself enjoying, and instead pick up one that the people you are shopping for will love.
If you have visited the home of the person you are shopping for, try to recollect their design choices and assess which of the following categories their personal style best fits under:
Minimalistic
As the name suggests, this design style translates to spaces that have an aesthetic that leans towards being minimal. Clean, sleek lines are favored over ornate designs, and open spaces with minimal clutter are the norm. Nothing feels imposing with this design style that embraces the philosophy of ‘less is more’. The color palette is mostly monochromatic, to keep with the simple, easy, drama-free decor. This style offers the perfect canvas to make interesting home accessories truly stand out.
A uniquely shaped candle holder in neutral colors or a monochromatic tray with interesting design details are good options to consider.
Bohemian
Creative, free-flowing, and colorful, Bohemian interior design doesn’t shy away from embracing bold home accessories, furniture, and art. This eclectic style focuses on adding character to a space.
You will seldom find co-ordinated rooms that look the same or draw from the same palette. While shopping for a holiday gift for a home of this style - think fun and artsy. You can’t go wrong with warm earthy colors or jewel tones - especially when they are attached to interesting-looking pieces.
Decorative vases, vibrant show-pieces, artsy lamps, or even an aroma therapy bowl would be a welcome addition to any Bohemian-inspired home.
Rustic or Farmhouse
This design style relies on textures and details that lend rustic charm to a space, without making it look dated. You will find a lot of distressed wood, vintage pieces, linens and jutes, wicker baskets, and cozy furniture. Wrought iron accents are common too, and add a nice edge to the otherwise warm, cabin-like space.
Home accessories in neutral colors with a distressed finish would fit right into spaces designed in this style. Ceramic vases in pastel tones, anything that incorporates jute or rope, lamps, and light fixtures that feature metal and glass with industrial undertones should work too - just make sure they aren’t too big or busy.
Contemporary
A reflection of the latest design trends, this style often draws from elements of other styles. It has undertones of minimalism with a color palette that is mostly neutral, while also having some dramatic elements that lend edge and character. Home accessories with a metallic finish are generally a safe bet, as long as they are not heavy on the ornamentation and have clean lines.
A metallic, textured vase or decorative tray, can instantly elevate a contemporary space. Bookends are also a great choice - especially if you find ones that have a creative, modern design. When choosing monochromatic gifts for the home, what’s lacking in color needs to be compensated by design and texture to create visual interest.
Traditional Family Home
Familiar, warm, and timeless, this type of home often features a combination of classic, vintage pieces and a few modern home accessories. Quiet consistency trumps being trendy, and you’ll often find matching pieces of furniture that belong to a full set. Symmetry is the guiding design principle typically followed in this style.
This is probably the easiest style to shop for. Photoframes, tea-light holders, serving trays, and other home accessories that are functional, yet elegant are sure to be treasured in a traditional home.
2. Assess Size and Practicality
This simply means sparing a moment to consider where your home decor gift would fit, and whether it would any way cause more worry than joy to the recipient. For example, a large decorative glass bowl, or fragile lamp, probably isn’t the best choice for a home with small children or pets - it would just get in the way and probably break the very first week.
As a general rule of thumb, it is best to steer clear of gifts that are too large or too complicated to install. This way you can ensure that your holiday gift doesn’t become a burden.
3. Select Color Palette and Materials
This simply means sparing a moment to consider where your home decor gift would fit, and whether it would any way cause more worry than joy to the recipient. For example, a large decorative glass bowl, or fragile lamp, probably isn’t the best choice for a home with small children or pets - it would just get in the way and probably break the very first week.
As a general rule of thumb, it is best to steer clear of gifts that are too large or too complicated to install. This way you can ensure that your holiday gift doesn’t become a burden.
Explore Holiday Gift Ideas from Al Huzaifa
At Al Huzaifa, we make holiday gifting easy with a wide selection of designer home accessories. Our vases, candle stands and tea-light holders, bookends, trays, and decorative lamps are sure to add character to a home.
If you are looking for inspiration, browse our curated ‘Festive Gifting Collection’ to find home accessories that would make a great gift for the new year and the festive season. We also undertake custom orders if you are looking for a truly exquisite piece to gift someone important. Be sure to visit our showroom if you would like help with your gift selection. Our experienced consultants will be happy to guide you. You can also have your holiday gift elegantly wrapped on request.
