(Living)

12 Chic Home Gifts For Your Friend Who Always Hosts

Practical meets pretty with these holiday gift picks.

by Aoife Clancy
Written by Erin Cunningham

The best gifts are the ones that serve a purpose. They solve a problem, make life easier, and have the recipient wondering how they ever survived without them. So, as you get a head-start on your holiday shopping this season, be on the lookout for items that are functional and stylish, and help take the traditions you love — and look forward to each year — to the next level.

For those in-the-know, Crate & Barrel is the ultimate one-stop shop for everything needed to gather, host, and gift. The retailer’s selection is filled with pieces that set the scene for the holidays and will make any space look beautiful, modern, and authentically you — or rather, your giftee.

Think: fun takes on festive classics, kitchen essentials for prepping family meals (both big and small), and dazzling decorations that deliver the right dose of seasonal joy. These are the types of gifts you'll want to give and receive because they're practical — but also so pretty.

Below, find 12 on-trend home gift ideas from Crate & Barrel that your entertaining-obsessed friends will love. From a set of statement-making long-stem wine glasses for your BFF who always digs out a special vintage for Christmas dinner to a herringbone cutting board that works for cutting and serving, there's something for everyone on your list.

For The Friend Who Always Finds An Occasion For A Toast

Some people just have special taste buds — they know how to pair all the right ingredients to whip up the most perfect cocktail. Call them a master mixologist; call them a craft expert; they’re always ready to show off their latest signature drink and invite everyone along for another round.

For The Friend Who Moonlights As A Pâtissier

For the friend famous for their cakes and pies, level up their game with some new equipment that’s as fresh as what's coming out of their oven. Plus, a present like this means you're almost guaranteed to be on the receiving end of constant sweet treats. That's right: These are gifts that keep on giving.

For The Friend Who Treats Life Like A Party

Though we all become hosts during the holidays, this is for the friend who should do it for a living. They love to entertain, can make a tablescape out of anything and everything (unexpected props and vegetables included), and know how to make even the most casual Saturday night hangs feel like a big bash.

For The Friend Who Considers Le Creuset A Lifestyle

We all have that one friend who really knows their way around the kitchen: Their spice cabinet is stocked with exotic flavors, they have a collection of tools most can’t even pronounce, and they only cook with the best of the best. They swear by Le Creuset and will be the first to admit that their personal motto is enameled cast iron or bust.