The CSH Christmas gift guide 2024: very useful gifts

It’s time for this year’s Christmas gift guides – yep, it’s never too early to start prepping and get ahead of the game, even if you just need a bit of inspiration to get started. I always leave things to the last minute and end up making a mad dash to the shops on Christmas eve – well hopefully not this year.

For my first gift guide, I’ve rounded up 36 very useful gifts, from solid wood chopping boards and wine decanters to stylish cutlery sets and handy kitchen tools. They’re all things that you probably wouldn’t necessarily buy for yourself, but would end up using every day – functional objects that are as beautiful as they are useful. I’ll be adding the ‘Please leave by nine’ napkins and Ferm Living butter dish to my own Christmas list – hint hint mum!!

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The CSH Christmas gift guide 2024: very useful gifts

[Some of the links on this page are affiliate links where I earn a small commission on any potential sales, it does not change the price for you]

Maison Balzac carafe and glass set, £75, La Gent

Elevate your bedside table with this opaque carafe and glass set by Maison Balzac

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Cast iron teapot, £39, John Lewis *aff

A Japanese-inspired teapot from La Cafetière, closely based on the classic 'Tetsubin' design

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Katto garlic crusher, £45, Maison Flâneur

A beautiful object for everyday, made by hand in Katto's Sheffield workshop

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Aarke carbonator, £180, Selfridges *aff

This sparkling water maker is a game changer for any kitchen

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Lumie SAD lamp, £179, John Lewis *aff

A compact lamp that offers bright light therapy to boost mood and enhance wellbeing

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Tosa Ryu wooden trivet, £35, NiMi Projects

A versatile wooden trivet, designed and made by Tosa Ryu, using Japanese Hinoki and Cherry wood strips that can be flipped and shifted to create various configurations

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Inside Out pen pot, £35, Casa by JJ

A sculptural pen pot made of an environmentally-friendly 3D printing material

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Vitra toolbox, £29, END Clothing *aff

A super useful toolbox – perfect for office paraphernalia, bathroom bottles or cleaning products

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eto wine decanter, £129, eto

A stylish and functional wine decanter that keeps wine at its best for up to two weeks

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Cable tidy, £30, Stackers *aff

Get organised with this portable cable tidy, with space for memory cards, cables and chargers – comes in 11 colours

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Essential Oil Diffuser, £30, Oliver Bonas *aff

An electric aroma diffuser with a tactile ceramic cover, available in three colours

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Please Leave By Nine napkin set, £28, Wolf & Badger *aff

Give your guests a nudge with these pure cotton-linen blend napkins, made in the Lake District by a family-run business

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Personalised recipe book, £29, Papier

Collate your favourite recipes into this hardback journal and personalise for your loved one – they also do a more masculine darker green and blue

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Stainless steel cutlery set, £14.90, monbento *aff

Easy to transport cutlery set for on the go

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Steamery steamer, £169, ARKET *aff

Keep your clothes (or even your bedding) looking fresh with this compact, beige iron and steamer in one

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Cotton robe, £135, Bedfolk

A soft cotton muslin robe, comes in nine colours

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BergHOFF knife block set, £70, Habitat *aff

A six piece knife set with sharpener, set in a smart wooden block

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Ceramic Japanese chopstick rests, £45, NiMi Projects

A set of five ceramic rings, housed on a beautiful wooden stand – can be used for chopsticks or as napkin rings

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Sabre Bistrot tart slicer, £32, Glassette

For the person in your life who loves hosting and entertaining in style

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Ferm Living mug, £45, Selfridges *aff

A beautifully tactile mug inspired by the Japanese technique of nerikomi

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Ferm Living butter dish, £45, END Clothing *aff

A practical but beautiful design made from 100% recycled glass

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Nanmoku ginger grater, £18, NiMi Projects

A compact grater traditionally used for wasabi, also perfect for lemon zest, ginger and spices

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Pottery West lidded jar, £50, Piglet in Bed *aff

Hide away anything from tea and sugar to cotton buds and jewellery, hand-thrown in the Pottery West Studio in Sheffield

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Oval tray, £34, Alice in Scandiland

A very useful tray for bits and bobs, handmade in a rural workshop in Northamptonshire from characterful quarter-sawn English Oak

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Ferm Living day cloths, £44, Coggles *aff

A dish cloth for every day of the week – for the person who literally has everything but the kitchen sink

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Our Place Always Pan, £130, Selfridges *aff

Our Place recycled-aluminium pan in a beautiful matte beige

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Sabre cutlery set, £40, Selfridges *aff

A cutlery set for everyday as well as special occasions - comes in six colours

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Chubbie salt and pepper grinders, £54, Not Another Bill *aff

A sculptural salt and pepper grinder, available in five eye-catching colours

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Alessi Plisse kettle, £90, Coggles *aff

A kettle you'll be proud to have on display, designed by Italian designer Michele De Lucchi

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Microplane grater master series, £39.95, Trouva *aff

Upgrade your utensils with this super sharp grater, made with stainless steel and sustainable American walnut

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3 in 1 Ocean bottle, £48, Ocean bottle

A functional, modular design with three interchangeable lids, made from 90% recycled stainless steel and recycled materials

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Niwaki Sentai garden scissors, £32, Tea and Kate

Traditional Japanese scissors, perfect for cutting flowers and dead-heading in the garden

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Evergreen artisan mixer, £899, KitchenAid

Isn't this the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? Matte dark green with a tactile walnut wood bowl

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Hand towel, £12, ARKET *aff

Sage green striped hand towel made from soft cotton terry

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Leckford round chopping board, £40, John Lewis *aff

A round chopping board handmade from ash trees felled from the Duchy Estate in Herefordshire and Leckford Farm in Hampshire

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Opinel kitchen essentials, £35, Not Another Bill *aff

Four function essentials for the kitchen from French brand Opinel

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