6 last-minute personalized gift ideas –make 'meh' marvellous

It's all too easy these days to get caught up in the fast-paced way to sort holiday gifts for friends and family. We search, we find, we click, we buy. 

While there's certainly nothing wrong with this approach, you can upgrade even the most simple of gifts you find online into something super special and bespoke-feeling.

By choosing an extra, complementary present to accompany the main event, you're personalizing your gift for the recipient in a thoughtful way that not only suggests effort but love.

Here are five of our favorite last-minute personalized gift ideas – they'll make someone's Christmas.

1. For the cocktail lover

The holiday season is nothing if not cocktail season. For your most fabulous friend you enjoys hosting soirées and mixing up the perfect Negroni, you might look to a new bar set or cocktail shaker.

Give this gift a personalized twist by adding in fancy cocktail napkins or even a bottle of their favorite tipple.

2. For the book worm

The trickiest part abut buying a holiday gift for your reading-obsessed friend is finding a tome they haven't yet picked up.

Choose a personal favorite of yours if it's missing from their bookcases, or the book of the year that they haven't checked out yet. Make this extra special by including a bookmark or a new Kindle case, if they prefer e-readers.

3. For the caffeine addict

Coffee lovers are in luck - with working from home the new norm for many, there are more options than ever for perfecting the perfect brew in our own abodes.

We love gifting a chic French Press or a milk frother to upgrade our friends' hot drink time. Double up with a packet of their go-to blend, or a sleek new travel mug for coffee on the go.

4. For the self-care guru

For the friend who loves nothing more than drawing hot baths, applying face masks and pressing play on a meditation app, you can easily create a lovely personalized gift set.

Our go-to would be a gorgeously fragranced new candle for their collection, or perhaps a new incense holder. Double up by including a super-chic match striker or jar of extra-long fireside matches.

5. For the binge-watcher

We all have that friend who watched the latest season of The Crown in a weekend, and has already lined up Bridgerton for Boxing Day viewing.

Treat the Netflix-lover with a uber-cozy blanket to snuggle up in on the sofa. If their viewing method is laptop-based, a laptop tray table would be appreciated. Add that extra-something with a pair of Blue Light-blocking glasses, to help them drift off after a viewing marathon.

6. A subscription to Homes & Gardens magazine

We had to mention it – but actually if you subscribe to Homes & Gardens for someone special and match it to any of the gifts above, you have yourself the perfect package...