View in browser

December 15, 2024

Photo illustration by NYT Wirecutter; source photos by Maison de Sabré, Bode, Falcon

	By Hannah Frye Hannah Frye is a staff writer reporting on beauty and style for Wirecutter.

My taste in food isn’t exceptionally elevated, nor are my picks for film or television. I think I have pretty decent taste in music, but I know plenty of people who have a much better ear than I do. When it comes to the visuals in my life, though? That’s where I truly shine.

I am extremely committed to surrounding myself with lovely things, especially when they are objects I encounter every day. Take, for instance, this boar bristle brush which glides through my hair effortlessly, leaving my strands shiny. I leave it out sitting pretty on my dresser—it’s as much a part of my decor as any well-loved vase or piece of vintage artwork. Or the color-coordinated sheets on my bed, which I meticulously selected after many late nights of rumination. (My bed is now a lovely harmony of oatmeal linen bedding, brown silk, and the perfect drape of forest green and deep tan throws, if anyone’s wondering.)

What can I say? These things bring me daily joy. I’m proud to consider myself an aesthete. So I’ll be the first to tell (warn) you: Gifting for the aesthete in your life—someone who really cares about the little details of their surroundings—can be tricky.

To help, I’ve rounded up a few Wirecutter-approved presents that I’d personally be delighted to receive. Each of them is thoughtful, functional, and just plain beautiful:

All of our prettiest gift ideas→

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›

Chic, sturdy tumblers that’ll wow any guest They’re perfectly sized, elegantly designed, and endlessly reusable→

A lamp with perfect pleats It has an eye-catching Parisian design and a touch-activated dimmer switch→

An essential oil diffuser that looks like a sculpture This tapered, ceramic shell comes in several understated colors→

Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

If your giftee takes a digital approach to all things—playing music, communicating, turning off the lights—consider the world’s most techy bird feeder, one of our favorite gadget-y gifts. This handsome feeder has an integrated camera to capture 1080p photos and videos of visiting avian friends (and squirrels). Plus? Color night vision to capture critters after dark.

A smarter way to bird→

Thanks for reading.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

Was this email kindly forwarded to you? Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Recommendation from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Recommendation, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request.

Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app

Connect with us on:

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018