Gifts That Even the Most Hard-to-Please People Will Like
Difficult people who are particular about everything deserve presents, too.
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There are some people for whom buying a gift is a chore rather than a pleasure. Perhaps you drew your picky brother Roland in this year’s gift exchange and his list of dislikes is longer than a CVS receipt. Nothing you buy that you think is good will please this man, so instead of trying to achieve the impossible, go above and beyond: These gifts are outlandish in a way that will delight rather than offend.
Here’s some pithy commentary on the state of social media and narcissism that also happens to look great in a foyer.
Sculptural glass mirror. Trompe l'œil graphic printed at face.
Your recipient might run their mouth about how they have too many towels, but you’ll stop them in their tracks with these guys.
What do you get for the woman who has it all? Three towels! Includes 1 Bath Towel, 1 Hand Towel, 1 Washcloth.
Here’s a little lamp that looks like a Murano mushroom but is better because it’s not.
Born out of the desire to make a one-off ceramic piece accessible, the Scoop Lamp uses carefully tuned print settings to achieve a truly unique design that would be impossible to achieve via other manufacturing methods.
Give the gift of a swimming pool. Seriously. Do it.
Here you have it, folks! Introducing the most brilliant stock tank pool ever created, the big guy in charge, The Honcho — now available nationwide! Featuring our patent-pending design, The Honcho is a hybrid creation of galvanized steel tank and thick poly liner offering a chic and affordable, long...
Your picky princess was probably going to buy this for herself, but now you can.
When Florence Knoll challenged Eero Saarinen to create a chair that she could curl up in, she found the right candidate for the task. The Womb Chair and Ottoman (1946) feature enveloping forms that continue as one of the most iconic representations of midcentury organic modernism.
It stands to reason that your recipient is particular about kitchen things, but this Caraway set is indispensable.
Chop better, prep cleaner, and store easier with our non-toxic Prep Set. Featuring 4 knives, 5 utensils, shears, and a first-of-it’s kind modular organization unit, our Prep Set is a streamlined set of essentials designed for the modern kitchen.
A storage cabinet in a stunning shade of ultramarine that can (and should) replace anything resembling a credenza.
With her unmistakable design signature, what Patricia Urquiola creates is an invitation to travel, in the form of furniture – through the Hayama collection, made up of a cabinet, bar, hutch and console – all inspired by the traditional Japanese Haori jacket that is worn over a kimono.
Dominos are a nice gift because they’re interactive, but often, they’re ugly: these are not.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Wood Domino Set from Galison includes 28 double sided wood dominoes with Wright’s famous patterns and design for a twist to the classic game. Great addition to game night!
Mother’s little helper never looked so good.
A polished compartment for your pills, this Jonathan Adler box features a luxe, gold-tone finish and “Xanax 1.0” lettering.
Something you don’t know you need until you have it is a tiny little garbage can for the bathroom vanity.
Perfect for your vanity and ideal for throwing away cotton balls, makeup remover sheets, and eyeliner pencil shavings. Or use in the kitchen for tea bags, coffee pods, and food scraps; or in the laundry room for lint and dryer sheets.
A neon tube isn’t for everyone, which is why it’s perfect for the person in your life who fancies themselves an iconoclast.
Designed to look like a neon tube, this long-lasting, energy-efficient light is made with an integrated LED. Hang it on a wall, place it on a table, or stand it upright in a corner to add dramatic atmosphere and colorful glow to any space.
A minimal rocking chair because everyone loves a rocking chair, but not everyone wants to feel like Whistler’s Mother.
Designed by Takeshi Nii in the 70s; featured in the MoMA's permanent collection. The Nychair can be folded for easy transport and storage. The seat is made of Kurashiki canvas, a durable, finely-textured, woven cotton yarn, and is removable and replaceable.
If the person you need to accommodate, present-wise, is a baby (literally), well…
Long sleeve organic cotton fleece jumpsuit in orange. Graphic printed in multicolor at front.
This is a present that, if you play your cards right, is also a gift for you.
Our porch sauna, now available in Thermowood! Start your day with a clear mind and relaxed body by taking a sauna bath in our new Thermowood sauna and then enjoy the fresh air on the porch between sessions. Invest in yourself today with this sauna.
We love the products we feature and hope you do, too. If you buy something through a link on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Looking for something else? Check out the rest of our holiday gift guides here.
Megan Reynolds
Senior Home Guides Editor
Megan Reynolds is Dwell's Senior Home Guides Editor. She's previously worked at Jezebel, The Billfold, and many others. She feels strongly about neon as a neutral and loves a good lamp. Holler: megan.reynolds @ dwell dot com.
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