If you’re one of the many people who buy gifts for family and friends at Christmas, chances are you find yourself looking for new ideas every year. Unless you’re exceptionally well-organized and purchase items throughout the year that you know your loved ones will like, want, and need, you’re probably one of the millions who end up scrambling at the last minute for a suitable gift. If that’s the case, you might often find yourself buying things that aren’t particularly useful or meaningful. So, here’s an idea: instead of buying random gifts that end up collecting dust, why not consider buying furniture as Christmas presents?
While furniture is practical, it can also be beautiful, fitting the preferences of nearly anyone.
Before you dismiss the idea, take a moment to think it through—it might just change your perspective on gift-giving this Christmas.
Why You Should Buy Furniture for Christmas Gifts
We all need furniture in our homes, and we all like furniture that looks good. But once we’ve purchased what we need, it often takes a long time to replace items that become worn, outdated, or uncomfortable. Many of us simply “make do” with what we have until it’s absolutely necessary to upgrade.
This is why there’s always something special in the furniture line that you can give to a special person as a gift.
You may be more inclined to spend extra money on your spouse or children, especially if they’re still living at home or setting up their own homes for the first time. But even if your budget is limited, there are many smaller furniture items to consider. These range from small tables to storage books, and even wall-hung racks and feature shelves.
The key motivation for buying furniture instead of a gift that might not be used or appreciated is focusing on usefulness. Beyond that, a high-quality piece of furniture isn’t just functional—it’s something that can be kept and used for years to come. Whether it’s newly crafted or a well-worn antique, a good piece of furniture will even increase in value as the years go by.
What Sort of Furniture to Buy for Christmas Gifts
The type of furniture you choose—both the item and its style—depends entirely on who it’s for. While budget is always an issue, make sure the piece will fit into the recipient’s home.
If you’re buying for your husband or wife, it’s likely something you both really need—a new bed or mattress, perhaps. Or maybe both of you would appreciate a new couch or even a completely new lounge suite.
One potential “danger” when buying for a spouse (if it can be called that) is that you might be tempted to buy something you want, rather than what they want! Since it’s a gift, try to pick something that your spouse will love as much as you do—if not more. For example, even though you might want to replace the living room coffee table with something more elegant, if your spouse has been complaining about a sore back, a new mattress might be a more thoughtful and useful Christmas gift—though admittedly, it may be hard to wrap and place under the tree.
If you’re buying for someone who doesn’t live with you, make sure you’re clear about the type of furniture they like and need. While furniture makes a practical and memorable gift, it can also be relatively expensive compared to things like shaving cream or biscuits. You’ll want to be certain the gift will suit them. If you’re unsure, you could ask a mutual acquaintance—like a parent, sibling, or spouse—for their opinion. Alternatively, you could casually discuss furniture preferences to get a better sense of their tastes without revealing your gift intentions.
Where to Find Furniture for Christmas Gifts
Buying furniture as a Christmas gift is no different than buying furniture for your home at any other time of the year.
You can browse furniture and appliance shops in your city or town, or you can shop online. Either way, there will be delivery options that can send the furniture directly to the recipient’s home, adding an element of surprise. Of course, if you want to wrap it up (which is really only possible for smaller items), or perhaps tie a large bow around it, you’ll need to either take the item home with you or have it delivered there.
If the furniture is for your husband or wife and you want to keep it a secret until Christmas Day, and you don’t have adequate hiding space, you’ll need to find somewhere to store it until the last possible moment. This can be a challenge!
One way to handle the secrecy aspect is by giving a photograph of the item and arranging for delivery on the first shopping day after Christmas. Alternatively, you could ask a friend or, preferably, a neighbor if you can store the item temporarily in their garage or storeroom. If necessary, you could even wrap or decorate the piece and pick it up on Christmas morning along with your spouse.
Above all, have a very merry Christmas!
