Choose the perfect gift for interior design fans

Christmas gifts don’t have to end up in the re-gifting box if you choose something both thoughtful and useful, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Unlike most women I know, I have never understood the attraction of two things: shopping and chocolate. The former I do out of necessity, as and when required — food shopping and farmers’ markets I quite like — but chocolate I consume only when it’s served up and I’m in company where I feel I can’t decline. If I fancy something sweet, a slice of crusty bread with jam does the trick.

I’m fine — in fact, enthusiastic — about home interior shops, not surprisingly, but ask me to go shopping for the sake of it and flick through clothes rails, shelves and the first day of the sales, and I just might cry.