Christmas gift idea uk

Christmas Gift Guide: Home & garden: Ideas guaranteed to brighten up

Wish upon a jar

These jam-jar tea-light holders (pounds 1.95 each, John Lewis stores nationwide, www.johnlewis.com) are the gift that keeps giving. Use them indoors to give the festive season a glow. Then take them outside for long summer nights. Or disappoint your rhyming slang- loving friends by telling them you've bought them a jam jar for Xmas.

Put your feet up

Who doesn't want to kick back, read the papers and knock down a wee dram? Shortlisted for the 100% Design/Blueprint award, the Isokon Plus ShipShape (pounds 250, www.isokonplus.com, tel: 020 8994 0636) is a tidy little way to do all those things in style. It also works as a step up or an extra seat. What more could you possibly ask for?

Bowled over

The new B&B Italia accessories store opened its doors in September to furnish shoppers with design classics at (more) affordable prices. These ceramics, designed by Finnish company, iitala (prices from pounds 15, B&B Italia, 250 Brompton Road, London SW3, tel: 020 7591 8111) will brighten up any breakfast table.

Doing the rounds

Another great product from the Thorsten van Elten design collective, the Zzzidt, by Richard Hutten (pounds 95, www. thorstenvanelten.com), is the perfect seat/table for indoor or outdoor use. it even has a small handle to help you drag it round which doubles as a cup holder. What a nicely rounded idea.

Soft option

A welcome addition to the Conran Shop's home furnishings department is its linen range. A low-maintenance alternative to wearing it as a suit, these are decorated with Damien Hirst-like coloured knots and are available in black and cream (pounds 25, Conran Shop, 55 Marylebone High Street, London W1, tel: 020 7723 2223).

Herby rides again

The Gluttonous Gardener is an inspiring little company that will deliver a range of beautifully packaged plants and edibles anywhere in the UK. This rosemary plant (pounds 40 with UK delivery, tel: 020 7627 0800, www.glut.co.uk) is a sage and thyme-ly gift as this particular herb is an ancient symbol of friendship.