Amazing White Elephant Gifts That Every Home Needs
Selecting the perfect present for a holiday gift exchange can be tough, especially if you are attending a white elephant party. With a white elephant party, you need to find a gift that everyone will utilize and enjoy. When you shop for a gift swap like this, consider buying something for the home that you know a person can use regularly.
When looking for cheap gifts for the home to bring to a white elephant party, opt for a kitchen gadget like a zester or citrus squeezer, tea towels, or gardening gloves. For those with a $25 spending limit, consider a coffee grinder, pizza stone, charcuterie board, or napkin set. Fun gifts for any home under $50 include a pygmy citrus tree, a Dutch oven, a cast iron skillet, and an essential oil diffuser.
Shopping for a holiday gift exchange like a white elephant party is tough because you don’t know who you are shopping for. To keep things simple and utilitarian, opt for fun, functional gifts that most people can use in their home. Below is a list of great gifts, organized by three popular gift exchange price points.
Great Gifts For The Home For $15 Or Less
1. Zester Or Citrus Squeezer
Kitchen gadgets are always a great gift. For one, the more ornate the gadget, the less likely it is that the recipient will already own one. Plus, these culinary tools are helpful to anyone who cooks regularly.Â
A zester or citrus squeezer is a great, inexpensive white elephant gift because it’s something almost everyone will use. Even if a person doesn’t cook, they likely squeeze limes and lemons now and then. A zester can be used in cooking and cocktail making. Best of all, you can find either of these gadgets for around $10.
2. Gardening GlovesÂ
Not everyone has a green thumb or passion for gardening, but there’s a strong possibility that at least one person at your white elephant party loves gardening. Gardening gloves are a thoughtful and practical gift, as they protect a person's hands and must be replaced regularly from gardening wear and tear. This is a great, inexpensive gift, because even if everyone at the party has a pair of gardening gloves, they will eventually need a new pair.
3. Wool Dryer Balls With Essential Oils
Wool dryer balls are another item that needs replacing from time to time. These wool balls help reduce static cling on clothing, dry items faster, eliminate the need for dryer sheets and are inexpensive.Â
Consider adding a bottle of lavender essential oil to complete the gift package. Just two drops of oil on the wool balls will make all their clothes smell amazing.
4. A Specialty Oil Or Spice
Another fun culinary gift that anyone can use is a gourmet spice or specialty oil. Items like different types of fancy salts, infused oils, or exotic spices from a recent vacation are all great gifts. Choose an oil or spice that can be used as a finishing ingredient. This will make it something home chefs and culinary novices alike can use and enjoy.
5. Tea Towels
Every home can use a few new tea towels. These thin, often decorative towels are great for wiping up water and glassware, and they provide colorful decoration when hung from the oven door.
Tea towels get old and stained quickly, so new ones are always a welcome gift idea. There’s a good chance that at least one person at your white elephant party needs some fresh tea towels.
Perfect Gifts For The Home For $25 Or Less
1. Coffee Grinder
The only thing better than a cup of coffee in the morning is when you make coffee from freshly-ground beans. A coffee grinder is a great way to elevate your morning cup of coffee, and most simple grinders are compact and under $25.
Even if someone has a coffee grinder, it’s good to have a second electric grinder to use as a spice grinder. This is sure to be an appreciated gift at any holiday gift swap.
2. Linen Napkin Set
Linen napkins are a luxury that is absent in many homes. Even if your home has linen napkins, some might be stained or worn, and it’s always nice to have different colors to match various tablecloths and themes.
A set of quality linen napkins is a lovely gift you can purchase for under $25. It’s a great way to give the gift of luxury and help someone elevate a dinner party without spending too much money.
3. Large Cooler Tote BagÂ
Cooler bags have many uses at home and in everyday life. You can use them to keep food warm when hosting a holiday party or to keep beverages and food chilled at a picnic. It’s also a great idea to always have a large cooler tote bag in your car to keep groceries at their freshest temperature on the way home from the market.
A cooler bag is a functional gift that many people will want. Many brands make quality cooler bags, and you should be able to find a nice one this holiday season for between $20 and $25.
4. Pizza And Baking Stone
A pizza stone is the best way to take your homemade pizza to the next level. These slender, albeit heavy, cooking tools are the best way to get a crispy crust every time. Pizza stones are also fantastic for baking rolls and other breads. It’s a gift any pizza and bread lover will want to claim at a gift exchange.
5. Wooden Charcuterie Board
No party these days is complete without some sort of charcuterie platter. With the rise in popularity of charcuterie as an essential appetizer and party mainstay, owning a charcuterie board feels more necessary than ever.
You can often find a charcuterie board set for just over $20, especially at home goods retailers, where they are frequently on sale near the holidays.
Great Gifts For The Home Under $50
1. Essential Oil Diffuser With Oil Set
Essential oils are a great way to make a home smell better naturally, and can even help lower stress levels. An essential oil diffuser is the best way to spread the therapeutic smells throughout the home.
An essential oil diffuser with a starter pack of oils can cost anywhere from $20 to over $100, but it’s easy to find a quality diffuser with several natural oils for well under $50.
2. Dutch Oven
Dutch ovens can cost a small fortune, especially when they are enamelware made by La Creuset. There are, however, many high-quality Dutch ovens made of enamel for $50 or less.
They make an excellent gift for anyone who loves to cook and entertain. Not only do these cooking vessels come in handy when cooking all sorts of recipes, but they also make great serving dishes.
3. Cast-Iron Skillet
Every well-used kitchen should have at least one cast-iron skillet. These heavy skillets are a great grill alternative for those who want a delicious seared steak. They are also great for making one-skillet meals and many traditional Southern recipes.
A cast-iron skillet is a heavy, but incredible gift to bring to a white elephant party. Someone is always in need of a new one, and you can get a quality branded version for under $40.
4. Pygmy Citrus Tree
If you’re looking for the ultimate showstopper gift for a white elephant, then you can’t go wrong when you show up with a pygmy citrus tree. There are several pygmy fruit trees, especially citrus trees, that you can grow in pots, and can even survive cold weather.
Choose a tree that’s easy to care for and can live in a pot. This is a gift someone with a yard is sure to want. You can almost always find pigmy citrus trees available for less than $50 at home and garden shops, especially in warmer climates.Â
Summing Up Gifts For The Home For A White Elephant PartyÂ
The holidays can be stressful, especially when you feel like you are constantly shopping for gifts and attending parties. When you find yourself uninspired while shopping for a white elephant party, or any holiday gift exchange, consider buying gifts that any home can benefit from.
Some inexpensive gifts for the home you can buy include a zester or citrus squeezer, tea towels, and gardening gloves. For those looking for gifts under $25, opt for a coffee grinder, a set of linen napkins, a pizza stone, or a charcuterie board. For those with a slightly higher budget, consider an essential oil diffuser and oil set, a Dutch oven, a cast-iron skillet, or a pygmy citrus tree.
Related Guides:
- 13 Great DIY Gifts For The Host Of A Holiday Party
- Creative Ways To Wrap Gifts Without Buying Wrapping Paper
- The Best Home-Made Christmas Gift Ideas
Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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