Gifts for all this Christmas

Carol O’Callaghan has some great buying ideas for those who may be stuck for inspiration at this time of year.

The season of extravagance is upon us as is the inevitable mental block as to what to buy our loved ones. If you can’t think of a suitable personal gift, buy something for the home. Take care to match the gift to the recipient’s taste, avoiding things like edgy in-vogue photographic printed textiles if the recipient’s home is bedecked with floral wallpaper.

Try a set of china mugs which will be useful with extra guests around. The Breakfast Dog’s mug from the Aga Saga range is imprinted with a cartoon-ish scene (€18 at Aga shops). Orla Kiely’s Rowan mugs featuring her signature leaf and twig motif (€12 at Brown Thomas) is an alternative and a thoroughly modern option.