How to come up with original gift ideas for her

She opens up the box delicately, her smile playful with anticipation, to reveal the gift inside. ‘It’s… nice’, she says. Nice. Alas, another failed attempt at gifting and another lonely present to gather dust at the back of the cupboard.

Does this sound familiar? Every year calls for another celebration that usually requires a special gift. Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries—it’s an ongoing trial and error for most to find the perfect gift for her.

However, the year offers many opportunities to find meaningful, worthwhile gifts for the people who mean the most to you. Wives, mothers, daughters, sisters—whoever you are buying for, it doesn’t have to be a minefield trying to find the perfect gift.

Here are some tips for finding original gift ideas for her.

Make a list of what she likes

Whether you know this person better than anyone or not, find out what they like and make a list. Spend a few minutes brainstorming some ideas of the different things your giftee is into, and you might surprise yourself with what you uncover. You can get super creative and even combine some of her interests to come up with an authentic gift idea.

Take a trip down memory lane

Tug on your giftee’s heartstrings by pulling out an idea from the old memory box. It could be something you’ve done together, for example, blowing up a photo of a special shared moment. Bringing personal moments alive again by adding a personal touch to show her that you’ve really thought about the gift. Alternatively, maybe they loved something when they were younger, like a favourite childhood sweetie that you could incorporate in their gift.

Find out what they need

How many times do you hear — “No, really, I don’t need anything!”? Newsflash — they definitely do.

Think about their job or their hobbies that they might need something for and put together a little care package. For example, maybe your giftee loves to cycle, you could put together a bike rescue kit to go along with a cycle ride adventure. Or perhaps they are an inspiring creative, in which case you could think about finding a fun course for them to do to improve their skills.

Give an experience

Gifts you can keep, but an experience you can remember forever. There are so many amazing ideas to choose from nowadays from an incredible hot air balloon ride to a shot in the driver's seat of a supercar race track. If you know they love the theatre, book tickets to a show they’ll love, or maybe they are a foodie, so you could find a cooking class experience.

Include a little bit of yourself

Show her just how you care by adding a personalized touch from you. Get creative and make something! Create a funky card, write a song or a poem, or personalize a cake. Adding a personal flare shows you care and, trust me, they’ll be impressed you took the time to do it all yourself.

Make the present an event

Never underestimate the build-up to opening presents. Instead of simply handing the gift over, you can hype up the moment by making it fun and interesting. Hide the present and have your giftee hunt for it following little notes to its secret location. If you’ve opted for lots of little presents then wrap them all up individually as it adds to the fun of the experience. Make the most of the wrapping, despite the fact it will be torn off in moments, it’s all part of the fun!

Food is the key to her heart

When in doubt, target the tastebuds! Plan in advance a special meal for your loved one and make a point of creating a unique and special experience. Maybe cook their favourite meal with a unique twist, or, offer some variety and whip up a tapas tasting night including all of their top favourite dishes. Whatever tasty treat you come up with, don’t forget the presentation. Set the table, get some lovely candles, and even polish the cutlery. These tiny touches that you wouldn’t do all the time can make all the difference.

Make her day

For whichever lovely lady in your life that you are buying for, make it a gift not to forget. Taking some inspiration from our list of tips, you are sure to come up with original gift ideas that she will simply love. Less “nice”, and let’s start giving GREAT gifts that she can treasure.

If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our fantastic unique gift ideas and find the perfect present — every time.