Gifts For the Home
We’ve got gifts for every budget, and they are listed in increasing order by price. The most affordable gifts come first, followed by the higher-priced offerings. This list will be updated as I find more unique, thoughtful gifts. Some gifts appear in more than one category.
Sponsored
Baked in the Balkans
Price: 4 pc. place settings @ 99.99
Baked in the Balkans Dinnerware is a new line of clean tableware imported from Eastern Europe. The line was developed to bring you quality dinnerware that is functional, durable and green. It is imported from the Balkans because their pottery is still produced by traditional methods: On wheels, glazed with salt and enhanced with watercolor paints. These pieces are totally free of toxic paints, dyes, artificial glazes and anything else you wouldn’t want on your dishes.
Macy’s Heart of Haiti Housewares: $15-120
Heart of Haiti is a collection of art, housewares and accessories handmade by Haitian artisans that was launched after the earthquake in January 2010. They receive 22% of the retail price for each item, and many items are made of recycled materials, including oil drums, newspaper and more. Haiti may no longer be in the headlines, but its people still need help. Give gifts from this collection and give back to Haiti.
Hammocks & High Tea organic tea towels: $24/ea.
Beautiful textiles come naturally to the designers of Hammocks & High Tea — literally. All their tea towels are made of organic cotton in a variety of gorgeous prints, from chevrons to ikats and everything in between. The great thing about tea towels is that they can be a gift in themselves or can be wrapped around cookbooks or kitchen utensils for a multipurpose gift. (aff)
Oceanstar Bamboo Wine Rack: $25
Most of us can’t afford to own a wine cellar, or even a wine fridge. Still, all wine lovers need a good place to store their investments. These bamboo beauties by Oceanstar can hold up to 12 bottles of wine in perfect horizontal positions. And whether empty or half-full, the design is gorgeous enough to be displayed on a countertop. Available in a natural or espresso finish. (aff)
PUR Water Filter: $29.37
It’s easy to tell folks to stop drinking bottled water, but you’ll probably have a better chance of getting them to do it if you give them the means. Give a PUR faucet-mounted water filter so you can prove, once and for all, that filtered water tastes just as good as, if not better than, bottled. (aff)
Letterpress Art Prints by Enormous Champion: $30-33
There’s nothing that makes a house (or apartment or houseboat) feel like home quite like putting art on the walls. These handmade, letterpress art prints are just special enough to make your giftee feel like an Enormous Champion. I’m kidding. That’s the name of the studio that makes them. Either way, they’d make a beautiful, relatively inexpensive gift.
Amy Butler Organic Cotton Towel Set: $34.99
A child might look at you sideways if they received these towels as a gift, but a homeowner or college student will appreciate the thoughtfulness behind this set of beautifully designed, organic cotton towels from Amy Butler. They are soft and absorbent, and like many other Amy Butler textiles, 100% organic. They’re the perfect treat for the skin after a hot bath or shower. (aff)
Red Clay Home Vase & Bowl: $39-59
In a word, these ceramic vases are gorgeous! The asymmetrical opening on the Peek a Book vase makes it the perfect home for a single bud or a couple of stems, while the incline bowl is the kind of statement piece that would be perfect in the middle of a dining or console table. Plus, they’re handmade in partnership with the sustainable Mudshark Studios in Portland, OR. Available in red, white and turquoise.
Handmade Bamboo State Cutting Boards: $40
If there’s a chef on your list, or anyone who is really proud of where they live, these cutting boards from A Heirloom are a great idea. These beauties are handmade of bamboo plywood, and you can place the heart cutout on any area of the state. Keep in mind that these are made to order, so there is a 2-week lead time. In other words, if you want one, don’t wait!
Ombre Handmade Drinking Glasses: $40
Need a gift for that person who has everything? Well, it’s unlikely they have anything like these gorgeous, handmade drinking glasses. Made of recycled glass with an ombre finish (ie. fading color), they are sure attention-getters at the dinner table. (aff)
Home Sweet Organic Pillow Covers: $40-60
There is at least one on your list: That person who is constantly changing their home by painting, rearranging and redecorating. These handmade pillow covers from Etsy seller Home Sweet would be a great addition to their collection. They are block printed on a hemp/organic cotton blend fabric and are available in a wide variety of colors.
Rehabilitated Dishware: $60/ea.
These graphic, one-of-a-kind dinner plates are made by Brookyln-based artist Sarah Cihat. Believe it or not, they are made from dishes she finds from garage sales and thrift stores. She then cleans, glazes and re-fires them to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art. These are worthy to be hung on a wall.
BHG Stainless Steel Cookware Set: $129
Quality cookware really does make a difference when making a meal. Stainless steel is a great option, and this heavyweight set from Better Homes & Gardens is great quality for the price. I own this 10-piece set, so I can tell you that these pots cook evenly and quickly and, incredibly, are nonstick and dishwasher safe. Plus, almost all stainless steel is made with recycled content. (aff)
MORE GREEN GIFT IDEAS
I’m Jennae Petersen, and I’m a lot of things. A mother, a graphic artist, a connosieur of beautiful interiors and a purveyor of all things design. Green Your Decor was borne of frustration in my attempts to find eco-friendly housewares that were also beautiful, and inspiration to do something to reduce my own carbon footprint and help others do the same in a beautiful way.
