The 17 Best Gifts for Hosts, from $25 to $200
Show them you appreciate the five-star treatment with one of these thoughtful offerings, all picked by pros
Maybe they spruced up their guesthouse just for you, volunteered their home for the big family gathering or simply had you over for conversation and a home-cooked meal. However your hosts cared for you and yours, you’ll want to acknowledge that hospitality with something special. We asked experts on all things home and hearth to weigh in on the best gifts to express your gratitude.
Gifts Under $50
Beyond the usual bouquet
Florist Ingrid Carozzi’s book “Flowers by Design” walks you through creating a striking flower arrangement, from picking the right blooms to choosing unexpected vessels. (Ever used a watermelon rind as a base? Now you’ll know how.). Karla Smith-Brown, owner of Brooklyn design studio Olivee Floral, praises Carozzi’s “gorgeous color choices and dedication to sustainable practices” such as using local and seasonal flowers and composting. Bundle fresh flowers with this beautiful book for a thank-you that will never wilt.
Classes for crafters
If your hobby-loving host has experimented with everything from sourdough baking to paper quilling, Smith-Brown suggests introducing them to a new endeavor with an experiential gift. Cara Marie Piazza teaches workshops in natural dyeing, a process that derives color from plant matter and other organic materials. The Brooklyn, N. Y.—based artist offers instruction for crafters at all experience levels, and the classes are taught in person, online and via prerecorded video instruction.
A showpiece shaker
Bring your favorite cocktail connoisseur this sleek rendition of the bartending staple. Chef Eric Silverstein, founder of Austin, Texas, restaurant group The Peached Tortilla, calls its streamlined, squared-off shape “very mod” and especially likes the look of the shiny brass, an attractive upgrade from the more typical stainless-steel finish.
Gifts from $50 to $100
The perfect potluck accessory
There’s always a cook whom everybody wants at their potluck dinner. Give them this cotton canvas casserole holder to help their cargo arrive intact. Dishes slide into the double-handled, machine-washable organic cotton tote, which keeps everything horizontal during transport. When not in use, it folds flat, so it’s easy to stash. Sonja Rasula, founder and creative director of indie pop-up marketplaces Unique Markets, has given Aplat totes multiple times and calls them “the gift that no one knows they need”—until they receive one.
Organic gadget
This ceramic diffuser offers a win-win of form and function, according to Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters, the principal designers behind luxury interior design studio Forbes Masters in Atlanta, Ga. The duo, who received the gadget as a gift, fell in love with its “sleek and beautiful” design, and like that the textured finish lends “an unexpected natural material to an otherwise technical product.” The diffuser comes in a range of muted matte colors and features an LED light that provides a soothing glow. By adding water and a few drops of essential oils, your host can give any space a serene, spa-like vibe.
One to grow on
Silvia Martinez, the San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based founder of Mamá Latina Tips is a succulents fan because of how low maintenance they are, making them a perfect pick for giftees with little time for full-on gardening. She says this subscription box is also ideal for hosts with small spaces—a little pop of green goes a long way. Choose from one to four 2-inch succulents to be delivered each month for up to a year. Each box also comes with helpful care instructions.
A custom map of home
They’ve treated you like royalty, so gift them a visual tribute to their castle. Map of Our Life customized prints show your host’s home on a cleverly cut out area map and can include a short quote to mark any occasion. Kwandaa Roberts, M.D., an OB-GYN and creator of Tiny House Calls, where she showcases her miniature home designs, says the maps are a favorite gift because they celebrate hosts’ “home, ‘hood and family all in one place.”
Versatile vase set
These ceramic vases stand just over 3 inches high, making them an eye-catching table centerpiece that won’t block guests’ line of sight. They’ll also fit comfortably on a window sill or narrow ledge. Chicago-area interior designer Nicole Balch likes that the black-and-white striped pattern not only provides a neutral base for bright blooms, but also works with a variety of décors. “They’re stylish without imposing a strict style,” she says.
Conversation-starting coasters
No one can have too many coasters, Smith-Brown contends, and when the coasters in question are cleverly designed, an entertaining basic becomes a memorable gift. Spill Coasters’ reflective, trompe l’oeil design is meant to resemble a drink spill, adding a touch of humor to cocktail hour. Designed by Sean Brown, an artist and lifestyle designer based in Toronto, the acrylic coasters are wider than average, so they can hold anything from a wine glass to a large beer mug, protecting tables from actual spills.
Classic cutting board
Crate & Barrel
Square End Grain Cutting Board
John Boos
Reversible Maple Cutting Board
While many cutting boards look too utilitarian to give as a gift, this one is both useful and decorative. Silverstein says a big selling point for him is the 14-inch board’s stabilizing feet, so it doesn’t slide around on your countertop while you slice. And the square shape and variegated acacia wood make it pretty enough to use as a serving board. This pick from John Boos is another solid option for someone looking for a large, sturdy workspace.
Gifts $100 and up
Tactile tome
Duncan Clarke, Vanessa Drake Moraga and Sarah Fee
African Textiles
Forbes and Masters suggest this sumptuous encyclopedia of sub-Saharan African fabrics as “a must-have collector’s item with stunning images and original patterns and materials.” Learn about more than 300 traditional designs in this clothbound tome. For the host with a global aesthetic or a passion for all things African, it’s pure “eye candy” that’s both “inspiring and educational.”
A carryall full of fun
When Martinez was searching for a host gift for her brother-in-law, she landed on a bocce set and said playing it at family gatherings has since become a beloved tradition. This one from L.L.Bean is similar to the one Martinez bought, and the canvas carrying case can even be customized for an extra-special touch. “This gift is ideal for multi-generational families; it works for all ages.” All you need is “a few feet of yard or access to a nice park” and this chic set will do the rest.
A luxurious trio
Forbes and Masters sum these scents up in a single word: “Heavenly.” Whether your host is a fashionable devotee of the House of Dior, or they just want to add an extra dash of luxury into their home, these are a great three-fer gift. With just the spark of a wick (these promise 20 hours of burn time), the brand’s signature scents—ambre nuit, figue méditerranée and 30 montaigne—will have your host’s house smelling like a posh Parisian apartment. “Trust us, it’s a smart splurge,” the team said, adding that Dior’s “product presentation is always on point.”
A cookbook with accouterments
Rasula, of Unique Markets, recommends this gift box for hosts who are lovers of food, design or both. Its centerpiece is a 424-page cookbook that has the feel of a coffee-table book, with its images of lush gardens and landscapes. Plus, the recipient gets an assist making the book’s more than 150 produce-forward recipes (think Carrot tarte Tatin and Roman Artichoke Risotto) with accompanying bottles of persimmon vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil and wildflower honey.
A classy coverup
Hosts who favor gathering houseguests around the brunch table while you’re all still in your pajamas will appreciate this stylish robe, recommended by Los Angeles-based health and wellness coach Millana Snow. Made from crisp but comfortable French linen, it’s one-size-fits-all, machine-washable, unisex (Snow and her fiancé both own one) and comes in more than a dozen colors and patterns. We’ve also tested and vetted bathrobes if you’re looking for more options.
A classic game for the whole crowd
A game of bean bag toss is fun for guests of all ages, says Roberts (a mother of two grade-schoolers), and this set, which includes two boards and eight beanbags, works nicely as a gift since all of the components tuck into a convenient tote. For extra oomph, you can even add your host’s monogram.
Compliments to the chef
Silverstein’s pick for hosts who know their way around the kitchen is this Japanese-made knife that’s as much art piece as it is culinary workhorse. Japanese knives are the choice of most restaurant chefs, he says, because they’re lighter to hold than Western knives and their harder steel and thinner blades excel at making precision cuts. For the host at home, the lacquered oak handle and intricate wave pattern on the blade make it appealing to display as well as use.