Gift ideas for the home: 12 gifts people actually use

A good gift for the home is one that gets used straight away instead of waiting at the back of a cupboard for the right moment. Home textiles make that easier than most things, because towels, tablecloths and sheets are used every day. We have put together twelve gift ideas, from small housewarming presents to bigger gifts. For each one we say who it suits and what to know before you buy. You can see the prices on the product pages.

How to choose a gift that actually gets used

First, think about whether you know anything for certain about the recipient's home. A duvet cover and a fitted sheet need the right size, and colour is a matter of taste. Towels, tea towels and tablecloths are easier, because size matters less. If you don't know the size of the bed or duvet, choose something that doesn't depend on size, or give a gift card.

Another good question is what the recipient already uses. If they have a sauna every evening, a sauna towel is a safer choice than a tablecloth. If they like setting the table for friends, a linen tablecloth will please them more than a bathrobe. Neutral shades such as Kuura, Kaura and Rohdin suit most homes.

1. Linen tea towels

The Rohdin raita tea towels come in a pack of two, and they are an easy present for anyone with a kitchen. Linen doesn't shed lint, so glasses stay clear, and the towel dries quickly on its hook. New linen is firm at first and softens with every wash. This is a gift that takes up no space and gets used every day.

2. Waffle hand towel

A 50 × 70 cm hand towel is a small gift for the bathroom, the guest room or a summer cottage. Waffle cotton dries quickly and looks neat on a drying rack too. The shades are Vaahto (white) and Löyly (oat). Two hand towels together make a good housewarming gift.

3. Linen pillowcases

The washed linen pillowcases come in a pack of two, and they are the easiest way to give linen without needing to know the duvet size. A Finnish pillow is almost always 50 × 60 cm. The envelope closure has no buttons, so the pillowcase is quick to change. Choose a neutral shade if you don't know the recipient's other bedding.

4. Sauna towel

A 100 × 150 cm sauna towel is big enough to wrap around your body or spread on the sauna bench. A waffle towel is lighter than terry and dries before the next sauna, which is a real advantage at a summer cottage or in a flat's bathroom. It is a particularly good gift for someone who has a sauna often.

5. Waffle bathrobe

A light bathrobe is a gift many people would like but few buy for themselves. The waffle bathrobe has two pockets and a belt, and it reaches below the knee. The cut is loose and unisex, so the size is easier to guess than with most clothes. If you don't know the size, M–L fits most people. The robe comes in Vaahto.

6. Linen tablecloth

The washed linen tablecloth in Rohdin suits someone who likes setting the table. It needs no ironing, and a stain usually comes out if you rinse it straight away in cold water and then wash the tablecloth as normal. The 150 × 250 cm size fits an ordinary dining table for six, and 150 × 320 cm an extended table.

7. Sauna towels for a couple

Two sauna towels or bath towels in different shades are a practical gift for a couple. Vaahto and Löyly are different enough for each person to recognise their own towel, but they look calm together. The towels are washed at 60 degrees without fabric softener.

8. Linen bedding set for a couple

The washed linen bedding set has a duvet cover and two 50 × 60 cm pillowcases. The sizes for a double bed are 200 × 210 and 220 × 210 cm. This gift requires you to know the duvet size, so ask tactfully if you need to, or look at the duvet when you visit. As a wedding or Christmas present, the set is something that gets used for years.

9. Sateen set for winter

The sateen bedding set suits someone who feels the cold easily or likes a smooth surface. Sateen feels warm against the skin and looks neat on a made bed without ironing. The shades are Helmi, Särkkä and Ulappa. In the single size the set has one pillowcase, and in the double sizes it has two.

10. Quilted linen bedspread

The quilted bedspread in Kaura is a bigger gift that suits almost any bedroom. It can lie on the bed during the day, serve as an extra layer in winter and be the only cover in summer. The 160 × 260 cm size fits a narrow bed and 260 × 260 cm a double bed.

11. A whole bed for a new home

When someone moves into a new home, they often buy a new bed too. A complete set of bedding is then a gift that gets used on the very first night. When you buy a washed linen duvet cover, pillowcases and a fitted sheet in the same shade at the same time, you get 15 per cent off the set. Choose the fitted sheet size by the mattress; the pocket is 35 cm deep.

12. Gift card

A gift card is a safe choice when you don't know the duvet size or favourite colour. The card is worth 25, 50, 100 or 200 euros, and it arrives by email straight after payment. It is valid for 24 months, and can be used over several online purchases. A gift card also works as a joint present when several people want to put together a larger amount.

A gift for a new home

For a housewarming, bring something small and practical, because the cupboards of someone who has just moved are only half in order. Tea towels, hand towels or a tablecloth suit almost any home. If you are a close friend or relative, a bigger gift such as a bedding set or a gift card may be welcome.

Delivery at Christmas

Orders placed before 2 pm on weekdays are shipped the same day, and delivery usually takes 1–3 working days. Carriers get busy before Christmas, so order physical gifts at least a week before Christmas Eve if you can. Delivery to a pickup point or parcel locker is free on orders over €80. The gift card arrives by email straight away, so it can reach the recipient on Christmas Eve too.

If a gift is the wrong size or the shade isn't right, you have 60 days to return it, so the size can be exchanged after Christmas without any rush. Businesses can order gifts and gift cards for staff or customers through our For business page.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good gift for a couple? A bedding set, two sauna towels or a tablecloth, because they are used together. If you don't know the duvet size, choose towels or a gift card.

What should I bring to a housewarming? Something small that doesn't depend on size: tea towels, a hand towel or a tablecloth. What is a good gift for my mum? A bathrobe, a sauna towel or linen pillowcases are gifts many people would like but rarely buy for themselves.