36 thoughtful hostess gift ideas
There's no doubt that this is a frenetic time of year, filled with office parties, nativity plays, carol services and fairs - not to mention all the Christmas present buying and food organisation - and then suddenly an invitation to dinner arrives. At first it might seem like yet another thing to prepare for, but who wouldn't forgo a drinks do or corporate bash in favour of a long evening of food and laughter around the dinner table with old friends?
Frankly, we should take our hats off to those who are willing to throw open their doors to friends during the festive season and the best way to do that is to give a seriously thoughtful gift. So what to bring for the party-thrower that doesn’t shout corner-shop-smash-and-grab when you arrive at their front door? ‘Give what you would like to receive’ is the general rule of thumb we like to play by and depending on the event at hand (and the depth of your pockets), this can change in varying degrees. Your hostess gift need not be hugely expensive. A beautiful box of matches and a pair of tapered candles will cost you the same as a fairly decent bottle of wine, but the latter seems a lot less thoughtful.
What's the best hostess gift to give?
If you don't have time to read our full guide to the best hostess gifts to give this year, take a look at our three highlights:
The best hostess gifts are nearly always exceptionally pretty, useful things that you might feel guilty purchasing yourself. The alternative is something delicious (check out our guide to the best gifts for foodies for a more in depth look at that). There are varying degrees of gift giving depending on how well you know your host. If they have a particular taste that is hard to nail or if their home is nearing full, then stick to consumables–whether they be eaten, drunk, lit or lathered.
If you think you can get it right, then your everyday household object (try our gifts for cooks too) that supersedes new heights (ie. a particularly charming teapot) are sure to be a hit. Surely, one of the nicest gifts to give is making those everyday moments a little more luxurious.
Wrapping a hostess gift
Packaging has a huge part to play. It often signals the difference between, “I saw this and thought of you" and “I just bought this.” If you’re clever, your gift will already be beautifully packaged, in which case a silky bow is all you need. If not, then going to town on the wrapping can really elevate a simple present. If you’re short on time then a luxe paper bag will do but again, don’t forget the big bow.
Delicious things with aesthetically pleasing packaging are always a treat too. These can range from ready to go bought goods (think panettone in charming vintage inspired Italian paper) to something homemade: baked goods handed over in a beautiful tin, a good wine and snacks in a colourful woven basket or a bottle of something home infused in a reusable fabric bottle bag.
If this is all starting to sound quite stressful, our top tip is to stockpile a stash of small, beautiful objets in a present drawer and then you'll never have that moment of panic in the local Co-op. Think luxury hand soaps, pretty napkins and chic glassware. Another rule of thumb is that you can't go wrong with a luxurious spin on everyday essentials. Who wouldn't be happy to open the door to guests bearing any of these beauties?
From something small and sweet for an evening tipple to something more weighty if you’re bringing an overnight bag, we've rounded up 36 gifts for hosts that they're sure to appreciate. Oh, and weighty doesn't mean expensive. A box of Lidl wines with a big taffeta bow wrapped around will always be welcome!
See more from Twig Hutchinson at twighutchinson.com | @twighutchinson






































